Many Brits have fond memories of going to seaside towns in summer as a child and now take their own children to these places.
Tourists enjoy visiting seaside towns for their peaceful atmosphere, charming streets, amusement parks,food, like fish and chips, and the beach as the main attraction. There are a number of well known seaside resorts, including Brighton, Whitby, Blackpool, Margate and Bournemouth.
However, there are others that less visitors know about, such as Matlock Bath. This is a town in Derbyshire, recognised for its unique identity as a seaside resort in the Peak District without actually being near a sea.
It has classic coastal town features, such as fish and chip shops, arcades, ice cream parlours and the Heights of Abraham cable car all sit in a river valley, rather than by the sea. A North East resident, known on social media as Gabs Life, posted a video on TikTok giving her 233,000 followers a glimpse at Matlock Bath.
Speaking in the video, she said: “If you’re looking for a gorgeous day out in the UK, Matlock Bath is definitely the place to go. This little town in England is centrally located and is a great mid-point for day trips or weekend getaways.”
The TikToker described it as a “beautiful, picturesque seaside town that is not actually near the sea.” Gabs Life highlighted that Matlock Bath has “cute, little shops” and scenic walks.
She included a clip of people taking a stroll by the River Derwent, sharing that this is part of Lovers’ Walks, a series of footpaths along the riverside and up and over the cliffs. The seaside town fan added: “It’s just a really charming, chill place to explore, grab some food and slow down for a little bit. Matlock Bath is a hidden gem that you didn’t know you needed.”
The TikTok post has garnered thousands of viewes and more than 70 comments. Other users on the platform saw the appeal of the Derbyshire town. One said: “Feels like being at the seaside there!!”
Another added: “It’s nice and all shops and cafes [are] fair priced surprisingly.” A third chimed in: “One of three of my favourite places for a day out from Manchester. Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton…All absolutely beautiful.”
Someone else remarked: “Very good there always.” Others shared their thoughts with comments such as “how cute”, “I love it here”, “love Matlock Bath” and “next on my list.”
A different user gave a suggestion for visitors: “Tip for you all as parking is horrendous. Park in Matlock at the train station..catch a train into Matlock Bath. Cheap fare and much easier. Matlock born and bred.”
Matlock is a market town that neighbours Matlock Bath and according to Trainline, tickets for this journey start from £1.40 when you book in advance. The rail company notes that there are normally 18 trains per day travelling from Matlock to Matlock Bath.
Industrialist John Smedley developed the market town as a fashionable spa in the 19th century, using thermal springs for hydrotherapy. Matlock is where Hall Leys Park can be found, which has its own boating lake, tennis courts, a skateboard park and a children’s play area.
Matlock town centre consists of small, independent shops, a host of cafés, pubs and restaurants. Matlock’s convenient location, beautiful scenery, and strong transport connections make it a popular starting point for exploring Derbyshire and the Peak District.