The best things to do in the Peak District with young kids

It’s easy to forget just how much there is to explore close to home – and even now travel restrictions are happily becoming a distant memory, there’s still plenty to tempt those with preschoolers to book a short break somewhere family-friendly, like exploring the Peak District with young kids.

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Having grown up around half an hour from the edge of the National Park, a lot of my own childhood memories revolve around exploring here, including walking and cycling through the Peak District.

Because you definitely don’t need to be a hardened hiker to enjoy this gorgeous part of England, on the border of Staffordshire and Derbyshire. With family attractions, some great child-friendly places to stay and even its own signature pudding, there are so many things to do in the Peak District with young kids. Here are some of my top picks as a great way to escape the everyday!

Animal attractions in the Peak District

Peak Wildlife Park

One of my daughter’s own favourites, this little zoo is perfect with preschoolers – there’s the chance to walk through some of the enclosures, wandering past wallabies and lemurs, as well as spotting the supercute meerkats and the newer additions in the form of a family of furrily fierce polar bears.

We’ve seen the cheeky penguins being fed or out for their own stroll too, and the clever design means little ones can watch them from different levels, swimming, lounging on their rocks and waddling around to snap up the fish.

In the other half of the park, there are play areas, including a big bouncy castle, and another walk-through area with giant bunnies. They have their own homes to hop to, off limits to small visitors, but are equally happy to lounge in the grass having their very soft fur stroked.

You can even wander past some of their even bigger cousins in the new capybara walkthrough area.

Check out my review of a day out at Peak Wildlife Park

Matlock Farm Park

This 600-acre working farm is pretty much small child heaven, with the chance to meet a whole string of farmyard animals as well as a few more exotic inhabitants.

You’ll find meerkats and wallabies alongside the pigs, goats and sheep (and sometimes sheep – and ferret – races to watch too). Visitors can feed the donkeys and bottle feed lambs in spring, as well as petting rabbits and guinea pigs too.

And if the UK weather isn’t as sunny as you’d like, there’s the indoor jungle-themed rainforest play centre along with outdoor play areas, one of which is aimed at younger kids.

Get outdoors in the Peak District

Go walking

It seems a bit self-evident to say there are great walks in the Peak District – and if you fancy strapping on a child carrier, you can get out and explore with any age. But it’s also fantastic if you’re going walking with younger kids too.

There are several old railway lines which have been converted into walking routes, so they’re easy to wander along with a buggy or for preschoolers to scoot, balance bike and stroll.

Check out the Monsal Trail, Tissington Trail, High Peak Trail and Manifold Track for starters – all ones I’ve explored as a child myself. The Manifold trail is not far from the Peak Wildlife Park if you’re looking to combine a couple of ideas on that side of the Peak District, while there are amazing views from the High Peak Trail (though the gravel means that one isn’t so good for scooters).

That’s only the start: you can wander around the grounds of stately homes, ramble near reservoirs – check out the Derwent Dam, while the Ladybower reservoir is a lovely one – plus the famous Dovedale Stepping Stones. This does get very popular in holidays and at weekends, so make the most of being able to visit on a school day!

If you’re looking for another good way to keep young kids entertained during a walk in the Peak District, I love the I Spy series – I Spy in the Countryside is a fun option with lots of photos

Cycling in the Peak District with young kids

The flat old railway routes are perfect if you’re hoping to go cycling in the Peak District – those buggy-friendly and child-friendly paths are flat and sometimes even tarmacked.

The Monsal Trail, Tissington Trail, High Peak Trail and Manifold Track are all good ones to have on the list, depending where you’re staying and how far you fancy cycling.

If you don’t have your own bikes, you can hire them easily too – Middleton Top Cycle Hire near Wirksworth has tagalongs and trailers, for example, as well as child bikes, child seats and child helmets, and it’s easy to get to the High Peak Trail (open daily during the summer, at weekends, bank holidays and school holidays during April/May and September/October).

Parsley Hay bike hire has a similar range and is a good start for the Tissington Trail too, plus you’ll find a couple of options for the Monsal Trail including at Hassop Station in Bakewell, and Blackwell Mill at the start of the trail.

Or head off to the Carsington Reservoir for the Carsington Water loop, which stretches for around 7.5 miles, and the White Edge Loop on the Longshaw Estate in Hope Valley, for an easy taste of an off-road path.

Alpaca walking

Sometimes, you need a bit more of an incentive to get kids out for a walk – so the chance to wander alongside an alpaca is easily the best motivation.

Brackenfield Alpacas are set on a 17-acre farm in Derbyshire’s Amber Valley, and on their 90-minute treks, you can head off to explore the farm with a cute fluffy-faced companion, learning more about the animals from your guide before heading into the paddocks to feed some of the other alpacas.

Children of all ages are welcome – under-sixes walk with an adult alongside the alpaca, although it’s not suitable for pushchairs and prams, so you’ll need a carrier if you’re bringing very little ones.

Chatsworth Gardens

It doesn’t matter how old you are, Chatsworth – home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire – is enough to wow anyone, from the astonishing ceiling in the painted hall to the four-poster bed in the State Bedchamber.

But it’s the gardens which are going to tempt toddlers most (and stop any heart-racing moments around priceless pieces in the sculpture gallery). With 105 acres, there’s also plenty to explore if the house is closed.

Start with the little explorer’s garden trail which takes you to the sensory garden, human sundial and willow tree fountain, or you can venture further on a hidden gems trail which leads to the grotto, trough waterfall and hundred steps.

There’s also a woodland playground with water and sand play as well as rope park and trampoline, and you can visit the working farmyard to see the animals there too.

Go swimming

If it’s not a proper holiday without the chance to go for a dip, there’s plenty of opportunity in the Peak District – wild swimming is getting more popular, but if you’re travelling with younger kids, there is a great alternative to the often chilly waters.

Step forward Hathersage lido – the heated outdoor pool is surrounded by some of the area’s gorgeous scenery, so you’re getting the best of the views while you splash around.

There are one-hour family sessions, and it’s well worth booking ahead as it’s very popular – another bonus of visiting with younger kids during term time as you’ll find it’s often quieter.

The pool is heated to 28C but as it is in the open air, it can still be worth putting littler ones in thin wetsuits or full-body costumes unless it’s gloriously sunny. If your kids aren’t potty-trained, you do need swim nappies.

For more inspiration on visiting the Peak District with young kids, check out this episode of the Kidventures family travel podcast too

Family attractions in the Peak District

There’s far more to do in the Peak District with young kids than getting outdoors – so if you’re unlucky with the weather, or if you’re looking for family attractions to mix in with the walks, there’s plenty of choice.

Crich Tramway

Pretty much every toddler is fascinated by vehicles and transport, so the Crich Tramway Village should be on every list of Peak District family attractions to visit.

With a string of vintage vehicles, you can hop on and off the trams throughout the day, or just ride round and round, enjoying the journey.

There’s a woodland walk which leads to an adventure playground, as well as a sculpture trail, not to mention more trams in the depot where you also learn about their history – a bonus if you’re taking an extended family trip with grandparents.

Even more fun is the chance to explore the period shops, including a sweet shop with proper traditional sweeties, some dressing up and a few other fun touches to transport you back in time.

Explore a cave

There are some amazing caverns under the Peak District for another unusual day out with young kids in the Peak District, especially the area around Castleton where you find the semi-precious stone Blue John.

Treak Cliff Cavern has some dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, plus there’s a phone app to guide you around, which is ideal if you’re wary of small explorers disrupting a group tour – kids under five are free as well.

Or you could sail through Speedwell Cavern, cruising by boat along the canal in the 200-year-old lead mine to the Bottomless Pit (actually a huge subterranean lake rather than anything more sinister) – kids of all ages are welcome, and under fives are free here too.

And there’s Peak Cavern too – you might not want to let your preschoolers know that the rope-makers who lived here nicknamed it the Devil’s arse though!

If you’re based closer to Buxton, Poole’s Cavern show cave is another great option with younger kids. As well as the stalactites in the limestone cavern, there are woodland walks along trails in Buxton Country Park outside, including to the folly known as Solomon’s Temple.

Heights of Abraham

Decades on, I still remember travelling on these cable cars, soaring above the countryside on one of our family holidays, and the Heights of Abraham are unmissable.

The views down to the Derwent Valley are only the start though, with the chance to head underground to the show caves – the tours are designed to show them at their 17^th century peak when lead was mined, although the caves’ history stretches back to the time of the Romans.

There are two separate ones to explore – the Rutland Cavern has fewer steps and lasts around 20 minutes if you’re not sure how much your kids will enjoy being underground. If it’s a hit, the Masson Cavern tour takes around 35 minutes with rather more climbing of steps.

There are also two play areas, including an adventure playground, plus walks galore – keep an eye out for the cows… three metallic cow sculptures underneath the Victoria Prospect Tower, who’ve found a perfect place to graze and stare out across the countryside.

Pop into the fossil factory too, where there are chances to get hands on, and to discover what you’d have found here 330 million years ago when Matlock Bath was submerged under water.

Peak Rail

One of several heritage railways in the area – often a feature of my childhood, as my dad is a mine of information about steam trains – the Peak Rail heritage railway chuffs and chunters between Matlock and Rowsley South, with both diesel and steam trains.

One lovely touch if you’re exploring with preschool children is the little of collection of books to entertain them at Darley Dale station, along with a small museum on the history of the line. There are even some days when kids go free, as well as family events throughout the year.

More things to do in the Peak District with kids

Eat cake

Who needs any extra encouragement to eat cake? But if you do, there’s always the traditional Bakewell pudding… and Bakewell tart. Yes, the two are different, so in the name of research, you should really try both and decide on your favourite.

If you want to balance the sugar intake, The Original Old Bakewell Pudding Shop has a nice kids’ menu as well as the chance to buy both.

In my own experience, I’ll happily eat either as often as I get the opportunity but if you’re wondering what the difference is, a Bakewell pudding is puff pastry with strawberry jam topped with a set almond custard – thanks to a happy misunderstanding by a 19^th century cook.

The Bakewell tart came later, with shortcrust pastry and a fluffy almond sponge on top of its strawberry jam (although ones with icing and half a glace cherry is another well-known twist).

Where to stay in the Peak District with kids

There are some gorgeous places to stay in the Peak District with young kids, which are part of the experience in themselves – as well as giving you time to explore properly. There are some great day trips in the area if you’re local, but a short break means you can really make the most of your visit.

Try a working farm with self-catering accommodation – not far from Matlock, Hoe Grange has some lovely log cabin lodges, set on one level, so you don’t have to worry about stairgates for toddlers.

There’s also a play area with a wooden toy tractor to ‘drive’, as well as the chance to spot the real thing in the fields, and you’re normally able to help feed the chickens, goats and horse as well.

One of the glamping pods at Mulino Pods sleeps four as well, for something a bit different. Another working farm, near Ashbourne, you can wake up to the sight of sheep and cows in the next fields, as well as the views of the Carsington Valley.

Or check into one of the luxury lodges at Landal Darwin Forest with its pool and soft play, all set within 47 acres of gorgeous woodland to explore (along with the Peak District itself). Another great option if you’re visiting the Peak District with a toddler.

For more ideas of things to do in the Peak District with kids – of all ages – check out this post

*First published 2021, last updated 2026*

PIN FOR LATER: VISITING THE PEAK DISTRICT WITH YOUNG KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions and memories of childhood holidays in the Peak District are my own.

Images: Peak Wildlife copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos/Picfair

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