Sometimes described together, the town of Matlock and the smaller village of Matlock Bath are two distinctly different places though inevitably linked by name and proximity.
Matlock's growth was rapid during the Victorian period and it became a fashionable resort in conjunction with nearby Matlock Bath, helped by a road cut through the crags at Cromford. The town owes much of its status to John Smedley, who built Riber Castle, the mock medieval castle overlooking the town, as well as the impressive Smedley's Hydro, now headquarters of Derbyshire County Council.
The newly renovated parks alongside the River Derwent are ideal for families with boating, play areas and a skateboarding park, all linked with easy walking paths. The town is also home to Peak Rail, where at weekends you can ride on one of the many regular steam trains or even enjoy a footplate experience and drive the train yourself.
Enjoy the famous Matlock Bath Illuminations with a programme of entertainment on or near the bandstand in Derwent Gardens each Saturday and Sunday until October 31, commencing at 7.00pm.
View the 2009 Matlock Bath Illuminations on the Visit Peak District YouTube Welcome Channel
Download the 2010 Matlock Bath Illuminations programme
Download the Matlock Parks Trails leaflet
Matlock Bath became a tourist resort for the wealthy more than 300 years ago and a spa when the warm springs, which emerge at a constant 68°F, were discovered. The large houses of the wealthy were built high up the steep hillside, giving rise to its description, ‘Little Switzerland’, by the poet, Lord Byron.
After the advent of the railways, the town was open to mass tourism and it is often described as an inland seaside resort. It is now a thriving tourist destination with attractions for all ages. The town's parkland has attractive picnic areas, children’s playground, wooded walks and caves to explore along the riverside path and you can take to the water yourself with rowing boats for hire near The Pavilion.
The town's wide open main route gives it the appearance of a seaside promenade and it is split into two parts, known as North and South Parade. The road and river are enclosed within a deep-sided gorge with limestone cliffs on either side. One side is lined with souvenir shops, amusements, cafés and food outlets and the other by a wide walkway alongside the River Derwent.
The building that was once Matlock Bath Hydro now contains The Aquarium. You can still see the elegant stone staircase and large thermal pool dating from its heyday of spa treatment, though now the pool is home to a large collection of carp. Upstairs in the old treatment rooms there are tanks of native, tropical and marine fish.
There's also a Hologram Gallery which exhibits three-dimensional pictures using laser technology and a Petrifying Well where objects dipped into the water acquire a hard coat of lime and appear as if they have been turned to stone.
At the southern edge of Matlock Bath is the imposing Masson Mill. Built by Sir Richard Arkwright as a cotton mill, Masson is part of The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and is now home to a Shopping Village and a Textile Museum with authentic working machinery.
For more information on shopping in Matlock, download the town's Stop & Shop Guide (468Mb pdf)
See location of Matlock & Matlock Bath on Google Maps
Located on the A6 between approximately midway between Buxton and Derby
