Things to Do in Matlock for Groups of Every Age

Matlock or Matlock Bath?

Think of them as two days out rather than one. Matlock is a working market town on the edge of the Peak District, built up as a fashionable spa by the industrialist John Smedley in the 19th century. His huge hydro still towers over the town (it's now the offices of Derbyshire County Council) and the Gothic outline of Riber Castle watches from the hill above.

Matlock Bath sits just to the south in a wooded limestone gorge. It was one of England's first true tourist destinations and Lord Byron called it "Little Switzerland" for its steep, wooded hillsides. Today its long high street is lined with quirky shops and amusement arcades, with cafés tucked in between and shady riverside paths running beside the River Derwent.

If you like a bit of bustle, start in Matlock Bath.

If you'd rather potter, stay in Matlock and save the limestone gorge for the next day. Most visitors try to fit in both on a trip to Derbyshire.

Things to do in Matlock Bath

Most of the big Matlock tourist attractions are here, squeezed between the river and the cliffs. You can walk between nearly all of them, which is a real bonus when you've got ten people and three cars to think about.

Ride the cable car to the Heights of Abraham

The cable car lifts you high above the valley to a hilltop estate with woodland walks and views right down the dale. Your ticket includes guided tours of two show caverns. In the Great Rutland Cavern you'll hear the stories of the lead miners who worked deep in the hill. The Great Masson Cavern is the second tour, so you get two trips underground for one ticket.

There are two adventure playgrounds for the kids too, plus the Victoria Prospect Tower, built in 1844, if anyone still has the legs for a spiral staircase. The Heights accepts groups of twelve or more, so ask about a group visit if your party is that big. Check the Heights of Abraham website for the season before your trip.

The Heights has no car park of its own. Use the council car park by Matlock Bath station (DE4 3NT) and follow the riverside walk to the cable car. Bring cash or a phone to pay, because the machines don't take cards.

Go underground at the mining museum

Lead mining has shaped this area for centuries and the Peak District Mining Museum tells the story of lead mining in Derbyshire inside the old Grand Pavilion on South Parade. Then pull on a hard hat for the guided tour of Temple Mine, a 1920s lead and fluorspar mine. Afterwards the kids can try panning for "gold" (expect fool's gold and a few shiny crystals). Mine tours are booked by phone (in winter they only run at weekends), so call ahead if you need places for everyone.

Feed the carp at the aquarium

Matlock Bath Aquarium is small but surprisingly good fun. Its warm thermal pool is home to a big shoal of carp. It's also the site of the town's last remaining petrifying well, where water heavy with minerals slowly turns everyday objects to stone. Then there's one of the largest public displays of holograms in Europe, plus a gemstone and fossil collection.

Let the little ones loose at Gulliver's Kingdom

Gulliver's Kingdom is a hillside theme park built for younger children, with rides such as a log flume that climbs high above the Derwent Valley. It has free parking on site and closes over the winter before reopening in spring, so check the dates before you go.

Explore Matlock town

Matlock itself is quieter, with a flat town centre at the bottom of the hill and some properly steep streets climbing out of it. You'll find independent shops and friendly pubs to drift between after the sights.

Spend an hour in Hall Leys Park

Hall Leys Park sits right in the centre of town by the river. Families come for the boating lake, the riverside walks, the tennis courts and the skate park. It has also held a Green Flag award for many years in a row. Some of the rides only run in spring and summer, but it still makes a lovely place to stretch your legs whatever the season.

Take the steam train to Rowsley

Peak Rail runs heritage trains along about four miles of the old Midland line between Matlock Riverside and Rowsley South, stopping at Darley Dale. You can book afternoon tea or Sunday lunch on board The Palatine dining train, which works well for a birthday or a get-together. In December the railway runs Santa Specials on selected dates.

Walk up to the Lumsdale waterfall

On the edge of town, the Lumsdale Valley hides mill ruins and a tumbling waterfall on Bentley Brook. The Arkwright Society looks after it and the path past the falls is open all year, though it can close at short notice. There's no parking in the valley and no toilets, so leave the cars in Matlock and walk up. Please stay out of the fenced areas around the ruins.

Climb to Pic Tor

For a short climb with a big view over Matlock, head up to Pic Tor, the limestone outcrop above the town. It's crowned by a stone Celtic cross, the war memorial put up in 1921.

Compare Matlock attractions at a glance

Planning your days out in the Peak District? Tap a heading to sort by drive time or distance from Matlock town centre.

Drive times are for a quiet road. Matlock Bath has one main road through the gorge and it can be slow on sunny days, so allow extra time or walk the riverside paths instead.

Things to do near Matlock

Some of the best places to visit in Matlock are actually just outside it. A few minutes down the A6, Cromford Mills is where Sir Richard Arkwright's mills gave birth to the modern factory system. It's part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, with cafés and shops on site, so it's an easy stop for a crowd.

Up the hill at Crich, the National Tramway Museum lets you ride vintage trams along a period street with its own pub. Tickets last twelve months and dogs on leads are welcome in most areas.

With younger kids, Matlock Farm Park on Jaggers Lane makes a good family day out. Think wallabies, meerkats, alpacas and Highland cattle, with an indoor play barn when the weather turns. Pony rides run at weekends and in the school holidays.

And if you fancy a change of scene, Bakewell and Chatsworth are both under twenty minutes away. Our guide to things to do in Bakewell has ideas for a day there.

What to do in Matlock when it rains?

A wet day in Matlock needn't spoil anything. Head underground first, because the caverns at the Heights and the old lead mine stay dry whatever the sky is doing. Then warm up in the aquarium with its holograms and petrifying well. Matlock Farm Park's indoor barn will keep small children busy for a morning.

Or simply stay in. One of the joys of renting a big house is a long table for a board game marathon, with a fire going and nobody needing to drive.

Making it work with a big group

Big parties come in all shapes. You might have grandparents who want a gentle stroll and teenagers who want the steepest path in sight. Matlock handles that well because so much is close together.

• Split the morning. Send the walkers up the steep High Tor circuit from Matlock Bath station and let everyone else take the cable car. You can meet up again by the river for lunch.
• Book the timed things. The mine tours and the Heights' group rates are worth arranging before you arrive.
• Share cars. Parking in Matlock Bath fills up, so fewer cars means less circling.
• Pick one meeting point. The station works well because it's flat and right by the river.

The High Tor and Riber walk takes about three hours with some stiff climbs. It isn't suitable for young children because of the steep drops and cliff edges. So keep to the paths, take real care near the edge and enjoy views that stretch for miles.

A few honest tips

Winter changes things quite a bit, because the Heights and the Tramway Museum both close for the season. The aquarium and mining museum open fewer days too. The good news is that the Lights of Abraham brings the cable car back to life on winter evenings (dogs aren't allowed on those nights). In early December Peak Rail also runs a park and ride from Rowsley South to the Matlock Christmas market. Check the dates before you travel.

Matlock Bath can also fill up on fine weekends, with motorbikes lining the promenade. If your party prefers peace and quiet, aim for a weekday or go early.

Where to stay near Matlock

Staying close turns a visit to Matlock into a proper break. You can walk into town for dinner and leave the cars on the drive. Our big houses start under half a mile from Matlock's centre, with more in Matlock Bath, Starkholmes, Cromford, Tansley and Darley Dale. They sleep from six to thirty-four, many take dogs and lots have an open fire for those wet evenings.

If there's a real crowd of you, have a look at our large houses to rent in Derbyshire. Or browse our large cottages with hot tubs for somewhere to soak after a day on the hills. Coming for the festive season? Our Christmas cottages for groups put you close to all the festive fun around Matlock. You'll find every house on Derbyshire Group Cottages, so pick the one that suits your party.

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