Free Museums in Derbyshire Kids Will Actually Enjoy (2026 Guide)
Abbie Coleman is a Derbyshire-based mum of two and the founder of MMB Magazine and Ey-Up. She creates easy-to-read guides covering what’s on for families in Derbyshire, sharing local events, free activities and tried-and-tested ideas that make planning days out simpler for busy mums. Contact us to work with Ey-UP as a business or as a new blogger.
Looking for more inspiration for days out in Derbyshire check out 100 Best Things to Do in Derbyshire with Kids
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for free days out in Derbyshire with kids, museums can be an amazing place to visit full of rich history and hands on exhibits. They’re educational, great for rainy days, and many now offer interactive displays, family trails, and holiday activities designed specifically for kids, making for a great day out. Make sure to check out for half term exhibits and workshops.
Several museums across Derbyshire offer fantastic free attractions, perfect for a day out without spending much.
Below you’ll find our guide to the best free museums in Derbyshire for families, including practical tips, transport information and what children will enjoy most when you get there.
Free Museums in Derbyshire at a Glance
Museum Location Good for Kids Nearest Train
Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, Fossils and natural history, Derby
Museum of Making Derby: Huge machines and interactive exhibits, Derby
Pickford’s House Museum, Derby: Historic toys and rooms to explore in Derby
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton Fossils and Geology, Buxton
Chesterfield Museum, Chesterfield Family workshops, and local history, Chesterfield
Erewash Museum, Ilkeston Gardens, and children’s trails, Ilkeston
Glossop Heritage Centre Glossop Industrial history and old photos Glossop
National Stone Centre, Wirksworth / Matlock, Fossil trails and outdoor exploration, Cromford
Peak District Mining Museum, Matlock Bath, Mining wagons and machinery, Matlock Bath
Castle Donington Museum, Castle Donington, Local aviation and village history, East Midlands Parkway
Derby Museums (Three Free Museums Close Together)
Derby city centre is actually one of the best places in Derbyshire for free museums, with three located within walking distance of each other.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
📍 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BS
It’s one of Derbyshire’s largest museums and a great place to start with kids.
Inside, you’ll find art, archaeology, local history and natural history displays. The museum is famous for its collection of paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby, but families often head straight for the natural history displays.
Why kids enjoy it
Fossils and animal displays
Family activity trails during school holidays
Plenty of space to explore
Public transport tip – Derby train station is about a 15-minute walk away, and many buses stop nearby in the Cathedral Quarter.
Museum of Making
📍 Silk Mill Lane, Derby, DE1 3AF
Housed inside the historic Derby Silk Mill, this modern museum celebrates Derby’s industrial heritage and creativity.
The building itself sits on the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, which played an important role in the Industrial Revolution.
Why kids enjoy it
Massive machines and engines
Hands-on displays
Creative workshop spaces
Local tip – The café overlooking the river is a great spot to stop for lunch after exploring.
Pickford’s House Museum
📍 41 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1DA
This Georgian townhouse museum gives visitors a fascinating glimpse into life in Derby during the 1700s and 1800s.
Each room is set up as it would have been historically, making it feel like stepping into another era.
Why kids enjoy it
Children often love spotting the historic toys and costume displays throughout the house.
Getting there – The museum is a short walk from Derby city centre and easily reached by bus.
Free Museums in the Peak District National Park Area
Buxton Museum & Art Gallery
📍 Address: Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DA
💷 Entry: Free
🌐 Website: derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum
Located in the centre of Buxton, Buxton Museum and Art Gallery is one of the best free museums in the Peak District. The museum focuses on natural history and archaeology. It helps visitors understand how the dramatic landscapes of the Peak District were formed.
Inside, you’ll find fascinating displays about prehistoric animals, Roman settlements, and the geology of Derbyshire. The collections include fossils, ancient tools, and artefacts discovered across the region.
Why kids enjoy it
If your children enjoy dinosaurs, rocks, or fossils, this museum is particularly interesting. Displays tell how the area was once covered by tropical seas millions of years ago.
Families often enjoy:
fossil and prehistoric displays
learning about ancient sea creatures that once lived in Derbyshire
interactive exhibits designed for younger visitors
Tip – During school holidays, the museum sometimes runs family activity sessions and educational events.
Public transport – Buxton Museum is easy to reach without a car. It’s about a five-minute walk from Buxton train station, which has direct connections to Manchester and Stockport.
Local tip – The museum is close to several other family-friendly attractions, making it easy to turn your visit into a full-day out. After exploring the museum, you could walk to:
Pavilion Gardens playground
Buxton Opera House
Poole’s Cavern and Buxton Country Park
This combination makes Buxton one of the best places in Derbyshire for a low-cost family day out.
Sudbury Hall & Museum of Childhood
📍 Address: Sudbury, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 5HT
💷 Entry: National Trust admission (members free)
🌐 Website: nationaltrust.org.uk/sudbury-hall
Sudbury Hall is a beautiful 17th-century country house near Ashbourne and home to the National Trust Museum of Childhood, one of the most interesting collections of historic toys and games in the UK.
While the house itself is impressive, many families head straight to the Museum of Childhood, which explores how children played and grew up over the last few hundred years.
What families can see inside the museum you’ll find:
- historic dolls, teddy bears and toy trains
- Victorian and Edwardian toys
- displays showing how childhood has changed over time
- interactive areas where children can try traditional games
Why kids enjoy it
Children often love seeing toys from different eras, especially older versions of things they still recognise today. The museum helps bring history to life in a way that’s easy for children to understand.
Outside, the estate also has large grounds and woodland walks, which make it easy to spend a few hours exploring.
Public transport
Sudbury Hall is easiest to reach by car, but it sits about 20 minutes from Derby and Burton upon Trent, making it an easy day trip.
Local tip
Many families combine a visit with nearby attractions such as:
- Sudbury village walks
- The National Forest area
- Tutbury Castle
National Memorial Arboretum
📍 Address: Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire, DE13 7AR
💷 Entry: Free (parking charge applies)
🌐 Website: thenma.org.uk
Although technically just over the Derbyshire border, the National Memorial Arboretum is one of the most meaningful and peaceful places to visit near the county.
Set within 150 acres of woodland and gardens, the site contains over 400 memorials honouring members of the armed forces, emergency services and civilian organisations.
What families can do
Visitors can explore:
- peaceful woodland paths
- memorial gardens
- outdoor sculptures and monuments
- seasonal exhibitions and events
Why families visit
While it’s primarily a place of remembrance, many families visit because it offers:
- beautiful walks in nature
- plenty of open space
- educational opportunities for older children learning about history
Public transport
The arboretum is around 30 minutes from Derby and Burton upon Trent. It’s easiest to reach by car, although taxis are available from nearby train stations such as Lichfield Trent Valley.
Local tip – The visitor centre has a café, shop and exhibition space, so it’s easy to turn a visit into a relaxed half-day outing.
National Stone Centre
📍 Porter Lane, Wirksworth, Matlock, DE4 4LS
The National Stone Centre is more like an outdoor museum, set within a dramatic former quarry.
Visitors can explore geological trails explaining how the landscape of Derbyshire formed millions of years ago.
Why kids enjoy it
Fossil trails
Quarry walks
Outdoor play area
Local tip – The views across the quarry are impressive, and there are several short family-friendly walking routes.
Peak District Mining Museum
📍 The Pavilion, Matlock Bath, DE4 3NR
This museum tells the story of lead mining history in the Peak District.
While the underground local mines tour has a charge, visitors can still see historic mining equipment and displays around the pavilion area.
Why kids enjoy it
The old mining wagons and machinery are surprisingly fascinating for younger visitors, and you can go for waterside walks in the park, which has a small play area.
Getting there
Matlock Bath has its own train station on the Derwent Valley Line.
Free Museums in Other Derbyshire Towns
Chesterfield Museum – Closed For Rennovations
📍 St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield, S41 7TD
Located inside the historic Stephenson Memorial Hall, Chesterfield Museum tells the story of the town and its famous crooked spire.
Why kids enjoy it
The museum regularly runs free family workshops during school holidays, making it a great rainy-day activity.
Local tip – Queen’s Park playground is only a short walk if the kids need to burn off some energy afterwards.
Chesterfield Observatory & Telescope
📍 Address: Holmebrook Valley Country Park, Water Meadow Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9RX
💷 Entry: Free to visit the park | Observatory events usually have a small fee or are free community sessions
🌐 Website: chesterfieldobservatory.co.uk
Chesterfield is home to a fantastic community observatory and telescope, located in Holmebrook Valley Country Park. While it isn’t a traditional museum, it is a great educational place for children interested in space, planets, and astronomy.
The observatory is run by volunteers. They organise public viewing nights, school visits, and community events. Families can look through powerful telescopes to observe the moon, planets, and stars.
What families can do when events are running, visitors can:
Look through the large observatory telescope.
learn about planets and constellations
attend astronomy talks and space events
Outside of events, the observatory sits within Holmebrook Valley Country Park, which is free to explore and great for a family walk or picnic.
Why kids enjoy it
Space and astronomy events are often very engaging for children. Seeing the moon or planets through a large telescope can be a memorable experience.
Children often enjoy:
spotting craters on the moon
learning about planets in our solar system
meeting local astronomy enthusiasts
Public transport – Holmebrook Valley Country Park is a short drive from Chesterfield town centre, and buses run to nearby areas with a short walk to the park.
Local tip – If you’re planning a family day out in Chesterfield, you could combine:
Chesterfield Museum in the town centre (Currently Closed)
Holmebrook Valley Country Park playground and lake
a visit to Chesterfield Observatory if a viewing night is scheduled.
This makes a great low-cost educational day out in Derbyshire for families interested in science and nature.
Erewash Museum
📍 High Street, Ilkeston, DE7 5JA
Erewash Museum is set in a historic house surrounded by gardens.
The museum focuses on the history of the local community and industries that shaped the area.
Why kids enjoy it
Outdoor garden trails
Seasonal family events
Space to run around
Glossop Heritage Centre
📍 5–7 Bernard Street, Glossop, SK13 7AA
This small volunteer-run museum tells the story of Glossop’s mill history and industrial past.
Why kids enjoy it
Children often enjoy comparing old photographs of the town with how it looks today.
Castle Donington Museum
📍 4 Apiary Gate, Castle Donington, DE74 2JA
A small community museum that tells the story of the local area, including aviation links with nearby East Midlands Airport.
Why visit
It’s a quick but interesting stop if you’re exploring the village.
Small Museums in Derbyshire With a Small Entry Fee
Eyam Museum
📍 Hawkhill Road, Eyam, Hope Valley, S32 5QP
💷 Adult £6 | Child £4 | Family £16
🎟 Ticket includes free repeat visits for the year
Eyam Museum tells the story of the famous Plague Village, where residents quarantined themselves in 1665 to stop the deadly disease from spreading.
The museum is small but fascinating, and tickets act as an annual pass, so you can return throughout the year.
Good for kids
dramatic historical story
interactive displays
exploring the village afterwards
Bakewell Old House Museum
📍 Cunningham Place, Bakewell, DE45 1DD
💷 Adult about £7.50 | Child £4.50 | Under 5s free
This museum is inside a 16th-century Tudor house, which gives it a really atmospheric feel.
You’ll find displays about Peak District life, historic shops and local archaeology, and there are often children’s trails during school holidays.
Good for kids
dressing-up box
Victorian kitchen display
short and easy to explore
Wirksworth Heritage Centre
📍 31 St John Street, Wirksworth, DE4 4DS
💷 Small admission charge
This is a friendly local museum with four galleries exploring the history of Wirksworth and the surrounding area.
It’s surprisingly family-friendly with:
interactive screens
games
The “Dream Cave” display for children.
Peak District Mining Museum
📍 The Pavilion, Matlock Bath, DE4 3NR
💷 Small admission fee for the museum and mine tour
Located in Matlock Bath, this museum tells the story of lead mining in the Peak District.
Visitors can see historic equipment and mining tools, and explore underground mine tours.
Why kids like it
mining wagons and machinery
underground mine experience
Masson Mills Working Textile Museum
📍 Masson Mills, Matlock Bath, DE4 3PY
💷 Small admission fee
A fascinating industrial museum inside a historic Arkwright cotton mill.
Children often enjoy:
seeing huge spinning machines
learning how textiles were made
looking out over the River Derwent
Cromford Mills (Heritage Site)
📍 Cromford, Matlock, DE4 3RQ
💷 Free site entry | Small fee for guided tours
Cromford Mills is part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can explore the courtyard and visitor centre for free, but guided tours of the historic mills have a small charge.
Good for kids
learning about the Industrial Revolution
riverside walks
café and shops
Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park
📍 Address: Green Lane, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9DH
💷 Entry: Buxton Country Park free | Cave tours paid
🌐 Website: poolescavern.co.uk
If you’re visiting Buxton with children, Poole’s Cavern is one of the most interesting natural attractions in the Peak District. It’s not a museum in a traditional sense, but it’s a good place to keep the kids entertained and learning about natural sciences.
The cavern is a two-million-year-old limestone cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors explore the cavern on a guided tour, which has a small entry fee, while the surrounding Buxton Country Park is completely free to visit.
What families can do
Many families combine the cave tour with exploring the surrounding park.
Things to do include:
Joining a guided cave tour through the illuminated cavern
walking the woodland trails in Buxton Country Park
climbing up to Solomon’s Temple viewpoint, which offers fantastic views across the Peak District
enjoying picnic spots and nature trails
Why kids enjoy it
The cave tour often feels like a real adventure for children.
Highlights include:
dramatic limestone formations
Stories about smugglers and the history of the cave
, spotting unusual shapes in the rock formations
The tours are fairly short, which works well for younger visitors.
Public transport – Poole’s Cavern is around a 15–20 minute walk from Buxton town centre and Buxton train station, making it possible to visit without a car.
Local tip
If you’re planning a family day out in Buxton, it’s easy to combine:
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Poole’s Cavern
Pavilion Gardens playground
Together, they make a great Peak District day out with kids.
Cheap Museums in Derbyshire (Quick List)
If you want a quick SEO-friendly list in the article, you could add:
Eyam Museum
Bakewell Old House Museum
Wirksworth Heritage Centre
Peak District Mining Museum
Masson Mills Museum
Cromford Mills tours
These are all budget-friendly heritage attractions across Derbyshire.
Annual Ticket With Free Return Visits
Crich Tramway Village (Great Value Family Attraction)
4
📍 Address: Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5DP
💷 Entry: Paid entry – ticket valid for unlimited visits for 12 months
🌐 Website: tramway.co.uk
While Crich Tramway Village isn’t a free museum, it’s still one of the best-value family attractions in Derbyshire because your entry ticket allows unlimited return visits for a full year.
That means once you’ve paid, you can come back again and again — which makes it feel much more affordable if you live locally or visit the area regularly.
What is Crich Tramway Museum Village?
This open-air museum recreates a historic village street from the early 20th century, complete with vintage trams, period buildings and a fascinating national tramway museum.
Visitors can ride beautifully restored trams along a scenic route through the Derbyshire countryside.
Why kids love it
Crich Tramway Village is surprisingly good for families because it mixes history with plenty of space to explore.
Children usually enjoy:
Riding the vintage trams
Watching trams arrive and depart at the depot
The woodland play area and sculpture trail
Exploring the recreated village street
There are also often family events during school holidays, so it’s worth checking their events calendar.
Local tip
The tram ride takes you up to a scenic viewpoint near Crich Stand (Sherwood Foresters Memorial Tower). On a clear day, the views across Derbyshire are fantastic.
Public transport
Crich Tramway Village is easiest to reach by car, but you can also take a bus from Derby or Matlock to Crich village, followed by a short walk.
Why it’s a good value for families
Because tickets allow free return visits for 12 months, many local families treat Crich like a place they can drop in several times a year rather than trying to do everything in one day.
If you live in Derbyshire, this can make it one of the best-value family attractions in the county.
🚠 Heights of Abraham (Membership Option)
📍 Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
Heights of Abraham is one of Derbyshire’s most famous attractions. Tickets include the cable car ride, cavern tours and access to the estate, and families can also buy a membership that allows unlimited access during the open season.
Why kids enjoy it
Cable car ride over Matlock Bath
Underground cavern tours
Two adventure playgrounds
Amazing views across the Peak District
🚗 Great British Car Journey
📍 Ambergate, Derbyshire
This interactive car museum lets visitors explore over 100 years of British motoring history.
They also offer a membership/annual pass that gives unlimited visits to the museum, which can be a good value if your children enjoy vehicles or engineering.
Kid appeal
Classic cars you can sit in
Interactive displays
Driving experiences for adults
🚂 Peak Rail
📍 Matlock – Rowsley – Darley Dale
Peak Rail runs heritage steam and diesel trains along part of the historic Midland Railway line.
While tickets are usually for individual journeys, the railway is also included in the Derbyshire Heritage Pass, which allows unlimited visits to several transport attractions for a week.
This pass includes:
Crich Tramway Village
Peak Rail
Great British Car Journey
Midland Railway Butterley
So it’s a great option if you’re planning a short holiday in Derbyshire with kids.
Planning a Free Museum Day Out
If you’re visiting Derbyshire with kids, several museums are close enough to combine into a single day out.
For example:
Derby Museum Day
Museum of Making
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Pickford’s House
All three are within walking distance of each other.
Free Museums in Derbyshire for Rainy Days
Let’s be honest — the British weather doesn’t always cooperate when you’re planning family days out. The good news is that museums are among the best rainy-day activities in Derbyshire for kids, offering something interesting to explore while staying warm and dry.
If you’re looking for indoor activities when the weather turns, these museums are particularly good options.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery – Derby – Great for children who enjoy animals, fossils and natural history. The displays are varied, and there’s usually something interactive for families during school holidays.
Museum of Making – Derby – One of the most engaging museums in the county, with giant machines, engineering exhibits and creative displays that spark curiosity.
Chesterfield Museum Closed – Chesterfield :A smaller museum, but well-designed for families. During school holidays, they often run free crafts and activity sessions for children.
Buxton Museum – Buxton – A good option if your child loves dinosaurs or fossils, with displays explaining how the Peak District landscape formed millions of years ago.
If the weather improves later in the day, many of these museums are close to parks or playgrounds, making it easy to turn your visit into a full family day out.
Museum + Playground Combos (Great for Younger Kids)
If you’re visiting with younger children, combining a museum with a nearby park often works really well. Kids can explore indoors for a while and then burn off energy outside afterwards.
Here are a few easy combinations around Derbyshire.
Derby
Museum of Making
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Both are close to Darley Park and Markeaton Park, two of the best playgrounds in the area.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield Museum (Closed)
Queen’s Park playground
Queen’s Park is only a short walk away and has a large play area, boating lake and open space for picnics.
Buxton
Buxton Museum
Pavilion Gardens
Pavilion Gardens has a playground, miniature railway and plenty of green space.
Matlock Bath
Peak District Mining Museum
Riverside walk and arcades.
This area is always popular with families thanks to the lively atmosphere and traditional seaside-style arcades.
Planning a Free Museum Day Out in Derbyshire
If you’re exploring the county with kids, it’s worth planning your day so you can visit more than one attraction nearby.
For example:
Derby Museum Day
You can easily visit three free museums in Derby in a single day.
Start at the Museum of Making, then walk into the Cathedral Quarter to explore Derby Museum and Art Gallery, and finish with Pickford’s House Museum.
All three are within walking distance of each other.
Peak District Museum Day
If you’re heading into the Peak District area, you could combine:
Buxton Museum
National Stone Centre
Matlock Bath Mining Museum
This makes a great budget-friendly day trip, especially during school holidays.
More Free Things to Do in Derbyshire With Kids
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly family activities, Derbyshire has plenty of options beyond museums.
You might also enjoy:
Free things to do in Derbyshire with kids
Best playgrounds in Derbyshire
Things to do in Matlock with kids
Indoor activities for kids in Derbyshire
These guides include parks, nature trails, playgrounds and attractions that are perfect for family days out.
FAQs About Free Museums in Derbyshire
Are museums free in Derbyshire?
Several museums across Derbyshire offer free entry, including Derby Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Making and Chesterfield Museum. Some special exhibitions or workshops may have a small charge.
What is the best free museum in Derbyshire for kids?
The Museum of Making in Derby is one of the best museums for children, thanks to its interactive displays and large industrial machines.
Are there free museums in the Peak District?
Yes. Buxton Museum and the National Stone Centre both offer free entry and provide fascinating insights into the natural history and geology of the Peak District.
What are the best rainy day activities in Derbyshire for kids?
Museums are a great rainy day option. Derby Museum, Buxton Museum and Chesterfield Museum all provide indoor exhibits suitable for families.
Museums are one of the easiest ways to plan free family days out in Derbyshire. Many now offer activity trails, interactive displays and holiday workshops designed to keep children engaged while learning something new.
Whether you’re visiting Derby, exploring the Peak District or spending time in Chesterfield, these free museums across Derbyshire are well worth adding to your list.
Final Thoughts
Museums are one of the easiest ways to plan cheap days out in Derbyshire with kids. Many now offer family trails, activity packs and seasonal events designed to make learning fun.
Whether you’re visiting Derby, exploring the Peak District or spending the day in Chesterfield, these free museums across Derbyshire are well worth adding to your list.