Choosing a house for your group
Start with bedrooms rather than beds, because every bedroom counts when guests share a Derbyshire holiday home. Once friends and family are all under one roof, a big dining table and a kitchen that copes with a crowd matter far more than the headline number of guests. So does a bathroom for every couple of rooms. En suite bedrooms save a queue in the morning. If anyone struggles with stairs, look for a ground floor bedroom and check the parking when several cars are coming.
The holiday cottages and houses around Matlock run from a family-sized place for around six to a grand old house that takes more than thirty. Use the sleeps and bedrooms filters to narrow things down and compare the bedroom and bathroom count on each property. Need more bedrooms still? Our big houses to rent in Derbyshire cover the whole county.
Plenty of the cottages take dogs, so switch on the dogs filter and read each listing for the rules. Several are luxury homes and a couple have a pool, handy for a special occasion or a birthday celebration.
The group accommodation Matlock has, area by area
Most of the properties sit within about six miles of the town centre and each area on this edge of the Peak District has its own feel.
Matlock town
The closest houses are within walking distance of the shops and restaurants, with others up the hill at Starkholmes with views across the valley. It's an easy base if you'd rather not drive every evening, though you swap open countryside for town streets.
Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath is a long, narrow village strung along the river at the foot of a steep wooded gorge, with beautiful views from the paths above. Group accommodation in Matlock Bath is about a mile from the town, with the riverside attractions a short walk away. Expect it to be busier than the villages further out, especially on sunny weekends.
Cromford and the Derwent Valley
Cromford sits roughly two miles from the town centre. Its historic mills and canal belong to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, so there's plenty to explore on foot. The houses here have a pub within reach. The canal towpath makes a beautiful walk on a bright morning.
Darley Dale, Tansley and Oker
Head a little way out and the houses get more space around them, often with a garden. You'll want a car or a taxi for an evening out but it's worth it for the room. One big house near Darley Dale has a pool, so see our large houses with swimming pools if that's top of your list.
Brassington and the quieter villages
West towards the Peak District National Park there are stone farmhouses and village cottages for six to ten, most with an open fire for cold evenings. Lanes are narrow and the shops are a drive away. In return you get proper quiet, big skies and the Derbyshire Dales to explore from the door.
Drive times to Matlock
Matlock is an easy place to meet halfway. Pick where you're setting off from and the table gives the drive to the centre of town.
| Setting off from | Drive to Matlock (minutes) | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield | 21 | 10.9 |
| Derby | 34 | 21.6 |
| Sheffield | 42 | 25.3 |
| Nottingham | 43 | 26.4 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 62 | 35.7 |
| Leicester | 73 | 52.5 |
| Birmingham | 83 | 65.0 |
| Manchester | 84 | 46.1 |
| Leeds | 85 | 67.2 |
Times are for a drive without traffic, so add a buffer on a Friday evening.
What's there to do nearby?
The cable car up to the Heights of Abraham leaves from Matlock Bath, about five minutes' drive away. The mills at Cromford are eight minutes away and Crich Tramway Village takes about fourteen.
Fancy a bigger day? Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house above the River Wye, is roughly fifteen minutes away. Carsington Water and Bakewell are around seventeen. Chatsworth House takes about nineteen.
- Heights of Abraham: cable cars over the river with caverns at the top
- Cromford Mills: the first of the old cotton mills on the river
- Chatsworth House: a big day of house and gardens
- Carsington Water: a level walk or cycle round the reservoir
Opening dates change through the year, so check the Heights of Abraham website before you plan the day.
The best time for short breaks in Matlock
Autumn is lovely here. The woods on the valley sides turn gold and the evenings draw in. It's the season for the Illuminations too! Matlock Bath Illuminations bring illuminated boats to the River Derwent on autumn weekend evenings, with dates that change each year, so look at the Visit Peak District listing.
Winter suits a cosy family gathering round an open fire after a day's walking in the Peak District and many of the cottages have one. Our Christmas cottages for groups are worth a look if you're planning a big meal. Spring and summer bring long light evenings for outdoor walks straight from the door.
What to sort before you book
Hot tubs are a popular extra and some properties have one, which the tub type filter will show you. Browse our large cottages with hot tubs to compare them.
Once you've picked from the group accommodation Matlock has to offer, agree who's driving and who's cooking. Self catering for a big group is half the fun. Most of them still have a pub or restaurants within reach for the night nobody wants to do the washing up.
Not set on this corner of Derbyshire? Browse every holiday home on Derbyshire Group Cottages and send the link round the group chat.
Questions people ask
How many people can stay in a Matlock group house?
It depends on the house. Smaller stays sleep around six while the biggest takes more than thirty. Use the sleeps and bedrooms filters to match your party.
Are there dog friendly houses for groups near Matlock?
Yes, plenty allow dogs, so use the dogs filter and read each listing for the house rules before you book.
Can I find a Matlock group house with a hot tub?
Some have one. The tub type filter shows which and the listing explains what's included.
Is Matlock Bath a good base for a weekend break with a group?
It puts the river and the cable car on your doorstep and the town centre is about a mile away. It gets busy on sunny weekends, so pick a village further out if you want quiet.
How far is Matlock from Sheffield or Nottingham?
It's about 42 minutes from Sheffield and about 43 minutes from Nottingham without traffic, so allow longer on a Friday evening.
When should we book short breaks in Matlock?
Autumn and the run up to Christmas are lovely. Book early for those weekends. The Matlock Bath Illuminations run on weekend evenings in autumn, so check Visit Peak District for the dates if you want to see the boats.