The Great Rutland Cavern
BEST FOR
Ages 4+
ENTRY
from £29.80
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A cable car ride over the valley followed by two illuminated show caverns cut into the hillside.
You start with the cable car, which is honestly half the point before you've even seen a cave. It swings you up over the valley to the Heights, and from there you're into two separate cavern tours, guided round underground with proper lighting on the geology. Masson is the longer one at around 40 minutes, Rutland's the quicker 25-minute version, and tours run all day so missing one by five minutes doesn't ruin your plans.
Above ground there's a fair bit to fill the rest of your 3 to 4 hours: a willow sculpture trail across the 60-acre estate, adventure play, a film theatre, and the Victoria Prospect Tower if you fancy the view. Kids from about 4 upwards get the most from it, since the caves have steps and uneven floors that aren't much fun to carry a toddler through. Bring a jumper for underground, it's properly cold down there even on a warm day.
£29.80 a head at the gate stings a bit, though buying online first knocks a couple of pounds off, and under 4s are free. There's no car park on site, so you're parking in Matlock Bath itself and machines want cash or phone payment, not a card, which is a faff if you've forgotten to bring change. Food-wise you've got the Vista Restaurant for a proper sit-down, or lighter options if you just want to keep moving.
Worth knowing before you commit: pushchairs travel on the cable car fine but can't go into Masson Cavern because of the steps. Wheelchair users can ride the cable car too, but the paths up top are steep enough that the site itself flags them as tough going for anyone with limited mobility. Dogs are welcome on the lead across most of the grounds, just not down in the caverns or in the restaurant itself.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 and up; steps and steep paths make it tough with a toddler
- Booking
- Advance booking saves £2-3 per ticket
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Four nearby pay-and-display car parks in Matlock Bath (machines accept cash or phone payment, not cards)
- How long to allow
- Most people spend between 3 and 4 hours a day
- Food
- Vista Restaurant & Bar with sit-down meals
- Pushchairs
- Standard pushchairs allowed on cable cars (up to 105cm x 60cm)
- Wheelchairs
- Cable cars can accommodate wheelchair users (max 105cm x 60cm)
- Dogs
- Welcome on cable cars and grounds (must be on lead)
- Worth knowing
- Under 4s go free. Blue Peter badge holders get one free child admission per full-paying adult
- Bring layers, the caverns are cold even in summer sunshine.
- Blue Peter badge holders get one free child ticket per paying adult.
- Tickets are non-refundable, so a change of plan costs you.
- Wheelchair users get 50% off for a carer, but the Victoria Prospect Tower isn't accessible.
- Cash is accepted everywhere on site if you'd rather not tap a card.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£29.80 for an adult at the gate. Booking online ahead saves you £2 to £3 a ticket, and under 4s get in free.
Do we need to book in advance?
You can just turn up and buy at the ticket office. Booking ahead is cheaper though, and gets you a timed one-hour arrival slot.
How long does a visit take?
Most people are there for 3 to 4 hours once you count the cable car, both caverns and a wander round the estate.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
The site says all ages are fine, but the minimum age listed is 4 and pushchairs can't go into Masson Cavern because of the steps.
Is there parking?
Nothing on site. You'll use one of the pay-and-display car parks in Matlock Bath, nearest being by the train station, and the machines only take cash or phone payment.
Can we take a pushchair?
Standard buggies are fine on the cable car and get assistance boarding, though twin buggies might need folding down. Masson Cavern's steps rule pushchairs out for that tour.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The cable car has room for a wheelchair user plus three guests and there's a ramp, but the paths on the estate get steep and there's no wheelchair hire on site.
How often do the cavern tours run?
Anywhere from every 15 minutes to hourly depending on the season, with times posted on boards once you arrive. They run right through the day.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, on a lead, and it can join you on the cable car and round most of the grounds. It stays outside the restaurant and doesn't come underground.
What's there to eat?
The Vista Restaurant does sit-down meals if you want to properly stop, or you can grab something quicker and keep moving round the estate.
Can we pay by card for parking?
The machines in the Matlock Bath car parks only take cash or phone payment.
What months is it open?
Daily from 20th March through to 1st November, 10 till 4 midweek and 10 till 5 at weekends and school holidays.
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