Fun family places between Derby and Nottingham?

[MJBmummy]

Hi, I’m planning a 1 or 2 night stop on my way to Yorkshire (where I will be staying for a few days). I will be heading up the M1 from Oxford way and Derby seems a reasonable point to stop. However, I dont know of anywhere that way to spend a day or two, specifically visiting places that would make a good family day out for a 3 year old. I’ve had a Quick Look online and it’s mostly your typical soft play places. Can anyone recommend anything, even a good farm-park type place, not too far from the motorway and roughly somewhere between Derby and Nottingham? Apologies if my complete lack of the local geography makes my request sound ridiculous! TIA

Twycross zoo is fantastic for little ones, just off the M1. Matlock has a lovely park and walks. Definitely Matlock bath for the best fish and chips. Lovely walk along the river, amusement arcade if the weather is bad. Matlock farm park has lot's of animals and activities too. 😊

Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll look into those places 😄

Chatsworth has a farm and an adventure playground.

If the weather is good I'd do Sundown Adventure Park! There's also Alton Towers where Cbeebies Land would be great for a three year old! Technically Staffordshire but easy to get to on your way to Derby.

Oh Sundown!! That brings back memories...do they still have the all year round Santa's Grotto?

Is White Post Farm still going? That was a fav of ours, we loved the big tortoise.

White Post Farm used to be excellent, but haven’t been in ages

Was just about to suggest White Post Farm - definitely still going @Rebusmyfire and perfect for a three year old (DD3 is 3!) also Bluebells is good. Lanes is also sweet for little ones but not a whole day activity

Matlock Bath is not between Nottingham and Derby, plus it's at least 45 mins from the M1 and a bit of a shithole 😆
If you want to stop overnight, there's plenty to do in Nottingham itself. Not so much in Derby!

https://bluebelldairy.co.uk/

I didn't love Twycross, but thoroughly love Matlock bath, and it has arcades, fish and chips etc. there's gullivers kingdom there too for a kids theme park.

Chatsworth has a great adventure park as previously mentioned.

Wollaton hall for the deers, park, walk around the grounds.

Wheelgate park is a good place to visit with that age, lots of indoor soft plays, but also small rides, outdoor adventure play, and a farm park/reptile house/birds of prey centre too.

Markeaton Park in Derby is free. Elvaston Castle is between the two. Hardwick Hall is a national trust place near chesterfield. Clumber park is in north notts. Just outside Nottingham itself is Wollaton Hall/Park which you only have to pay for parking. My boss likes going to the warhammer world pub but I’ve never been.

Matlock Bath is a bit surreal if you are from somewhere coastal as it's like a seaside town but there's no sea.

Bluebells Dairy Farm; not far from J25 M1. Animals, playgrounds and homemade ice cream!

Bluebells is good. White post used to be good but is a bit rubbish now to be honest. Moorways swimming is also great but very £££!

Markeaton is lovely.

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions so far 👍😊

There's also a Gullivers Kingdom at Rother Valley. It's a bit further up but it's much closer to the M1 than Matlock is so might be easier to get to.