MATLOCK BATH
| Population: 753 | Grid Reference: SK293579 | Co-ordinates: 53.110,-1.560 |
The Promenade
A unique and fascinating town on the edge of the Peak District, Matlock Bath became a spa resort with the discovery of warm springs in 1698. Tourism boomed in the mid 19th century when the North Midland Railway was opened in 1840 terminating at Ambergate. From there visitors were taken by boat along the canal to Cromford from where they walked into the town.
Today Matlock Bath is still popular with tourists visiting the Heights of Abraham with it's caverns, Gulliver's Kingdom, the Peak District Mining Museum and the Life in a Lens Museum of Photography and Old Times. The town is laid out like a seaside resort with a Promenade along the A6 where it follows the River Derwent through the gorge. Here are amusement arcades, souvenier shops and fish and chip shops, similar to what you expect on the coast. During the autumn the town hosts illuminations. Matlock Bath is a popular gathering place for motorcyclists on Sundays.
 The Pavillion |  Amusment arcades and souvenir shops |  Cable Cars, Heights of Abraham |