
Visiting Matlock Bath – The Inland Seaside
I love a day at the seaside. The sounds of fun and music from the amusement arcades. The smells of the food, fresh donuts, ice creams and, of course, fish and chips. The shops selling souvenirs, key-rings and the ubiquitous fridge magnets. You get all this, and so much more, in lovely Matlock Bath. The only thing you don’t get is the sea, as Matlock Bath is not on the coast, but on the river Derwent in Derbyshire. We spent a glorious day there a few weekends ago, in glorious scorching temperatures and can honestly say, it is just as good as a day at the seaside.
Visiting Matlock
Matlock Bath is very much a Victorian Spa town, with lots of beautiful architecture that includes the former Thermal Baths that now make up part of the aquarium building. One of the key buildings in the town is the resplendent pink Grand Pavilion, which has a great tea room/cafe, and is also a venue for concerts and shows. We stopped here for a comfort break and have to say the sandwiches were really tasty and impressive, and they had a great range of drinks including Sanpellegrino soft drinks.
The Great Pavillion is by far my favourite building in Matlock Bath, but everywhere you look, there is beautiful architecture, not least in around the war memorial and promenade gardens, which have a wonderfully peaceful feel.
Take a Walk
Matlock Bath is a wonderful place to take a walk along the river, with stunning views and scenery, and lots of pretty bandstands, fountains and waterfalls to admire on the way. This site has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and you can certainly spot lots of birds and wildlife and insects on your walk. You can also take a trip on the wonderful cable car at the Heights of Abraham. This offers incredible views across Derbyshire. ( I didn’t do this on this particular visit, but have done this before, definitely one for intrepid explorers.) You can also hire a rowing boat to take your own trip on the river, there are also pedalos and manned boat trips, all perfect for those who love messing about on the river.
The town
The town is buzzing. It was extremely busy on this beautiful Saturday, and there are a mixture of sweet shops and ice cream parlours that are extremely popular and have beautifully painted shop fronts. There are little gift shops that have an affordable range of souvenirs, including the famous Matlock Bath wooden ducks, and there are some lovely independent cafes and traditional pubs which are perfect for a pit stop, or a long leisurely afternoon of drinks with friends. One must visit shop is The Old Apothecary Shop that dates back to 1835 and is like taking a step back in time, with original cabinets and heritage perfumery brands. It is absolutely stunning!
There are also more chip shops than I have ever seen in my life, which makes the smell so appetising. Even if you are full, you will want to eat fish and chips, and will have more than enough choice. Matlock Bath may well be the capital of fish and chip shops and is all the better for it.
Parking
We parked on the station car park, which has easy access for both the town and the Heights of Abraham. It was reasonably priced at around £7 for the day, and there was plenty of parking available, even on a busy day.
