What to do and see in East Midlands, England: The Best Nature & Parks

Now open daily. Take a spectacular cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham, an award-winning hilltop park. Your cable car ticket gives you free admission to all the facilities at the top, including 60 acres of landscaped grounds, exhibition areas, Masson Pavilion Film Theatre, adventure playgrounds, woodland walks, and two famous show caverns with guided tours, audio visual effects and remarkable stories to tell. Cavern tours take place throughout the day. NEW self guided audio heritage tour available via your mobile phone. Enjoy stunning views across the Derwent Valley from the Vista Restaurant and Bar. Dogs are welcome and travel free on the cable cars, but are not allowed down into the Caverns.

Poole’s Cavern is the most spectacular natural cavern in the Peak District. The cavern is famous for the spectacular and unique crystal formations including the longest stalactite formation in the region. Your expert guide will accompany you on a 45 minute journey through chambers once used as shelter and worship by prehistoric to roman visitors. See the cathedral sized main chamber carved from Limestone by an ancient river and follow safe and accessible walkways through beautifully illuminated passages on a journey deep underground. Back above ground browse through our rock and gem shop and view the archaeological discoveries from the cavern in the exhibition. Due to Covid restrictions we have a reduced cafe with take away drinks and snacks for 2020, lots of picnic tables for visitors. Complete your day with a stroll on our country park woodland trails with animal sculptures to find which lead to Solomon's Temple viewpoint at 439m above sea level and views of the Peak District.

Walk in the footsteps of the Ice Age hunter and enter a world of fire and flint. Discover a legacy etched in stone with cave art 10,000 years older than the pyramids, and medieval Witch Marks as a reminder of more superstitious times. Explore life on the edge of the Ice Age world. Creswell Crags features the only authenticated Ice Age cave art in Britain. Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves by archaeologists provide evidence for a fascinating story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Robin Hood Cave has more apotropaic Witch Marks than anywhere else in the UK. The unique archaeology, geology, wildlife and fauna have resulted in Creswell Crags being one of the most protected sites in the UK. The beautiful natural landscape is also popular with walkers and boasts a variety of rare species. Visit the museum or book a cave tour. See website for details.

Clumber is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres.Clumber Park was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. Although the house was demolished in 1938, there are glimpses of its grand past to explore - from the Gothic-style chapel, often referred to as a 'cathedral in miniature', you can follow in the footsteps of dukes through the peaceful pleasure ground to the Walled Kitchen Garden, where you can experience sights, scents and a taste of the past.Today Clumber offers freedom to discover a ducal park and provides a haven for wildlife within an idyllic setting.With 3,800 acres of picturesque parkland and gardens, peaceful woodlands and a magnificent lake to enjoy there is plenty of space to explore and relax with your family and friends.Not only is Clumber's mosaic of habitats home to an amazing array of wildlife, it is also a great place to spot it.And there's much more to explore.

A beautiful garden that has been revived since 2001. The large stately home was demolished in 1951 and the site abandoned. Now visitors can see the grounds that President Franklin Roosevelt described as 'a dream of Nirvana, almost too good to be true.' Work is still ongoing and the restoration and features of this 400 year garden makes a fascinating trip. We have a good tearoom and are very easy to find off the A1.

Hardys Animal Farm is a great day out in over 7 acres of Lincolnshire countryside yet just 10 minutes walk from the beach, with loads of things to do and animals for you to meet feed and make friends with. It's a great day out, whatever the weather! You can see pigs being born in our specially glazed breeding unit, feed the goats and many other animals, allowing the children to learn about modern farming in a safe and fun environment. We also have baby Lambs, Goats, Cows and Chicks being born throughout the year. There is plenty of space for the kids to run around in our 3 Adventure Playgrounds catering to all ages, while you relax with a hot drink or a bite to eat. Go on a relaxing Cart Ride around the Farm with Fergie the Tractor and then decamp to Haystacks Indoor Playbarn, there are loads of things to do come rain or shine. The Number 3 Bus stops at the end of the farm road, running every 8-10 minutes from Skegness, Ingoldmells, Butlins & Fantasy Island