Peak District summer holidays: what’s on guide for families

1. Family Day Rock Climbing with Peak Lines

Sessions running throughout the summer holidays
Click here for further information and to book
Click here for the Peak District Kids review

Spend quality time with your family, discover stunning locations in the Peak District, and create memories to last a lifetime with the family rock climbing sessions over the summer holidays.

Peak Lines offer private half-day and full-day climbing experiences in the Peak District. 

• The sessions are friendly, encouraging, and aimed to get you working together as a family
• You will have a go at climbing and abseiling, learn how to hold each other’s ropes and even learn some of the techniques essential to climbing independently
• The session will be tailored to you and your family based on experience, age, and fitness level
• Top-of-the-range safety equipment is provided

Half Day (3 Hours) £200 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £55.

Full Day (6 hours) £299 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £80.

2. Summer of Play at Ilam Park

19th July to 7th September (9:30am to 6pm)
FREE to enter (just pay for parking if not a NT member or blue badge holder)
Click here for more information

Summer of Play is back bigger and better than ever at Ilam Park. Join in the festival feeling and explore the many exciting drop in opportunities for all ages, from tiny tots, to not so grown ups! Spot fluttering flags and colourful bunting as you discover play around every corner of the beautiful parklands. Try the Ribbon Maze, play in the Mud Kitchen or try your hand at dance classes or a dog show!

Ilam Park is proud to offer a circular accessible path (1 mile), a changing place, an accessible path, and step free access to the Coach House Kiosk and Stables Bookshop.  Visit AccessAble to access the full accessibility guide.  

No admission charge to Ilam Park. There is only a charge for car parking £6 for 4 hours and £8 all day, National Trust members and blue badge holders park for free.  

3. Summer of Play at Longshaw Estate

29th July to 27th August (9:30am to 3:30pm)
FREE to entre (just pay for parking if not a NT member or blue badge holder)
Click here for more information

Entertain the whole family with Longshaw Estate’s Summer of Play.  

Test your skills at Pinecone mini-golf or take time to relax at the wonderous Cloud Gazing Station. Learn the basics of soft archery with a lesson and practice session or have a go at orienteering, where you’ll use a simple map to find different checkpoints. You can even try a brand-new dance workshop, with facilitators Shake Out! offering folk music from around the world. 

Relax after your activities at Longshaw’s award-winning cafe, which offers a full range of seasonal lunches, refreshments and locally sourced ice-creams.    

Visit AccessAble to access the full accessibility guide. No admission charge to Longshaw Estate, which is open to everyone. Car parking charges are £6 for 4 hours and £8 all day, National Trust members and blue badge holders park for free.  

4. Go Ape in Buxton

Visit the Go Ape website for more information.
Click here for our review

Looking for unique things to do this summer? How about 30ft up a tree? Whether you’re looking for things to do with family or friends Go Ape have adventure covered. Head to Buxton Country Park, Poole’s Cavern, for 2-3 hours of action-packed fun and tackle the Treetop Challenge. Climb up rope ladders, tackle tricky crossings, leap off Tarzan Swings and experience high-speed ziplines in the great outdoors. Our forest doors are open daily. Come rain or shine. Whatever the weather.

Please note that as this is one of the bigger and more challenging Go Ape courses, there is a minimum age restriction of 10 years and a minimum height restriction of 1.4 metres. One adult (18+) can supervise up to two children aged between 10-15 while on the course with them. 16 and 17-year-olds can supervise themselves (but not younger children).

The parking for Go Ape is shared with Poole’s Cavern, so you can combine your visit to the cavern, and/or venture up to Solomon’s Temple.

5. Summer of fun at Thornbridge Estate

Open 10am-4pm everyday
£8 for adults, £4 for children and under 3’s FREE – pre-book to save 20%
Click here for further information and to book
Click here to read our guide for visiting Thornbridge Estate

This summer, Thornbridge Gardens is bursting into life with family-friendly fun and magical moments. Explore ten acres of stunning RHS Partner gardens and follow the seasonal nature trail, specially designed to showcase the gardens at their blooming best.

Kids can net a duck at the iconic Rubber Duck Fountain, venture into the enchanted HobbleGobble Woods, and get creative at special summer workshops (additional charges apply). There’s a sense of wonder around every corner; from adding your message to the Love Locker to discovering hidden surprises on the trail.

Dogs are welcome and parking is free

6. Peaks and Paddles Kayak Hire / Family Canoe trips / Abseiling

Running sessions throughout the summer holidays
Click here for further information and to book
Minimum age of 5yrs for all activities

Kayak hire

Paddle a tandem kayak , meandering at a leisurely slow pace along the Cromford Canal and return. Enjoying the wildlife along the way in a lovely location. 1hr approx.

Teens can paddle together provided a parent is supervising.

This is a no swimming / falling in allowed.

Family canoe trip

Just your group plus the instructor, take control of your canoe and cruise along the canal, with help from the instructor you will be in control in no time! Enjoy a few games and challenges along the way.

2hrs approx.

Millers Dale Bridge Abseil

With a head for heights descend 90ft into the valley below! Safety rope attached at all times with full instruction to get the most out of your experience. Min 4 goes each more if your quick!

2hrs approx.

7. Deception Escape Rooms, Matlock

Open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Click here for further information and to book

Looking for thrilling summer holiday fun in Matlock? Deception Escape Rooms offers an exciting and immersive experience for families, friends, and young adventurers aged 8 and up! Test your wits, solve puzzles, and beat the clock in our themed escape rooms; perfect for making unforgettable memories. It’s the ultimate indoor activity for curious minds and teamwork lovers.

8. Woodland Ways 24hr Family Survival Course

7th to 8th August and 21st to 22nd August (10am-10am)
Click here for further information and to book

This course is a one-day and one-night course aimed at parents and children who want an incredible adventure learning how to live more comfortably in the wilds. Family-friendly, but no less challenging for all, adults and young people will discover together some of the delights of learning to live with the resources available to us in nature. You will be taught by some of the most experienced instructors in the country who have ventured across many wild landscapes to bring you the very best, and safest instruction available.  Build shelters, create fire, prepare wild meat, carve and have fun.

9. TrYumphant Summer Holiday Camp

28th July to 3rd September, 8:30am-4pm with optional half-days and extra time until 6pm
Baslow Sports Field
From £29.75/day
Click here for more information and to book

The TrYumphant Summer Holiday Camp runs from Monday 28^th July until Wednesday 3^rd September and is open to all kids age 4-11 (plus half-price mini-leaders age 11-13), whether you live locally or are visiting on holiday. You can book for as many or as little days as you like.

Rated 5 stars on Google, this camp offers a great mix of creativity, sportiness, and silliness to suit all tastes and talents. They pride themselves on low staff-child ratios (average 1:6) so that they can give each and every child a memorable, confidence-building and fun experience!

My own kids have actually done these holiday camps many times over the years and they have an absolute blast! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Also, lots of families who visit the Peak District on holiday also use this as an opportunity to experience a kid-free date day (you’re on holiday after all), so perhaps try out a Peak District spa after a long walk?

Use code PDK10 to get 10% off or get 16 free half days (plus 50% off top-ups) with code FSM if you qualify for free school meals based on benefits.

10.  Crich Tramway Village summer events

Crich Tramway Village is always a fantastic day out for all the family, but over the summer holidays do check to see if there is an event on to add to the fun!

Past Times Event

Sunday 6^th July (10am-5pm)
Click here for more information

Enjoy displays over 350 classic motorcycles built prior to 1999.

Vote for your favourite to crown the Best in Show.

Live music in the afternoon from Midnight Shift at the bandstand.

Dinosaur Day

Saturday 19^th July (10am-5:30pm)
Click here for more information

Meet the fierce carnivores, T Rex an Spinosaurus and see the herbivore compound with Triceratops and Brontosaurus.

Don’t miss the baby dinosaurs and the chance to dig for a fossil in our fossil workshop.

Take the dinosaur trail through the woodland walk to identify our dinosaur footprints and earn a sticker.

Discovery Week

Monday 28th July to Friday 8th August
Click here for more information

Enjoy 12 days of fun and fascinating school holiday activities for families, packed with science, history, and hands-on creativity. Discover quirky facts, meet characters from the past, and get stuck into crafts the whole family can enjoy.

On 6th, 7th and 8th August, meet ‘George Stephenson’ and hear all about the first public railway. His engaging talks run at 11.15am–11.45am and 2.00pm–2.30pm.

After each talk, head to the Learning Centre for interactive drop-in activities. Try building a section of replica Stockton and Darlington track, solve railway-themed challenges, and explore the fascinating story behind Locomotion with jigsaw pieces and life-sized cut-outs.

George will be around throughout the day to chat and answer questions

Sounds of the 50s and 60s

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August (10:30am-5:30pm)
Click here for more information

Let us take you back in time to the infectious songs from this era.

Have a go at learning some of the dance crazes from the 1960s and enjoy live music from our popular groups and singers.

Vintage trams running from 10am to 5pm (every 15 to 20 minutes).

Children’s Outdoor Theatre

Monday 11th to Friday 15th August (10am-5pm)
Click here for more information

Join in with the promenade performance along the woodland walk.

Make a rat hat in the marquee so you can join in, in style!

Models Weekend

Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August (10am-5:30pm)
Click here for more information

Back by popular demand is the Model Tramway, Bus and Railway Exhibition.

Come and see the amazing working layouts and chat to their creators.

Teddy Bears Picnic

Sunday 24th to 25th August (10am-5:30pm)
Click here for more information

See what our busy teddy bears are doing this year in our teddy bear trail. Children who bring a teddy receive a free badge. You CAN use return tickets for this event.

Enjoy popular picnic show with Amy Zing.

Pirate Day

31st August (10am-5pm)
Click here for more information

Shiver me timber me hearties and join us for a day of fun piracy on the not so high seas. Sing along with sea shanties, join pirate school and learn how to talk like a pirate, plus, make your own pirate hat.  See if you can find the pirate treasure!

Why not put your best pirate clothes on and come and join in the fun? RRRRRR!!!!

11. Kids go Free in August at Buxton Crescent Experience

Open every day from 10.30am to 3.00pm
Adults £12.57 each (up to three under 16s go free with each adult paying full price + booking fee.
Click here for more information

To celebrate the school summer holidays, children and young people up to the age of 16 can
visit the Buxton Crescent Experience for free throughout August, with the purchase of one
adult ticket. The Buxton Crescent Experience is an all-weather, family friendly, interactive
visitor attraction. Families can enjoy a self-guided visit at their own pace through the 9
rooms of the Experience and it works for all ages!

There are also two fantastic family events taking place at Buxton Crescent Experience over the summer holidays:

Buxton Brick Festival 2025

Saturday 9th August (10am-4pm)
Family ticket £20.96 – 2 adults two children
Click here for more information

We’re planning the FIRST EVER Buxton Brick Festival! Whether you’re a master builder, a
collector, or just a huge fan of the brick this is event for you!

We will have a wide range of displays, demonstrations, trade stalls and much more!
Buxton’s going to be buzzing with creativity, and you could be a part of it.

Kid’s Knights School

Friday 29th August (12:30-1:30 PM)
Tickets: £4 per child (excluding online booking charge)
Click here for more information

Step into a world of chivalry and adventure with Medieval Kids Battle Training – a fun, action-packed session where young squires become noble knights. Children will get hands-on with replica medieval armour and weaponry, discovering what it was like to prepare for battle in the age of castles and kings. Then it’s time to suit up in plastic helmets and foam swords for a safe and exciting knight training session, learning basic sword-fighting moves before finishing with a friendly battle… against their parents!

12. Family activities and kids activity days at White Hall Outdoor Centre

Check this Eventbrite page for dates and to book online
Click here for our review of White Hall Outdoor Centre

Looking for something different for the kids during the summer holidays? Why not book one of White Hall Centre’s activity days running throughout the school holidays? Their courses range from one-day to five-day adventures filled with fun and challenge. Children aged 6–18 years old are welcome.

Recently, many families have reached out to White Hall about financial difficulties presenting barriers to attending activities during school holidays. In response, White Hall aims to give all children the opportunity to have a memorable outdoor adventure and has decided to drop prices to make activities more affordable for everyone. They believe that the outdoors are essential to the development of young people, and that the memories made at White Hall help shape their future.

White Hall also hosts family activity days where parents can join in with their children, as well as SEND family activity days specifically designed for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities. Prices start at £39.40 per person. Packed lunch available upon request. Each day begins at 9:30 a.m. at White Hall Centre with pick-up at 4:30 p.m.

Activities on offer include:

• High and low ropes
• Zip wires
• Climbing walls
• Mountain biking
• Orienteering
• Artificial cave
• Problem solving
• Shelter building
• Canoeing
• SUP
• Caving
• Abseiling
• Stream Scrambling

13. Summer at Heights of Abraham

Click here for our review of Heights of Abraham

Golden classics Punch and Judy, along with The Wombles, are coming to the Heights of Abraham this summer!

Punch and Judy

22nd July to 31st August
Click here for more information

Punch Professor Richard Coombs is back at the Heights of Abraham for his 20^th season! This year’s show promises to be filled with the classic characters in a new twist, plus bubble-blowing puppets, plate spinning and many more entertaining sights! Fun and laughter for the young, and young at heart!

The hilarious Punch and Judy show is on at 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30 with a 15 minute pre-show beforehand. The show is included in the ticket price and is on from 22^nd July to 31^st August.

Meet the Wombles!

26th July to 3rd September
Click here for more information

Litter-picking sustainable childhood heroes, the Wombles, are spending their summer having an ‘underground, overground’ adventure at the Heights of Abraham. Orinoco and friends will be at the summit for meet and greets from 10:00 – 16:00 every day of the school holidays.

A brand new exhibition, Womble Mania, will be opening on the 18^th of July telling the story of the Wombles from their first book in 1968 to their new Youtube series in 2025, plus an exciting Wombles I-Spy trail will be ready for exploring in time for the school holidays too!

14. Summer at Gulliver’s Kingdom

Open throughout the summer holidays
Click here for more information and to book
Click here for our tips on visiting Gulliver’s Kingdom

Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park has a fun-filled, action-packed summer of adventure lined up to keep youngsters entertained during the school holidays.

The resort in Matlock Bath is preparing to welcome thousands of families over the summer period, with Gully, Gilly and the gang ready to greet visitors of all ages.

There is a new ride for 2025 too, with the Tree Top Drop already proving to be a great hit, boasting spectacular views of the surrounding Peak District countryside, before plunging riders down a 15-metre drop.

All the other popular rides, attractions, shows and activities are there to be explored, including the zany Upside Down House in the park’s magical Fairy Kingdom area, the amazing animatronic dinosaurs, the Pirate Ship, and the Safari Kingdom area, which has a cool adventure trail for children to explore and is now home to the fantastic Flying Bikes ride.

Beano favourites Dennis and Gnasher will also be making daily appearances throughout the summer. And the annual Summer Sparks Spectacular takes place on Saturday, 30th August, with extended opening hours and a dazzling fireworks display.

15. Haddon Hall’s Little School of Ecology

Every Tuesday from 29th July to 26th August (11:30am to 12:30pm)
£9 per person, £4 parking
Click here for more information and to book

This summer, Haddon Hall is bringing back the magic of exploring with its popular Little School of Ecology at its Medieval Park.

Ideal for children aged between 5 and 11 years old (with an accompanying adult), The Little School of Ecology will run on selected dates through the summer holidays and Autumn half-term*. Beginning 29th July, each session will take place from 11am until 12:30pm, with tickets £9 per person (parking is £4 per car).

Encouraging the next generation to enjoy the simple pleasure of being outside in nature, children will learn basic identification of trees, flowers, birds, and insects, as well as discover different habitats and find out about the deer park’s importance in medieval times.

Haddon Hall is the perfect spot for a great day for the whole family, with free admission for children under 15, free children’s tours within the Hall every Tuesday, and archery sessions for a small fee within the parkland.

16. Summer shows at Buxton Opera House

Dinosaurs, princesses and outdoor drama workshops are coming to Buxton Opera House this summer holidays!

Outdoor Opera House

Friday 1st to Monday 4th August
FREE event
Click here for more information

Buxton Opera House and Buxton Civic Association are joining forces to present Outdoor Opera House, a brand-new and exciting outdoor programme of free events for the local community to get involved with in the upcoming summer season. The project aims to provide a vibrant selection of activities for all ages, to inspire creativity and increase wellbeing and nature connectedness. The programme includes physical theatre and drama workshops, movement and outdoor yoga sessions, arts and crafts workshops, creative writing and much more!

Dinosaur World Live

Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd August
Tickets from £16.50
Click here for more information

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!

A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.

Pop Princesses World Tour

Friday 29th August, 2pm
Tickets from £22.50
Click here for more information

A Magical show where beautiful Princesses become Pop Stars. They just love to sing! It’s the perfect mix!

 This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. The four fabulous fairy tale princesses are back, and this time they are on their first world tour! Come and join them on this epic around-the-globe show.

Featuring a soundtrack of top pop hits from artists such as Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Lizzo, plus a few of the best songs from all your favourite films and musicals, the Pop Princesses are embarking on their biggest adventure yet. Join the fun as the Princesses go international!

17. Castleshaw Holiday Club

Mondays to Fridays from 28th July to 15th August (9:30am-3:30pm)
Email for more information and to book

Packed with exciting outdoor activities in the Peak District National Park, there’s something for every young explorer with the Castleshaw Holiday Club. Dive into the thrill of ghyll scrambling in the Chew Valley or test your courage rock climbing on Pule Hill. It’s the perfect way to make new friends, build confidence, and create lasting memories in the great outdoors!

18. Summer fun at Matlock Farm Park

Open throughout the summer holidays
Click here for specific event information
Click here for our review of Matlock Farm Park

Head to Matlock Farm Park for a summer filled with FUN, memories and of course, animals! We have a super line up of events, featuring Dinosaurs, Emergency Services, Giant Bubbles, Snow Princess singalongs and our incredible flagship event, The Peak District Highland Games! PLUS, there are our wonderful guided animal activities, such as Sheep racing, Wallaby encounters, Meet the reptiles, Highland Cattle meet & greet, Meerkat talk, small animal petting and more. Don’t forget, pony rides are on every day and there’s an array of play time fun for the children!