Activities in Matlock

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, the Heights of Abraham is a mix of brilliant highs and lows – the highs include the views from the top via the cable car (or a long zig-zagging walk) and the lows include exploring the Masson and Rutland underground cave systems. A short distance south from Matlock town centre, the park is located on the top of a stunning limestone gorge, with over 60 acres of parkland and woods to explore.

With dozens of animals to see – and even feed and cuddle – including llamas, goats, peacocks, red deer, guinea pigs and baby chicks, plus a large adventure playground, go-kart track and toddler’s play area, there’s something for everyone at Matlock Farm Park. There’s also the Garden Room Cafe which serves locally sourced food, perfect for lunch or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, and it’s all handily located just five-minutes drive from our Matlock hotel.

Designed by one of the stars of the Industrial Revolution, Sir Richard Arkwright, Masson Mills is part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Site and spans everything from a working textile museum showcasing the area’s once-vital cotton industry to a series of cafés, restaurants and even the Masson Mills Shopping Village. The working museum is a must-visit as you get to experience the jaw-dropping power of the hydroelectric turbines and the bustling noise of dozens of cotton machines hard at work. Make a trip of it by parking in nearby Matlock Bath and following the River Derwent down the steep-sided gorge to the Mill.

Walking distance from the centre of Matlock, Lumsdale Falls are a picture-postcard perfect series of waterfalls set in deep wooded hills by the ruins of several industrial mills. The two-mile round-trip from Matlock Green also takes in several waterwheels, mill ponds and some amazing Instagram-worthy scenery.

Home to over 60 trams built between 1873 and 1982, the Crich Tramway Village is a real journey back in time. Located in the village of Crich, a short drive from Matlock, visitors can hop on board one of the vintage trams or explore the recreated period street including the Red Lion Pub and a working tearoom. There’s also a nature and sculpture trail and the National Tramway Museum to explore, meaning you can easily spend the best part of a day at the village. A word to the wise, Bodenham Arboretum is not free, and the price of tickets changes with the seasons of the year but at roughly a few pounds for adults it's worth it for a peaceful afternoon outdoors.

With over 50 species of fish, one of the largest hologram displays in Europe and a large collection of gemstones, fossils and china, Matlock Bath Aquarium is much more than just a giant fish tank and coral reef. Located in a gorgeous Victorian building in the centre of Matlock Bath, the aquarium is also home to a thermal pool and a petrifying well where the mineral-rich water has turned everyday objects into stone.

Located in Matlock Bath near Gulliver’s Kingdom, Temple Mine is a working 1920s mine that covers over 200 years of mining history via a collection of tools and equipment, rare rocks and minerals. The mine tour lasts an hour taking in a network of caves and caverns including the chance to pan for gold for yourself. Daily tours take place from April until the end of October, with weekend tours from November to March.