The Best East Midlands Attractions & Activities

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a grand stately home of the Cavendish family, famed for its opulent interiors, priceless art, and 105-acre gardens. Set in the Peak District, it’s one of England’s most visited and admired historic estates.

Burghley House in Lincolnshire is one of England’s grandest Elizabethan mansions. Built for Sir William Cecil, it features lavish state rooms, a fine art collection, landscaped parkland by Capability Brown, and contemporary sculpture gardens.

Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire is a living museum where vintage trams run through a recreated historic village and countryside tracks. With exhibitions, period streets, and family activities, it brings transport history vividly to life.

Haddon Hall in Derbyshire is a stunning medieval manor, famed for its Tudor interiors, terraced gardens, and riverside views. Often called “the most complete house of its period,” it’s a romantic setting frequently used in films and TV.

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire is an Elizabethan masterpiece built by Bess of Hardwick. Famous for its vast windows, rich tapestries, and grand design, it stands amid landscaped gardens and parkland as a symbol of Tudor wealth and power.

Lincoln Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic masterpiece, once the tallest building in the world. Famous for its soaring spires, intricate carvings, and the Lincoln Imp, it dominates the city skyline and is a jewel of medieval architecture.

ancestral home of the Spencer family since the sixteenth century with a fine collection of antiques. Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest here

maintained by the RAF, visitors can admire the only flying Lancaster Bomber in Europe, as well as Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Douglas Dakota

with many art treasures including paintings by Gainsborough and Constable. The gardens have recently been lavishly restored with a number of specimen plants with interesting walkways lacing the gardens

UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. It’s the only place in the world where full size steam engines can be seen passing each other

carefully crafted sets and original preserved trawler interiors capture the atmosphere and essence of a remarkable way of life

step back to the 1920s and discover how a grocer's family lived in a Midlands market town through their furnishings and household objects

plantsman's paradise containing over 2.400 different choice varieties of herbaceous perennials arranged into areas with different growing conditions to provide inspiration to gardeners whatever their soil and aspect

come and meet the animals and learn about farming at this sheep and cattle farm with an up-to-date playground. Picnics welcome

meet the farm animals, watch a falconry display, or become a farmer for a day at this friendly family country park

set on a rocky outcrop, one man's realisation of an Arts and Crafts vision within a family home surrounded by 4 acres of lovely gardens

built in 1842 as the last resort for the destitute, the stories of the people who lived and worked here help tell the poignant history

set in a former Victorian sewerage works with displays of beam engines, showcasing Leicester's industrial, technological and scientific heritage

enjoy magnificent views, woodland walks, and open heathland. Discover the rhododendron labyrinth and the many unique wooden sculptures. Children’s play area with a hazel maze and log train in the Natural Play Area

walk through the peaceful grounds to the Walled Kitchen Garden where you can experience sights, scents and a taste of the past