Top 12 Things To Do In Matlock, England

things to do in matlock
Earnest
Earnest 
Updated
| 4 min read

If you’re looking to head to Matlock for a tour or a vacation, make sure to check out its many attractions, such as museums, mills, canals, arcades, and aquariums. This county town is located in the southeastern section of the Peak District. Everything about this county town is elegant in its own way — from the establishments to the geology and the natural resources. Read on to learn more about the top things to do in Matlock, UK.

1. Take the kids to play in Derwent Gardens

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The cameras (and the decorated boats!) are all set up in our Derwent Gardens for the arrival of the One Show Rickshaw...

Posted by Matlock Bath Illuminations on Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Overlooking the beautiful River Derwent, this park is on the southern side of the Pavilion in Matlock Bath.

Thermal springs, grottos, and alcoves make this park unique and a must-visit when you tour the city. You can have a great time with the little ones in the gardens as they delight themselves in the play area while you enjoy a boat ride or a picnic under the mellow sun. Don’t miss the popular family event, Matlock Bath Illuminations, in which illuminated rowing boats sail away on the river in the backdrop of a sky sparkling with fireworks.

Derwent Gardens

Address: Matlock Dale, Matlock DE4 3NR, United Kingdom

Website: Derwent Gardens

Opening hours: open 24 hours

Price: Free

Visited this place?

2. Enjoy a stroll on the scenic Matlock Derwent Bridge

Matlock Bridge
Source: Photo by user

This stone bridge, known as the Derwent Bridge, has been around since the 15th century and runs over River Derwent in the town center of Matlock. After one of its walls collapsed in recent flooding, the historic Derbyshire bridge had to be closed to protect the surrounding settlement of houses and businesses.

During the afternoons, enjoy a pleasant stroll over the bridge with ice cream and a bag of chips while taking in the picturesque sights of the pristine river.

Matlock Derwent Bridge

Address: Matlock Bridge, Matlock DE4 3AR, United Kingdom

Website: Matlock Derwent Bridge

Opening hours: open 24 hours

Price: Free

Visited this place?

3. Learn about the history of lead mining at Peak District Mining Museum

Peak District Mining Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dadulinka used under CC BY-SA 3.0

If you’re around the Matlock area, then you need to check out Peak District Museum. It has a rich and extensive exhibit that revolves around the history of lead mining. Most importantly, it offers kids activities that will give them an idea of how children who were involved in the mining industry survived. The museum, which is located in Derbyshire, Matlock Bath, has a mock-up of the mines as they were back in the day. Both children and adults will definitely learn a lot by visiting this Museum, so be sure to check it out.

Peak District Mining Museum

Address: 196 S Parade, Matlock DE4 3NR, United Kingdom

Website: Peak District Mining Museum

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon - Fri)

Visited this place?

4. Ride a tram at Crich Tramway Village?

Sheffield 510 - Tramway Street, Crich Tramway Village - National Tramway Museum - Crich (15373508485)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Elliott Brown used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Treat your family to a day out at the National Tramway Museum. This magnificent attraction has more than 60 trams, tram depots, a pub, a sweetshop, and a café. The setting is mind-blowing since the museum has a village that was recreated to give visitors an idea of what Tram Village looked like back in the day. The trams displayed here all come from the period between 1873 and 1982. Visitors who make it to the Museum also get an opportunity to check out the exhibits, gallery, and Woodland Walk, and Sculpture Trail. Apart from riding the trams you’ll also get an opportunity to learn and have a memorable time with your family.

Crich Tramway Village

Address:Crich, Matlock DE4 5DP, United Kingdom

Website: Crich Tramway Village

Visited this place?

5. Learn about cotton spinning at Cromford Mills

Cromford mill pond 1
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mike Peel used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This magnificent mill has a lot to offer in terms of history and development of the cotton spinning mill. Being the first cotton spinning mill that is powered by water, visitors may want to be interested to learn about its creator, Richard Arkwright, who developed it back in 1771. Apart from that, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has cafes, shops, and restaurants, too. These amenities give visitors an opportunity to enjoy their visit to the renowned mill, so pass by Cromford Mills and learn more about the history of spun cotton in the UK.

Cromford Mills

Address: Mill Rd, Cromford, Matlock DE4 3RQ, United Kingdom

Website: Cromford Mills

Visited this place?

6. Have a fun time at Gulliver’s Kingdom

Gulliver's Kingdom - Rides
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user PLTRON used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Gulliver’s Kingdom is the place to be for adrenaline junkies. Apart from the spectacular and scenic views, there are astounding attractions and exciting rides in this resort. Spending an afternoon in this unique theme park is bound to prove worthwhile and rewarding. The resort sits on the border of the Peak District National Park, thus allowing visitors to enjoy a breathtaking view of the hillside. There are different packages that are available to guests, ranging from wizard, princess, promenade and pirate themes.

Gulliver’s Kingdom

Address: Temple Walk, Matlock Bath DE4 3PG, United Kingdom

Website: Gulliver’s Kingdom

Visited this place?

7. Marvel at the engineering of Cromford Canal

Ambergate - Cromford Canal near Stonycroft - geograph.org.uk - 1353853
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dave Bevis used under CC BY-SA 2.0

This mind-blowing canal stands to show the results of human ingenuity. This 23.3-kilometer (14.5-mile) canal has 14 locks and four tunnels. A visit to this attraction presents tourists with a scenic view of Amber Valley and Nottingham Road.

Cromford Canal

Address: Cromford Canal, Matlock, UK

Website: Cromford Canal

Visited this place?

8. Check out Matlock Bath Aquarium and Arcade


It’s not your typical aquarium; it has a rich extensive mix of aquatic life-forms on display, some of which are bred in the thermal pool. The aquarium is located in the countryside and housed in a Victorian building. Simply put, if you’re a marine life lover, this is the place to be. There’s also a lot to be learned from the geology of the area. This is because the thermal water affected the objects around and turned them into stones. Additionally, this attraction is home to the biggest hologram display in Europe. What’s more, is that the facility has an affordable visitors’ package for both kids and adults.

Matlock Bath Aquarium and Arcade

Address: 110 N Parade, Matlock Bath, Matlock DE4 3NS, United Kingdom

Website: Matlock Bath Aquarium and Arcade

Visited this place?

9. Try out Matlock Meadows' amazing ice cream


This attraction is located on a farm established in the 1930s, the Masson Farm. This place offers milk that’s sourced from their dairy herd. It’s well-known for its dairy products, including Italian gelato. If you happen to be around Matlock have a taste of this tasty Ice cream. There’s also free WIFI, a baby changing area, quad track, and access for disabled persons. If you visit the facility, make sure to watch out for the free-roaming animals, especially if you have children accompanying you.

Matlock Meadows

Address: Snitterton Rd, Matlock DE4 2JG, United Kingdom

Website: Matlock Meadows

Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 10am - 4:30pm (closed on Mon - Wed)

Visited this place?

10. Rock climb at Black Rocks

Black Rocks (Derbyshire)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user William M. Connolley used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Black Rocks is an attraction located between Wirksworth and Cromford. You can enjoy a memorable picnic at the top of this site’s crag. If you like rock climbing, you’ll definitely love this attraction. A lot of records have been set by legendary rock climbers from the world all over. Some climbs have even been documented here from the 80s and 90s. Don’t miss out on visiting Black Rocks when you’re in Matlock.

Black Rocks

Address: Cromford, Wirksworth DE4 4GT, United Kingdom

Website: Black Rocks

Visited this place?

11. Travel by rail at Peak Rail

Matlock railway station, Peak Rail and Network Rail, Derbyshire
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rosser1954 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Get a glimpse of how the steam trains used to operate back in the day. Tourists get an opportunity to travel on the rail and move from Derbyshire Dales to Peak District. The rail extends over a distance of 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles). The train service moves from Matlock Station to Rowsley South via Darley Dale and Matlock Riverside. Don’t miss out visiting Peak Rail for a memorable experience.

Peak Rail

Address: Matlock Station Station Yard, Matlock DE4 3NA, United Kingdom

Website: Peak Rail

Visited this place?

12. Come and visit the Leawood Pump House

Leawood Pump House and Cromford Canal Aqueduct
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Douglal used under CC BY-SA 4.0

As the name suggests, the Leawood Pump House was launched 50 years ago to supply water. The pump house supplied the water to the Cromford Canal. This facility is also known as the High Peak Pump House. Tourists who make their way here can enjoy the scenic views of the River Derwent. The engineering used in manufacturing the beam engine is also a wonder to behold. The gigantic pump has the capability to pump 4 tons (3,629 kilograms) per stroke. It also manages to stroke seven times per minute, all thanks to its 150-yard (140-meter) tunnel.

Leawood Pump House

Address: 5 High Peak Trail, Whatstandwell, Matlock DE4 5HN, United Kingdom

Website: Leawood Pump House

Visited this place?

Enjoy your visit to Matlock, UK

The list above looks at some of the most exciting and rewarding activities that one can enjoy while visiting Matlock, UK. The activities range from visiting aquariums, canals, mills, and museums. These attractions are enjoyable, and they also give visitors an opportunity to learn about the various sites and the overall history of the area.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

An award-winning travel writer with a rich extensive mix of passion and expertise. Studied and lived in three continents.

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Matlock
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.