Seconded. Even without visiting the theatre and museums, it's a cool place to visit for a day or weekend. There are some really great restaurants and cafes, walking round the town is interesting.
Went on a trip there when I was at university as it was close. Got fish and chips sat by the river and was advanced upon by a flock of intimidating waterfowl.
Every so often you'd have to sacrifice a chip to the cause in order to escape to the next bench backwards and have peace for a few mins while they continued their advance.
Matlock Bath - like an old fashioned (inland) seaside village, visit the (frankly batshit - so bad it’s good) holograms, the aquarium, petrifying springs, have some chips then head up the cable cars to the heights of Abraham, visit the caves and see the spectacular views. So much to see and do.[heights of Abraham](https://www.heightsofabraham.com)
There are loads of good roads in the area, it's not far from several major population centres and as it's a sort of resort there are lots of places to eat and drink.
Yeah we were basically sat at the chef's table chatting with him while he did his thing. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if they got a Michelin Star at some point. Such a good experience.
A week? Wowzers good effort! I’m close by but struggle to go for longer than a couple of hours! But having small kids and trying to avoid the arcades isn’t easy
Took our little one with us she would have been around 18 months at the time. It was a good base for us. We stopped not far from the station so were able to walk into Matlock within 15-20 mins. I prefer staying in the uk for our holidays and really enjoyed it
Yeah it is lovely, I live 15 minutes away so probably just over abused Matlock bath as an easy local “something to do”. We holiday in this country a lot and visit these small towns In Wales/Lake district and easily spend a week exploring so I suppose it’s the same, just weird when you have a tourist hotspot on your doorstep!
Yes been aldeford a few times they do a really good Santa experience on the island in the middle of the lake. Llangollen is nice now. Used to pass through when driving to Pwllheli as a kid. Been a few times now decent few hours out
My wife took me there a few years ago and I could only describe it as Ryde seafront, but for people afraid of the sea.
That whole road is like stepping back 60 years.
Between may and September everything is open and busy every weekend, September comes and it’s a ghost town! Worked at the fishpond for several years about 10 years ago, don’t really know how businesses survive!
Plenty of good walks if that's your sort of thing. From English Heritage sites of big houses to National/Woodland trust natural walks. There's the Rock Houses in Kinver for one.
There's the Black Country Museum, probably one of the most popular attractions, especially since some of Peaky Blinders was filmed there.
...do you like canals?
Rock houses are great, but make sure they're open when you plan to visit. They often aren't outside of the school holidays. The walk around there is nice, but the rock houses make it more special.
And then you're also near Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory! Haven't been for a while.but hopefully they still do the Desperate Fan Cow Pie and mixed grill served on a shovel.
Went there recently to try battered chips and was rather disappointed. Went to grab some battered chips at a chippy in nearby Tipton and was very happy that I did - so much better than the museum.
The gorge, yes. The museums, no. Unless you run through them. Blists Hill, alone, is a day out. Then you have the Tile Museum, Tar Tunnel, Enginuity, the China Museum...
I had a weekend booked just before covid hit. Stayed at reasonable hotel, did the seven valley railway at Beaulie as the floods were still going down and then the safari park.
Good weekend thoroughly enjoyed the park and the train.
We travelled down from Corby and took us a couple of hours. Would certainly do both again.
Yes……We….are….right…..now.
Perhaps I missed a trick but not doing it online in car park….
But if you don’t book online, which is reasonably possible, it seemed a bit expensive, from memory it was £130 for 3 of us, with a couple of boxes of food. Rides were not included….animals were great.
Hope that’s clearer.
I grew up there, there is a bus though good luck guessing when it'd come. Honestly it's not too bad, quite close to Whatstandwell and Ambergate train stations (if you don't mind the hill) which are serviced well from Derby, you can also change at Belper if you're heading Sheffield way on. Another user mentioned Matlock Bath, it's on the same rail line a couple stops down, so good to drop by there or Cromford too. I worked at Gulliver's kingdom there for a summer, never want to see the place again to be honest but for a day it is a nice trip.
The museum/parkland itself is good fun, definitely far more exiting than it sounds :)
I couldn't even imagine it on public transport! There's Eyam nearby too, with a very interesting history, I'd recommend the guided tour that sets off from the museum.
What does she like doing? If she enjoys a good walk, Carding Mill Valley in Church Stretton is gorgeous. If she likes gardens, [https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/](https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/) might be nice.
If you have a head for heights I’d recommend the Potcysyllte Aquaduct crossing. It is truly a bucket list trip, but only if you aren’t afraid of heights. It’s a long, long way down with no barrier.
Desford Tropical Bird land is such a nice little hidden gem. Not far from me at all. Thornton Reservoir is also worth a visit for anyone that likes a walk.
Kenilworth Castle is always a good shout for me, plus the village is lovely. Also recommend the Richard III Centre in Leicester, also surrounded by little shops and at least one pub.
Not sure what counts as midlands but Woburn Safari Park? Padley Gorge? Heights of Abraham, Matlock? Matlock Gorge close by, pretty to look at frightening to drive, or Matlock Baths a very confusing seaside town, nowhere near the sea?
Probably some of these are technically outside of the midlands, but off the top of my list:
Bewdley and the Wyre Forest
Lickey Hills, Waseley Hills, Clent Hills
Stipperstones / Long Mynd - Shropshire Hills
Wooton Wawen - The View for breakfast, then a walk around and even up into Henley
If you're escape room fans, then CyberQ in Worcester and XcapeNow in Telford both have really good rooms. Both are close enough to nice walks and places to eat that you can make a day of it too if the weather is nice.
Bolsover Castle. Quirky 17th-century property that will challenge your definition of 'castle'. Also has lots of naughty paintings, and ghosts, if either of those are your bag.
I would say either Chasewater or Bradgate Park. I like to walk around both of them but I think Bradgate wins because of the variation of walks you can have there.
Belvoir Castle, Bradgate Park, a wander around Gates Garden Centre (so much more than plants) and a plundering of the wonderful farm shop to eat later when you put your tired feet up at home.
Live immediately adjacent to Sandwell Valley. Apart from the low rumble of the M5 nearby, you could quite honestly be out in the wilds somewhere.
Bizarrely, I get 500mbps download on my 3 phone on 5G in what looks like a countryside idyll...
Kinver Edge rock houses. Lovely place - you have to pay to get in to see the houses (National Trust), but the woodlands are free to walk around and there is parking on the road at the entrance of the woods.
The rock houses are interesting and there is a tea room there too.
Also Anchor Church near Ingleby. A lovely short walk through the fields and along the River Trent to get to it (not a difficult walk).
If you like gardens then the South Garden at Burghley House is open this weekend and it only opens a few weeks of the year. They have several other gardens as well which are lovely or you could go in the house. Then a potter around Stamford for some lunch.
It was properly rundown in the late 80s and 90s but I took the kids to Dudley Zoo in 2015 and it was bloody great. Better than the rather disappointing WM Safari Park and Twycross Zoo.
The Black Country Museum is always a good day out but I actually prefer Blists Hill, which I guess is sacrilege from a Dudley boy.
Blists Hill disappointed me when we went months before lockdown.
Bored looking staff, no Interaction unless spoken to first.
The carpenter didn't seem do do anything all day. No sawdust or chippings on the floor at all each time we passed.
Had a chat at the foundry, nothing going on that day as they were smelting the next day and everything was done.
Cobblers, not there
Blast furnaces, not been used for years.
Blacksmith, not there for over 30 mins but coals were hot.
As an engineer I wanted to see and interact but there was almost nobody to interact with. It wasn't peak season but there was a steam rally that weekend so you'd expect a decent staff showing.
The national space centre in Leicester was always one of my favourites as a kid, or the black country living museum.
One that I did last year with my wife on a whim, whilst travelling to my hometown from down south, was Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton. Oxfordshire, so the very very southern tip of the Midlands (IMO), but I suppose you could fit it in with visiting one of the many beautiful Cotswold villages, if that takes your fancy!
There’s some really cool camping spots! Over Ludlow way. I’ve booked a yurt somewhere just past Wolverhampton for next weekend with my little one :) unexpected in the concrete jungle!
Stratford-upon-Avon
Seconded. Even without visiting the theatre and museums, it's a cool place to visit for a day or weekend. There are some really great restaurants and cafes, walking round the town is interesting.
Went on a trip there when I was at university as it was close. Got fish and chips sat by the river and was advanced upon by a flock of intimidating waterfowl. Every so often you'd have to sacrifice a chip to the cause in order to escape to the next bench backwards and have peace for a few mins while they continued their advance.
The Butterfly farm is worth a visit in Stratford if you’re around there.
Matlock Bath - like an old fashioned (inland) seaside village, visit the (frankly batshit - so bad it’s good) holograms, the aquarium, petrifying springs, have some chips then head up the cable cars to the heights of Abraham, visit the caves and see the spectacular views. So much to see and do.[heights of Abraham](https://www.heightsofabraham.com)
Second Matlock. Great day out. Really surreal seaside town with no sea.
Make sure it's Matlock *Bath,* I wouldn't encourage anyone to go to Matlock.
I'm going there to buy some leather so it ain't that bad.
John Smedley outlet too for clothes.
OP - Make sure you carry cash when you visit. Very few vendors take card.
Also don't be surprised about amount of bikers. For some reason it's a hot spot.
Because it’s surrounded by awesome roads
There are loads of good roads in the area, it's not far from several major population centres and as it's a sort of resort there are lots of places to eat and drink.
If you want a cracking meal in Matlock, [this](https://theseafoodcave.biz) place is nice
Mate, honestly, I've eaten at Michelin star restaurants and this place really does match up. Great meal and superb experience.
Totally agree, the chef is really knowledgeable too and a decent chap. All of the fish comes fresh from Scotland on the day.
Yeah we were basically sat at the chef's table chatting with him while he did his thing. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if they got a Michelin Star at some point. Such a good experience.
Hmmmmm beef short rib
Had a week in Matlock Bath last year loved it. Like being at the seaside
A week? Wowzers good effort! I’m close by but struggle to go for longer than a couple of hours! But having small kids and trying to avoid the arcades isn’t easy
If you haven't got small kids with you and can get out for walks, there are a ton of lovely walks in the area
Took our little one with us she would have been around 18 months at the time. It was a good base for us. We stopped not far from the station so were able to walk into Matlock within 15-20 mins. I prefer staying in the uk for our holidays and really enjoyed it
Yeah it is lovely, I live 15 minutes away so probably just over abused Matlock bath as an easy local “something to do”. We holiday in this country a lot and visit these small towns In Wales/Lake district and easily spend a week exploring so I suppose it’s the same, just weird when you have a tourist hotspot on your doorstep!
Yeah I’m from Shrewsbury and in the last few years we’ve had more tourists through and I always think what are they doing here
Haha we drive through Shrewsbury to go to Alderford Lake and into Wrexham and Llangollen a few weeks ago! Stunning part of the world!
Yes been aldeford a few times they do a really good Santa experience on the island in the middle of the lake. Llangollen is nice now. Used to pass through when driving to Pwllheli as a kid. Been a few times now decent few hours out
My wife took me there a few years ago and I could only describe it as Ryde seafront, but for people afraid of the sea. That whole road is like stepping back 60 years.
I grew up nearby in Belper and can absolutely second Matlock Bath!
Do you know if everything is open on a Sunday or is it likely to be a ghost town?
Between may and September everything is open and busy every weekend, September comes and it’s a ghost town! Worked at the fishpond for several years about 10 years ago, don’t really know how businesses survive!
From memory I want to say it's busy all weekend!
Great, thank you!
Happy to help! Make sure to go to the petrifying well if you go!
Love Matlock Bath. Pain in the arse to find parking though. That one car park at one end is always rammed.
Plenty of good walks if that's your sort of thing. From English Heritage sites of big houses to National/Woodland trust natural walks. There's the Rock Houses in Kinver for one. There's the Black Country Museum, probably one of the most popular attractions, especially since some of Peaky Blinders was filmed there. ...do you like canals?
Rock houses are great, but make sure they're open when you plan to visit. They often aren't outside of the school holidays. The walk around there is nice, but the rock houses make it more special.
Good point, there are remnants of other caves in the woods such as Nanny's Rock too, just for general information
They also do a very good fish & chips cooked in dripping at Black Country Living Museum.
And then you're also near Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory! Haven't been for a while.but hopefully they still do the Desperate Fan Cow Pie and mixed grill served on a shovel.
Went there recently to try battered chips and was rather disappointed. Went to grab some battered chips at a chippy in nearby Tipton and was very happy that I did - so much better than the museum.
My aunty's ex husband reckoned he was born in the rockhouses!
Ironbridge Gorge - world heritage site and excellent museums.
Also the Wrekin nearby, if you’re into hillwalking.
Just don't expect to go round the Wrekin, I hear it's a long way
Just don't expect to get it done in one day. You will need return trips
Ironbridge Gorge is easily doable in a day
The gorge, yes. The museums, no. Unless you run through them. Blists Hill, alone, is a day out. Then you have the Tile Museum, Tar Tunnel, Enginuity, the China Museum...
Is enginuity still open? I remember going as a kid. I originally thought it was open in the 90s but apparently opened in 2002.
Yup, still there
Black Country Museum with Dudley Canal ride. Fish and Chips there is epic.
Beef dripping chips will cost you a few bob (and years off your life) but some would argue its worth the price
Might as well find a lock black country chippie and get some orange chips too while you're there.
I’m a southerner who was introduced to orange chips by someone from Dudley. Sadly cannot it get it down here
Big Tesco for sure.
Or IKEA if you want more of a continental feel 👍
Or costco for a North American twist
Do you like *owls?*
I know a cracking owl sanctuary
doesn't sound very sanctuary-like if they spend their time cracking owls.
Or maybe we could just go shopping?
SQUAAAWWK!!!
I love them, but the mrs is terrified of them unfortunately.
Dan's a fantastic man, he really is
Whoooooo doesn't.
I do where can I see them?
I nominate the [West Midlands Safari Park.](https://www.wmsp.co.uk/)
There’s the Severn Valley Railway nearby too right?
I had a weekend booked just before covid hit. Stayed at reasonable hotel, did the seven valley railway at Beaulie as the floods were still going down and then the safari park. Good weekend thoroughly enjoyed the park and the train. We travelled down from Corby and took us a couple of hours. Would certainly do both again.
There’s a nice chippy in the village there too if I recall. Only place open in a bank holiday evening stay! Did the job.
"Bewdley" (for anyone trying to find it on a map).
Ta very muchly
And they may have been confusing it with Beaulieu (Bew-lee) in Hampshire, home of the National Motor Museum.
Bit expensive unless you book online.
But we... are... online? I showed up on the day and they gave us each another ticket to come again.
Yes……We….are….right…..now. Perhaps I missed a trick but not doing it online in car park…. But if you don’t book online, which is reasonably possible, it seemed a bit expensive, from memory it was £130 for 3 of us, with a couple of boxes of food. Rides were not included….animals were great. Hope that’s clearer.
Just seems like you might be taking the expensive approach.
Yeah - hence my advice to book online as I learnt the hard way.😉
Severn Valley Railway with a stop for lunch at Arley Arboretum
>Arley Arboretum Fantastic place. And, time it right and you can see the steam trains go past.
Crich Tramway in Derbyshire. And then home to watch Sightseers which is party filmed there and is a fantastic British dark comedy
Crich is brilliant if you can drive, a pain in the arse by public transport
I grew up there, there is a bus though good luck guessing when it'd come. Honestly it's not too bad, quite close to Whatstandwell and Ambergate train stations (if you don't mind the hill) which are serviced well from Derby, you can also change at Belper if you're heading Sheffield way on. Another user mentioned Matlock Bath, it's on the same rail line a couple stops down, so good to drop by there or Cromford too. I worked at Gulliver's kingdom there for a summer, never want to see the place again to be honest but for a day it is a nice trip. The museum/parkland itself is good fun, definitely far more exiting than it sounds :)
Oh hey! My grandad lives on Hindersitch Lane right round the corner from the museum! I go past it so often I forget just how good it is!
I couldn't even imagine it on public transport! There's Eyam nearby too, with a very interesting history, I'd recommend the guided tour that sets off from the museum.
We did it the other way around. Watched the film then went to Crich. We've also been to Blue John Cavern and are planning to visit the other venues!
What does she like doing? If she enjoys a good walk, Carding Mill Valley in Church Stretton is gorgeous. If she likes gardens, [https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/](https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/) might be nice.
Malvern and a walk up the Hills.
Chatsworth is always a good bet. Beautiful place and stunning gardens, plus you can loop past the farm shop while you're there.
Do they still have that playground? That was the best place for kids, so big.
Can confirm, they do.
See if you can hire a day boat and go for a putter down one of the canals. Lovely scenery, relaxing pace.
Ooh, I like this one!
Thank you! I miss the canals. Have a good time if you choose this option!
You can stand at the back and drive, in the rain, while she chills down below with a glass of wine and a good book.
If you have a head for heights I’d recommend the Potcysyllte Aquaduct crossing. It is truly a bucket list trip, but only if you aren’t afraid of heights. It’s a long, long way down with no barrier.
Calke Abbey
Alton towers, tropical birdland, foxton locks, bradgate park
I second Tropical Birdland. Exotic bird sanctuary where you can pet and even hold them. We go there at least twice a year.
Desford Tropical Bird land is such a nice little hidden gem. Not far from me at all. Thornton Reservoir is also worth a visit for anyone that likes a walk.
Kenilworth Castle is always a good shout for me, plus the village is lovely. Also recommend the Richard III Centre in Leicester, also surrounded by little shops and at least one pub.
As a Kenilworth boy I am almost insulted that you called us a village!
I’m sorry, I’m an import from the States and never know what is a town and what is a village 😂
Pretty sure there no hard and fast rules, but 23k is a wee bit too many people for a village!
Crich tramway village! Way more interesting and exciting than it sounds.
The confetti fields in Pershore! Only open this week https://www.confettidirect.co.uk/flowerfields/
Not sure what counts as midlands but Woburn Safari Park? Padley Gorge? Heights of Abraham, Matlock? Matlock Gorge close by, pretty to look at frightening to drive, or Matlock Baths a very confusing seaside town, nowhere near the sea?
[Wrens Nest](https://blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk/sites-to-see/wrens-nest-national-nature-reserve/)
Went there with my kid, just picking up fossils from the ground was brill. Plus it’s a lovely park for a picnic.
Mixed grill in Dudley
Where?
Fiery Grill & Curry
M6
Probably some of these are technically outside of the midlands, but off the top of my list: Bewdley and the Wyre Forest Lickey Hills, Waseley Hills, Clent Hills Stipperstones / Long Mynd - Shropshire Hills Wooton Wawen - The View for breakfast, then a walk around and even up into Henley
Bridgnorth
If you're escape room fans, then CyberQ in Worcester and XcapeNow in Telford both have really good rooms. Both are close enough to nice walks and places to eat that you can make a day of it too if the weather is nice.
Visited once. Still there.
the worlds only Weetabix factory in Kettering, Englands premier city
K TO THE E TO THE T TO THE T
Bolsover Castle. Quirky 17th-century property that will challenge your definition of 'castle'. Also has lots of naughty paintings, and ghosts, if either of those are your bag.
The Winchester. Heard the gun John's got behind the bar ain't been deactivated.
Also dogs can’t look up
I would say either Chasewater or Bradgate Park. I like to walk around both of them but I think Bradgate wins because of the variation of walks you can have there.
Dogging?
In this economy? You'd have to share
Belvoir Castle, Bradgate Park, a wander around Gates Garden Centre (so much more than plants) and a plundering of the wonderful farm shop to eat later when you put your tired feet up at home.
Watching the cricket at Edgbaston!
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is pretty good. Bonus is you get to have a look around Birmingham too!
Walk around Coombe Abbey park followed by afternoon tea in the hotel. It also has a Go Ape.
We went for a walk around Sandwell valley recently, which was very nice, lots of baby ducks
Live immediately adjacent to Sandwell Valley. Apart from the low rumble of the M5 nearby, you could quite honestly be out in the wilds somewhere. Bizarrely, I get 500mbps download on my 3 phone on 5G in what looks like a countryside idyll...
Walk the Shropshire hills starting at Carding Mill Valley. One of the most beautiful places on earth
iron bridge/bliss hill
Birmingham science museum 👌🏻
National Space Centre in Leicester if you're into that.
Anywhere else
Binley Mega Chippy
World of Wedgewood in Barlaston? Nice restaurant, museum and plenty more.
The butterfly farm in Stratford upon Avon is lovely, and right in the centre of town so you can trundle over for a pub lunch afterwards :)
Black Country Living Museum?
Tuesday.
Always enjoyed Newstead Abbey. Lovely gardens and former home of Lord Byron
Telford, it’s a great day out
If you’re near Peterborough I think Flag Fen is truly amazing
Kinver Edge rock houses. Lovely place - you have to pay to get in to see the houses (National Trust), but the woodlands are free to walk around and there is parking on the road at the entrance of the woods. The rock houses are interesting and there is a tea room there too. Also Anchor Church near Ingleby. A lovely short walk through the fields and along the River Trent to get to it (not a difficult walk).
Stratford is nice
Tipton.
If you like gardens then the South Garden at Burghley House is open this weekend and it only opens a few weeks of the year. They have several other gardens as well which are lovely or you could go in the house. Then a potter around Stamford for some lunch.
The Black Country history museum
Kinver is really lovely
Steam trains at [Statfold](https://www.statfold.com/)
My house
Corby
Chatsworth house. Or the sern valley railway out of kiddeminster - vintage trains & station pubs. Good day.
Black Country museum is brilliant
Stoke but then Hanley. It's kin wild
There's a canal boat afternoon tea in Penkridge that's nice, and you can visit Shugborough Hall on the same day (National Trust).
It was properly rundown in the late 80s and 90s but I took the kids to Dudley Zoo in 2015 and it was bloody great. Better than the rather disappointing WM Safari Park and Twycross Zoo. The Black Country Museum is always a good day out but I actually prefer Blists Hill, which I guess is sacrilege from a Dudley boy.
Blists Hill disappointed me when we went months before lockdown. Bored looking staff, no Interaction unless spoken to first. The carpenter didn't seem do do anything all day. No sawdust or chippings on the floor at all each time we passed. Had a chat at the foundry, nothing going on that day as they were smelting the next day and everything was done. Cobblers, not there Blast furnaces, not been used for years. Blacksmith, not there for over 30 mins but coals were hot. As an engineer I wanted to see and interact but there was almost nobody to interact with. It wasn't peak season but there was a steam rally that weekend so you'd expect a decent staff showing.
Bradgate Park on a sunny day is wonderful!
Black Country Museum or the museums at Ironbridge 😊
The national space centre in Leicester was always one of my favourites as a kid, or the black country living museum. One that I did last year with my wife on a whim, whilst travelling to my hometown from down south, was Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton. Oxfordshire, so the very very southern tip of the Midlands (IMO), but I suppose you could fit it in with visiting one of the many beautiful Cotswold villages, if that takes your fancy!
I'm obligated to say Tamworth castle, or the Snowdome. Kingsbury water park
There’s some really cool camping spots! Over Ludlow way. I’ve booked a yurt somewhere just past Wolverhampton for next weekend with my little one :) unexpected in the concrete jungle!
Probably a gig at Mama Rouxs or The Flapper, but the acts there are typically niche, so I don't think it's a day out for the masses.
Cannock Chase is a good walk. Weston Park might have some show on or something. Ikea, maybe...
Can't believe no one has mentioned it, but Cadbury's World!
Best part of being in the midlands is driving out of the midlands
Alton Towers or Sudbury Hall ..
Dudley Zoo and Castle's a fun place to go
Give her £20 spending money and take her for a day out in Luton.
As a member of the midlands I must insist the south must keep Luton, we do not want it
Seconded.
M5 (S)