Peak District - handy base?

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

Hiya,

We have two kids who will be 5 and 7 next year and we're considering a UK short break over Easter. I'm looking at some of our regular haunts, but wondered about the Peak District.

Does anyone have any recommendations for:

a) things to do, walking aside - are there some pretty villages?

b) a good village/town base? I'm quite into staying close to a pub/restaurants at the moment for ease!!

TIA.

It’s great for a family.
I’d try to get accommodation in Matlock. It has an aquarium, steam railway and the fantastic Heights of Abraham. It’s also home to Gulliver’s Kingdom which is perfect for children aged 5 and 7. They’d get a lot out of it and it’s nowhere near as busy/expensive as Legoland!
I’d recommend a visit to Chatsworth which has an amazing adventure playground and a farm where children can get stuck in with the milking etc...

Oh, thank you @ricekrispie22 I will have a look!

I love Buxton. Great pubs and good places to stay. Near the caverns and NT places...didn't go with kids so wasnt paying too much attention to what was available for them.

Bakewell is great! If the kids like cycling there's loads of old railway lines in the area which have all been resurfaced to make miles and miles of great family friendly cycle routes. We've stayed at Over Haddon (Haddon Grove Farm cottages - lovely self catering with small swimming pool on site). We've also camped at Monyash, campsite was one of the best we've been too, and the pub in the village did great food. Good parks/play areas in Bakewell. To be honest we did lots of walking and cycling but mine are a bit younger than yours at 3 and 5.

Ooh just remembered we did visit Sudbury Hall with our NT membership. It has a the NT's museum of childhood, which was good.

Darwin forest is a great family resort - 10 mins from Matlock, and Matlock Bath, 10 mins from chatsworth (which has a fabulous children’s farm and adventure play area). 15 mins from chesterfield. 5 mins from Matlock farm park.
Darwin forest has an indoor pool and large soft play centre plus a small playground. It’s in the middle of the countryside so nice and quiet.

Buxton. Some great restaurants and take aways. Terrific museum and walks. The cavern and Solomon's Temple worth a look alongside St Anne's Well and the Devonshire Dome.
For oatcakes have a late breakfast at Katie's Dinner, Dove Dale or the Yonderman a bit further on. Loads to explore a short drive away.

Just to clarify, the Matlock attractions listed above - the aquarium, the Heights of Abraham or Gulliver's Kingdom - are actually in Matlock Bath. If you stay in Matlock, youll need to drive or get the train to Matlock Bath as it's too far to walk with young children. There's only one road which gets very busy during holidays and traffic can back up, so if you want to be in walking distance of the amenities, you'd be better staying in Matlock Bath. It's not for everyone, there's a lot of motorbikes and it can get very crowded (lived nearby for years). Matlock is a bit more real, but has less to do for children.

The area around Castleton is lovely, and very dramatic. The Blue John mine and Speedwell cavern are great if your children are adventurous.

Bakewell is very pretty, and is lovely down by the river. Handy for Chatsworth, Haddon Hall and a good base for many attractions.