Fish and chip cafes, amusement arcades and quirky independent shops make this Derbyshire town the closest thing to a day at the seaside without leaving the MidlandsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Matlock Bath, though 70 miles from the coast, is often nicknamed the ‘seaside town without the sea'(Image: Anuj Mishra)
A trip to the seaside from Birmingham usually involves hours of driving, but one unique town a one-hour train ride away has everything Brits love about visiting the coast – apart from one detail.
Matlock Bath is home to top-rated fish and chip shops, amusement arcades and even a pretty waterside promenade, but no beach.
The Midlands town is 70 miles away from the sea, but its riverside setting and classic attractions give it a similar ambience to seaside towns.
Read more: I visited the ‘Costa Del Birmingham’ holiday spot a bus ride from town
And visitors can still go for a dip, as the warm waters of the Derbyshire spa town’s historic thermal springs are still accessible at the New Bath Hotel and Spa’s restored lido.
The outdoor pool, nestled near the wildcat crafts of the Derbyshire Dales, is fed by naturally mineral-rich thermal spring water flowing at 19.8°C – a more comfortable temperature than the shores at Blackpool or Weston-super-Mare.
Amusement arcades, fish and chip shops and quirky independents give Matlock Bath a coastal town feel(Image: MEN Staff)
It was after the discovery of Matlock Bath’s springs in the 17th century that the town became something of a tourist hotspot.
Today, a whole host of attractions cater to visiting families, including Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park, the 60-acre Heights of Abraham hilltop park, which can be reached by cable car, the Victorian aquarium and the traditional amusement arcades dotted along the prom.
Old-school shops selling fudge, antiques, ice creams and gifts add to the seaside feel.
Those looking for a tranquil spot should head to the opposite bank of the river Derwent, where the sheer cliff of High Tor draws more walkers and climbers than tourists.
The Heights of Abraham hilltop park is home to adventure playgrounds, hidden caves and a restaurant – all reached by cable car(Image: Heights of Abraham)
Giddy Edge can be found here too, a winding path along the cliff edge.
Further out, there’s Cromford Mills, home to the world’s first water-powered cotton spinning mill, and the impressive National Trust manor house of Kedleston Hall, its interior designed to echo the grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome.
Brummies can reach Matlock Bath by car in an hour and 25 minutes via the M1, but you can get there quicker by train in just over an hour from Birmingham New Street, with one change at Derby.
One-way rail tickets cost as little as £16 when booked through The Trainline days in advance.