Creswell Crags

WHAT IT’S LIKE

A gorge, caves and museum where under-18s get in free and the 1.5-mile loop walk is buggy-doable but caves are steps-only.

Creswell Crags is an archaeological park on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border built around a limestone gorge, caves with genuine Ice Age rock art, and a museum. Kids can walk the gorge and meadow paths for free (about 1.5 miles round trip, 30-45 minutes at an average pace), then head into the museum (£5 adults, free for under-18s) to see hyaena poo, mammoth teeth and early human tools. For an extra charge you can book one of three guided cave tours - Life in the Ice Age, Witch Marks, or Art in the Ice Age - though children must be 5 or over and accompanied by an adult, and the cave entrances are reached via steps so they're not wheelchair or pushchair accessible. The visitor centre itself (exhibition, café, shop) is fully accessible with a lift between floors, and there's a wheelchair-accessible route mapped out from the museum to the gorge. A mobility scooter is available to hire via Derbyshire County Council's Tramper scheme. Families are well catered for: there's a parent/baby room with baby changing, high chairs and a kids' menu (plus babyccinos) in the café, parent-and-child parking bays, and breastfeeding is welcome throughout. Picnics are allowed in the outdoor areas. Parking costs £5 all day (7am-5pm) via the on-site machines or Ringo app, though Blue Badge holders park free if they register at reception. Dogs are welcome on leads outside (there's even dog-friendly ice cream) but can't come into the cave tours, museum or café interior. Note that midweek in November, December and January the car park, centre and meadow are locked, though the gorge itself remains open year-round as a public bridleway via Creswell or Welbeck.