Little Monkeys Play Centre

If you're camping near Matlock with small children in tow, Little Monkeys Play Centre is the sort of place that buys you a solid hour of peace. It's an indoor play facility - soft play, slides, climbing frames, the usual setup - aimed squarely at the under-eights crowd. Nothing fancy, but it does the job when the Peak District weather turns, which it will.

The centre works best for families with toddlers through to early primary school age. Older kids will get bored after thirty minutes, tops. It's the kind of spot you'd use on a rainy afternoon between proper outdoor activities - a palate cleanser rather than a destination in its own right.

Staying at Darwin Forest or Packhorse Farm puts you within easy reach if you need an activity fix. The facilities are handy enough that you won't feel like you've wasted half a day driving there, though you'll want to check current opening hours and admission prices before you trek in from your caravan - details are thin on the ground online.

Honestly? It's functional rather than special. The real draws around Matlock are the gorge itself, the cable car, and the proper outdoors. Save Little Monkeys for damage control on the inevitably miserable day, not as something to plan a trip around.