What to do in Derbyshire on a rainy day

A downpour in Derbyshire doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a brilliant day out - there are lots of brilliant indoor and undercover attractions here. So if the sky is gloomy on your holidays your mood needn’t be - check out these fun suggestions for what to do in Derbyshire on a rainy day.

Down below is a great place to go

While Derbyshire has several wonderful underground attractions that make excellent outings for wet weather. The incredible Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton is the only place in the world to have naturally occurring Blue John Stone and it also boasts a great collection of stalactites.

Poole’s Cavern is an impressive limestone cave situated in Buxton featuring intriguing crystal stalactites. The cave has an extensive history spanning millions of years and a variety of artefacts have been found within it such as metal objects (particularly bronze jewellery) and it is likely a bronzesmith was based at the cave around the second century AD. Ancient shards of pottery dating before the Romans occupied the area have also been found in the cave.

Another cave located in Castleton that is well worth visiting is Peak Cavern, alternatively known as the Devil’s Arse due to the flatulent-like noises caused by water draining within the cave. Peak Cavern features the biggest natural cave entrance in Britain.

Fun and games for children

Chucklebutties is sure to provide plenty of chuckles indeed for younger children. This soft-play centre is located in Belper and is suitable for children 4'9" (145cm) in height or shorter (including a designated place for babies). Taller siblings and parents can relax at the café while the little ones do all the ‘hard work’ of playing.

If you want to flex your creativity skills then Paint a Pot in the Markeaton Park Craft Village in Derby is a great place for all the family to go. Paint a Pot is suitable for young children right up to gran and granddad and enables visitors to paint their choice of a wide range of ceramics which can be taken home as a fun reminder of the day out.

Discover Derbyshire’s great historic buildings

Calke Abbey offers a visit to a stately home with a bit of a difference – the country house and accompanying stables are in a state of decline and a visit to the buildings highlights the fact that many country houses within the 20th century were unable to be preserved. The house is filled with a diverse and eccentric array of objects including the likes of crocodile skulls, a number of stuffed birds and a grand 18th century bed.

Hardwick Hall is a stunning Elizabethan building and is home to an equally fantastic collection of Elizabethan tapestries. There is also a great collection of furniture and portraits within Hardwick Hall, ensuring that visitors will have no shortage of wonderful items to capture their attention during their indoor explorations.

Spend the day musing within museums

The National Trust Museum of Childhood offers a delightful day out for adults as well as children. The eight galleries within the museum provide insight into the history of childhood from the Victorian period to the present day and encompass the likes of a Victorian school room, a great collection of toys from various periods in history and insight into the employment of children in occupations such as chimney sweeping or domestic service.

The Derby Museum and Art Gallery is home to the biggest public gallery of Joseph Wright paintings. Visitors can also view a large collection of Royal Crown Derby porcelain, while other intriguing displays are based in areas such as archaeology, military history and geology to name a few.

Get moving

If you’re looking to combine fun and exercise while keeping dry, a visit to Rollerworld in Derby is an exciting and entertaining way to have both. Learn-to-skate sessions as well as family nights make this a great attraction for visitors of all experience levels and ages to enjoy.

For explorers who want to take things at a leisurely pace, a ride on the Peak Rail railway is an excellent way to do sightseeing in style courtesy of a steam or diesel locomotive. The railway line runs between the stations of Rowsley South and Matlock Platform 2 and trains operate on various days of the month throughout the year.

Derbyshire delights that make a rainy day a happy day

Amazing underground caverns, eye-catching historic buildings and great museums are just some of the excellent attractions that can be enjoyed in Derbyshire even when the rain is pouring. With a range of enticements to suit kids and adults alike, you can be assured of a wonderful day out in Derbyshire no matter what the weather is like.

And actually, some of Derbyshire's attractions are even better in windy and wet weather! If you go white water rafting, you're going to get wet anyway!