What to do and see in Matlock, England: The Best Things to do

This year is our 50th Anniversary Cromford steam rally was established in 1970 and is one of the most highly rated shows in this part of the country, with over 600 exhibits theres something for everyone so why not come and spend the day with us at Cromford. Cromford Steam Rally 1st & 2nd August 2020, gates open 08.30 till late Saturday 08.30 till 17.00 Sunday

Contemporary Art Gallery - selling fine art & ceramics. Opened July 2017. The Old Lock Up Gallery is situated within a beautiful stone building, built in the 1700’s, in the beautiful and historic Derbyshire village of Cromford. The building itself is steeped in history – as it was owned by Sir Richard Arkwright and used as the village jail, one of the first of it’s kind in the country.

The Bentley Brook Brewing Company is a micro-brewery operating out of an old mill located within the Lumsdale Valley, just a stones throw from Lumsdale Falls. Small batch beers brewed on premises are able to be purchased in the taproom/bottle shop. A selection of hot and cold drinks are also available, as well as wines, spirits, bar snacks and locally produced ice creams. Card and cash payments are accepted.

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.

Currently closed due lockdown - hope to be open every day from the 3rd December. Find out about the lead mining heritage of Derbyshire from Roman Times to the present. Interactive exhibits, mock tunnels and shafts to climb, moving models. The new Matlock Bath Through Time exhibition tells the story of a village that was one of the top Georgian Spas in the country. Then visit Temple Mine and find out what it was really like working underground followed by a try at gold panning. Suitable for all ages. Family ticket £28 (2A and 3C)

Crich Tramway Village is a family visitor attraction and home to the National Tramway Museum. Take a trip back in time and ride vintage trams into the open countryside. There's an enchanting Woodland Walk and Sculpture Trail, Tearoom, gift shop, children's play area, exhibitions and Workshop Viewing Gallery. We are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Monday 31st August and weekends from 10am until Sunday 1st November 2020. Please check our website for opening times: www.tramway.co.uk and download the Covid-19 Crich Tramway Village Guidelines.

The construction of the Cromford Canal by William Jessop and Benjamin Outram, partners in the Butterley company, was completed in 1794. It is 14.5 miles long and joined Cromford with the Erewash Canal at Langley Mill. The site has a wealth of industrial heritage and lies in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site. The canal is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its entire length from Cromford to Ambergate. The 3.3km southern section from Whatstandwell Bridge to Ambergate is a Local Nature Reserve. The canal is a haven for water vole, a threatened and declining species, and for grass snakes, little grebes, moorhen and coots. The southern end towards Poyser's Bridge is excellent for dragonflies. The canal can be explored from the towpath between Cromford Wharf and Ambergate, a distance of just over five miles. The walk from Cromford Wharf to High Peak Junction is suitable for pushchair's and wheel chairs. We manage the section from Cromford to Ambergate for recreation and wildlife. The canal has a very rich and diverse wildlife running through the attractive Derwent Valley and part of it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve can be accessed from the north end at Whatstandwell or at the southern end from Ambergate by a towpath off Chase Road. The old towing path which follows the canal is a public footpath - please note that this path is narrow and uneven in places. Birdswood, a restored narrow boat is run on scheduled trips through the year by the Friends of Cromford Canal. Open to all members of the public. Come and enjoy a peaceful journey along the canal, from Cromford Wharf to High Peak Junction, introduced by a booming announcement from the FCC President, Brian Blessed. Birdswood is also available for private hire and for specialist educational trips. Limited canoeing is permitted on the Cromford Canal between Cromford Wharf and High Peak Junction. Because of the sensitive nature of the canal, numbers are strictly controlled. There's a Changing Places toilet for use by the public in the car park at Cromford Wharf.