Gulliver's Kingdom
BEST FOR
Ages 2-13
ENTRY
from £20
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Matlock Bath
What it’s like
Hillside theme park near Matlock Bath with a log flume 300ft up and rides scaled for younger kids.
The big one here is the log flume, sitting some 300ft above the Derwent Valley, which is as much about the view on the way up as the soak on the way down. Younger kids get their own scaled-down thrill rides plus the Crow's Nest Quest to climb, and there's a JCB digger ride and Pedal Tractors for the ones who just want to drive something.
For the smaller end of the age range there's the Animal Barn with farm animals, Safari Kingdom's play area, Glitterdrop's Castle, and a Pirate Ship Play area with slides and climbing frames. Add in crazy golf and a couple of museums (Puppet, Toy & Model) for a breather, and you've got a day that suits toddlers as easily as a nine-year-old chasing the bigger rides.
It's £27 on the day for adult or child, or £20 if you book online in advance, and under 90cm go in free. There's also an afternoon ticket from £12pp on selected dates running 2pm to 5pm, handy if a full day feels like overkill with a toddler in tow. The park's built into a steep hillside, which is part of the charm but genuinely tough going if you're pushing a buggy or using a wheelchair, and the site is upfront that mobility can be difficult on the steeper slopes.
If anyone in your group needs a Ride Access Pass for queuing difficulties, it has to be booked online in advance with proof of eligibility (a Nimbus Access Card with the right symbol), and only a limited number are issued per day, so leaving it to the day itself won't work.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 2 to 13, with gentler rides for toddlers and the flume for older kids
- Booking
- Book online in advance for cheaper prices
- Wheelchairs
- Manual and electric wheelchair users must be aware mobility may be difficult on steeper slopes
- Parties
- Birthday parties from £20 per child for 12-50 guests on selected party types
- Worth knowing
- Under 90cm free. Annual Passport £99 includes 12 months entry to all 5 Gulliver's Theme Parks
- Book online ahead for £20 tickets instead of £27 on the day
- The hillside setting means real gradients, tough with a buggy or wheelchair
- Ride Access Passes are capped in number each day and need advance booking with proof
- An afternoon ticket from £12pp runs 2pm to 5pm on selected dates
- Under 90cm tall go free, worth measuring before you buy tickets
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£27 for adult or child on the day, or £20 each if you book online in advance. Under 90cm tall get in free.
Is there a cheaper afternoon option?
There's an afternoon ticket from £12pp for 2pm to 5pm entry on selected dates.
What are the opening hours?
The site lists Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am to 5pm.
What's the age range this suits?
It's aimed at roughly 2 to 13, with scaled-down thrill rides for the younger end and bigger ones like the log flume for older kids.
Can wheelchair users get around easily?
The steep hillside terrain makes some slopes hard going for manual and electric wheelchair users. A Ride Access Pass lets a wheelchair user and up to three helpers use the exit route on rides, but it must be reserved online in advance.
How does the Ride Access Pass work?
You need a Nimbus Access Card showing the standing and queuing symbol or the crowds symbol, booked in advance. It doesn't remove queuing altogether or guarantee next-rider status, and only a limited number are available each day.
Does a concessions ticket include the Ride Access Pass?
They're treated as two separate things, and each needs its own proof of eligibility.
Can we book a birthday party there?
Parties start from £20 per child for groups of 12 to 50 on selected party types.
Is there an annual pass?
The Annual Passport is £99 and covers 12 months of entry across all five Gulliver's Theme Parks.
Is parking free?
Parking is listed as free.
See all Theme Parks & Fairgrounds in Derby · Things to do in Derby
MAKE A DAY OF IT
