Midland Railway (Butterley)

Steam engines and Victorian railway carriages dominate the Midland Railway at Butterley, just outside Alfreton in Derbyshire. This is a working heritage railway where volunteers keep the old lines going, running proper passenger trains pulled by locomotives that haven't seen regular service in decades. You board at Butterley station itself - a restored Victorian platform with period charm - and the train winds through countryside that hasn't changed much since the 1950s. The journey takes you through Derbyshire's industrial heritage, passing former colliery sites and quarries, which sounds drab but actually tells a proper story about the region.

It's brilliant for railway enthusiasts and families with kids aged five upwards, though younger children get restless once the initial thrill wears off. Plan for three to four hours minimum if you want to do the full experience - arrival, a cuppa at the station cafe, and the round trip. The line operates weekends and school holidays mainly, so check ahead. Admission is paid but not expensive compared to theme parks.

If you're camping at Golden Valley Caravan Park just down the road, or staying at Riddings Wood slightly further out, the railway makes a solid half-day activity that breaks up a Derbyshire trip. Combine it with a proper walk in the wider area - there are decent countryside trails around Alfreton - and you've got a decent day sorted. Not a destination in itself, but if you're already in the region, it's worth the detour.