Wingfield Manor English Heritage Centre is 17 miles north of Derby, 11 miles south of Chesterfield and just 1/2 mile south of South Wingfield.
The ruins of an immensely impressive palatial mediaeval manor house is arranged around a pair of courtyards, with a huge undercrofted great Wall and high tower, which stands at 22 m, or 72 feet tall. It was built in the 1440s by the wealthy Ralph, Lord Cromwell, treasurer of England and is a monument to late mediaeval ‘conspicuous consumption.’ It was later to become the home of Bess of Hardwick’s husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, who imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots here in 1569, 1584 and 1585. The Manor is contained within a private working farm and partly surrounds the farmhouse and visitors are asked to respect the privacy of the owners and keep to the official routes.
Gulliver’s Kingdom is 8 miles away and is a family theme park high up on the hillside in Matlock Bath, aimed at younger children. There are fairground rides, roller coasters, fantasy attractions and log flume rides. There are lots of places to grab a burger and chips.
Peak District Mining Museum is in Matlock Bath’s Pavilion. It offers a peek into the world of the miner and there are climbing shafts, working models, the tunnel and the slideshow, which offers a practical look at lead mining. Visitors can also explore the Temple Mine for a first-hand experience of the industry as well.
Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath was once a pleasure garden for the Regency period, which incorporates a variety of attractions in over 60 acres of wooded hillside. Reached by cable car from the station at Matlock Bath, there are two show caverns, which offer an in-depth look at the life of a lead miner and can be explored hands on. There are also woodland walks, exhibitions and videos, a cafe and an adventure play area for the children with spectacular views of Matlock Bath below.
Whistlestop Countryside Centre is based Matlock Bath station and is run by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. It includes learning areas for children and schools, exhibition spaces, beautiful wildlife garden and lots of family activities and a gift shop.
Nottingham Castle is 14 miles away and is a magnificent 17th-century mansion built on the site of the original mediaeval castle with spectacular views across the city. A vibrant Museum and Art Gallery, it houses collections of silver, glass, armour and paintings 15 centuries of Nottingham history which are brought to life through stories and interactive displays.
Creswell crags is 14 miles away and is a limestone gorge honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures. Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves by archaeologists provide evidence and an interesting story of life through the last ice age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. In 2003. The discovery of Britain’s only known ice age rock art was discovered and it’s a great day out for all the family.