Photo: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Matlock
Wondering what to do in Matlock? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip.
🎟️ This weekend near Matlock
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 18:30
FUSE - SKUM, Ten Eighty Trees, Fatal Reflection, and Polarno...
The Victoria Inn, Derby · 15.7 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
Sunwheel Live at Dubrek Studios
Dubrek Studios, Derby · 15.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 20:00
U2uk
The Flowerpot, Derby · 14.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 21:30
Amplify w/Weejii 360° Experience
Hidden Basement, Derby · 15.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
1.1 mi from Matlock
Matlock Bath Aquarium
Matlock Bath Aquarium sits in a Victorian building in the centre of Matlock Bath, at the heart of the Peak District, and brings together a fascinating aquarium of over 50 fish spec...
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Museums & Galleries
1.3 mi from Matlock
Peak District Mining Museum
The Peak District Lead Mining Museum is located at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England. The Peak District Mining Museum is operated as charity by the Peak District Mines Historical S... — Wikipedia
1.9 mi from Matlock
Cromford Mills
Cromford Mill is the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill, developed by Richard Arkwright in 1771 in Cromford, Derbyshire, England. The mill structure is classified as... — Wikipedia
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2.7 mi from Matlock
High Peak Junction
High Peak Junction, near Cromford, Derbyshire, England, is the name now used to describe the site where the former Cromford and High Peak Railway (C&HPR), whose workshops were loca... — Wikipedia
3.1 mi from Matlock
National Stone Centre
The National Stone Centre is a 40-acre site of natural landscape on the edge of the Peak District, just 30 minutes north of Derby in the Derbyshire Dales. It makes for an education...
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4 mi from Matlock
National Tramway Museum
The National Tramway Museum in Crich, Derbyshire, is an open-air heritage attraction where you can ride vintage trams through a recreated village street and out into open countrysi...
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5.4 mi from Matlock
The Great British Car Journey
The Great British Car Journey is an interactive motoring museum in Crich, Derbyshire, telling the story of British car-making through more than 150 classic cars, from the Austin Se...
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7.4 mi from Matlock
Old House Museum
Old House Museum in Bakewell is a five-hundred-year-old building, originally built as a tithe house in 1534, making it the oldest standing residence in the town. Across eleven room...
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8 mi from Matlock
Strutt's North Mill
Strutt's North Mill forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site in Belper, Derbyshire, and is run as a museum exploring the history of the Strutt family's mills. You...
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8.8 mi from Matlock
Chesterfield Museum
Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery is a local museum and art gallery in the town of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. — Wikipedia
10.3 mi from Matlock
Stainsby Mill
Stainsby Mill is a 19th-century flour watermill in Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. The mill, which has been restored to full working order, is a Grade II listed buildin... — Wikipedia
10.6 mi from Matlock
Revolution House
Thatched cottage in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK
11.5 mi from Matlock
Eyam Museum
Eyam Museum tells the story of this famous Derbyshire Dales village, including its experience of plague in 1665-1666 and its wider social history and industrial heritage. It's an i...
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11.9 mi from Matlock
Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Repairer
Mr Vacuum Cleaner is a combined sales, service, repair and museum business based on Market Street in Heanor, Derbyshire, in the Amber Valley area. Alongside its museum displays, it...
12 mi from Matlock
Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum
Barrow Hill Roundhouse is the last surviving operational railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom, set in Staveley near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. It's an amazing family-friendly mu...
13.7 mi from Matlock
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is a historic scythe and steelworks site in Sheffield dating back to the 1700s, where you can explore the Manager's House, Worker's Cottage and Counting...
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Theme Parks
1.4 mi from Matlock
Gulliver's Kingdom
Gulliver's Kingdom is a family theme park set on a hillside on the edge of the Peak District National Park in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. You'll find rides designed especially for yo...
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17.1 mi from Matlock
Alton Towers Resort
Alton Towers is a historic estate, theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incor... — Wikipedia
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17.7 mi from Matlock
Gulliver's Valley Resort
Gulliver's Valley Resort is a family-run theme park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, designed especially for children aged 2 to 13. You'll find rides such as the Rocky Ridge Railway...
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19.6 mi from Matlock
Go Ape Sherwood Pines
Go Ape Sherwood Pines offers six outdoor adventures among century-old pine trees, from the original Treetop Challenge with its famous Tarzan Swing and long zip wires, to the extrem...
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23.5 mi from Matlock
National Forest Adventure Farm
National Forest Adventure Farm is a family-run attraction near Burton upon Trent that began as a maize maze and funfield in 2004 and has grown into an events-based day out. Through...
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27.3 mi from Matlock
Conkers
Conkers is a large woodland attraction in the National Forest, with 120 acres of lakes, trails and adventure play to explore. You can splash through the Barefoot Walk, climb and sp...
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27.9 mi from Matlock
Vintage Family Funfair
This vintage family fun fair is a traditional old time funfair held at Brookside Garden Centre, run by a family business specialising in vintage fairground attractions. You'll find...
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Water Parks
17 mi from Matlock
Alton Towers Waterpark
Alton Towers Waterpark, previously known as Cariba Creek, is a water park at Alton Towers Resort, in Staffordshire, England. It is themed to a tropical lagoon, adjoining the Splash... — Wikipedia
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Zoos & Wildlife
14.8 mi from Matlock
Mayfield Alpacas
Mayfield Alpacas is a small alpaca petting farm and animal sanctuary set in Mayfield Valley near Sheffield, Yorkshire. You can get close to alpacas and a llama called Princess, plu...
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16.2 mi from Matlock
Peak Wildlife Park
Peak Wildlife Park is a wildlife attraction in Ipstones, Staffordshire Moorlands, built around naturalistic enclosures that replicate animals' native habitats. Since opening in 201...
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20.9 mi from Matlock
Tropical Butterfly House
Tropical Butterfly House is a family-friendly zoo and wildlife attraction in North Anston, near Rotherham, where wildlife conservation sits at the heart of everything on offer. You...
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Where to stay near Matlock
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Matlock
Itineraries
- A weekend in Matlock: an accessible itinerary · 2 days
- A weekend in Matlock with the kids · 2 days
- A weekend in Matlock · 2 days
Haunted Britain
From the blog
Getting your bearings
Matlock gives you a practical base for days out across Derbyshire and the surrounding counties. A couple of attractions are right in Matlock itself, while many of the others worth knowing about are further afield in Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire and Leicestershire. Rather than trying to fit everything in, pick a theme for each day and check travel times on a map before you set off.
Family-friendly days out
If you have children with energy to burn, the two theme parks on the list are the obvious starting point: Gulliver's Kingdom and Gulliver's Valley Resort. Each makes a full day on its own, so don't plan much else around it.
For animals, Yorkshire Wildlife Park (listed under Nottinghamshire) suits all ages, and Heaton Park Animal Centre in Cheshire is another option. Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent is a water park, which suits families on hot days and wet ones alike.
Rainy-day options
Matlock has two museums of its own, which is useful when the weather turns:
- Peak District Mining Museum: a good choice if you're curious about the area's industrial past.
- Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Repairer: an unusual, specialist collection that makes for a memorable hour.
Further out, Stoke-on-Trent has the V&A Wedgwood Collection and The Dudson Museum, both natural picks if you're interested in pottery. Castleton Village Museum in the Peak District, the Alfred Denny Museum in Sheffield and the John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum in Leicestershire are all worth considering if you're happy to travel for something specific.
Outdoors and fresh air
Alport Height is a National Trust site and an easy addition if you want time outside. Stainsby Mill, also National Trust, combines a bit of heritage with a change of scene. In Staffordshire, the Geological Gallery at Biddulph Grange Garden lets you pair an indoor collection with time in a garden setting, which works well on an unsettled day.
Heritage and history
This is where the area is strongest. Hardwick Hall, Bolsover Castle, Elvaston Castle and Riber Castle are all listed as castle and heritage sites. Stately home fans can add Swarkestone Pavilion and Teversal Manor. Smaller curiosities include Wollaton Dovecote, the Judges Retiring Room and Flintham Museum in Nottinghamshire, and Redfern Cottage, Brampton Museum and the Museum of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.
Grouping attractions into a sensible day
Grouping by area keeps driving to a minimum. A few combinations that make sense:
- A Matlock day: Peak District Mining Museum in the morning, the Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Repairer after lunch, with no long drives at all.
- A Stoke-on-Trent day: the V&A Wedgwood Collection and The Dudson Museum together, or swap one for Waterworld if the children need a break from exhibits.
- A Nottinghamshire day: Yorkshire Wildlife Park as the main event, or a gentler mix of Flintham Museum, Wollaton Dovecote and the Judges Retiring Room.
- A Staffordshire day: the Geological Gallery at Biddulph Grange Garden alongside Brampton Museum or Redfern Cottage.
- A heritage day: pair two of Hardwick Hall, Bolsover Castle and Elvaston Castle, checking the map first so you aren't doubling back.
Where to eat
All of the following have 5-star food hygiene ratings. For a pub lunch or evening meal, try The Feather Star, Kings Head or Red Lion Inn. For something lighter, The Bakewell Tart Shop and Costa are both tea rooms, handy for a coffee and a slice of something between attractions. Check the location of each against your plans for the day, as it's easy to assume somewhere is closer than it is.
Turning it into a short break
With 322 places to stay listed on BritStays in the Matlock area, you have plenty of choice whether you want a cottage for the family or somewhere small for two. A long weekend works well: spend one day in Matlock itself, one on a theme park or wildlife day, and one on heritage. A midweek break gives you room to add a Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire day too.
Practical tips before you go
Opening days and times vary, especially for smaller museums and heritage sites, so check directly with each attraction before you travel. Book theme park and wildlife park tickets ahead if you can, particularly in school holidays. Keep one indoor option up your sleeve in case of rain, and allow more time than you expect between counties.
Frequently asked questions
What museums are there in Matlock itself?
Matlock has two: the Peak District Mining Museum and the Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Repairer. Both are good options for a rainy day without much travelling.
Are there theme parks I can visit from Matlock?
Yes. Gulliver's Kingdom and Gulliver's Valley Resort are both listed as theme parks for the area. Each is best treated as a full day out.
Where can we see animals during a stay in Matlock?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, listed under Nottinghamshire, and Heaton Park Animal Centre in Cheshire are the two wildlife attractions on the list.
Which National Trust places can I visit?
Stainsby Mill and Alport Height are both National Trust sites. Check opening details with the National Trust before you go.
What castles and historic houses are worth visiting?
Hardwick Hall, Bolsover Castle, Elvaston Castle and Riber Castle are all listed as castle and heritage sites. Swarkestone Pavilion and Teversal Manor are listed as stately homes.
How many places to stay are there on BritStays in the Matlock area?
There are 322 places to stay listed on BritStays in the Matlock area, giving you a wide choice for a short break.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Matlock.