Summer holiday landing page: All the most useful posts on Lovely Local Indie for entertaining the kids this summer holiday.
Keeping the kids entertained over the long summer can be a job in itself. Make life easy by bookmarking this page. I’ll keep it updated with the best family days out, family friendly dining and everything else you can think of to ensure everyone has a great summer.
Things to do in the Summer Holiday in Derbyshire 2023
Family friendly, school holiday activities to keep the kids entertained over the 2023 summer holidays in Derbyshire Schools out for summer! Keeping the kids entertained over the six weeks can feel like hard work. Banish cries of “I’m bored…” with this handy guide to some of the best things to do with kids this summer…
Keep reading
Where Kids Eat Free in Derby and Derbyshire this Summer Holiday
Here’s a round up of the best places to eat out with children, the best deals – and where kids can eat free in Derby and Derbyshire during the school holiday this summer in 2023. Eating out with kids can be a bit of an adventure at the best of times, so deals like this,…
Keep reading
11 Flower Fields in Derbyshire to Visit
Here’s my round up of the best flower fields in Derbyshire. Whether you’re looking for tulips in the spring, a sunflower field in the summer or just a wildflower meadow, I’ve got you covered. Visiting a PYO flower field Picking your own flowers is a lovely, seasonal, family friendly day out to enjoy throughout the…
Keep reading
5 Free Days Out in Derbyshire
If the summer holidays are dragging and you need some days out inspiration that’s easy on the purse, here are five FREE days out in Derbyshire. Walk, paddling and a picnic at Dovedale FREE entry, National Trust members park for free or £3.50 for up to four hours or £5 for all day (correct change…
Keep reading
7 Great Places for Ice Cream in Derbyshire
From ice cream farms, to ice cream parlours and gelaterias and the cutest little tea rooms, here’s the scoop on some of the best places to eat ice cream in Derbyshire. Updated July 2025 – please note that the ice cream parlour at Matlock Meadows has now permanently closed (they remain open for wholesale). The…
9 Delightful Derbyshire Picnic Spots
Is there anything more synonymous with British summertime than a picnic? Would you like some inspiration for perfect picnic spots? I must admit, I am not very lucky with picnics. I’m more a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/buy-something-from-the-café type. When I have bothered to prepare a picnic it invariably rains and we end up eating it in the car.…
Keep reading
40 Things to Do in Derbyshire
Located in the East Midlands, Derbyshire is famous for its beautiful countryside and rich industrial heritage and there are hundreds of things to do with kids. All of these ideas are suitable for families, although all could be enjoyed by couples and people on their own. I’ve organised this list largely by type of activity,…
Keep reading
20 Brilliant Derbyshire Playgrounds
A comprehensive list of the best Derbyshire playgrounds. We love a good playground. I am particularly fond of the ones where it’s easy to park and where I can combine it with getting a good coffee! Here’s my guide to the best Derbyshire playgrounds. The vast majority of these we have tried and tested ourselves.…
Keep reading
Pushchair friendly walks Derbyshire
The best pushchair friendly walks Derbyshire, complete with where to park and where to get a great coffee after I don’t know about you but motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks. I loved it, but it was a huge adjustment. Suddenly just leaving the house became a massive achievement, and my world felt…
Keep reading
National Trust Derbyshire
There are several impressive National Trust properties in Derbyshire. Our favourites are Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall and Hardwick Hall. But there’s also numerous places in the Peak District, where NT members can park for free which give access to stunning walking and hiking through the national park. Here’s my guide to the best of National…
Keep reading
Things to do in Derby
Derby is a much underrated city. It might not be an obvious choice for a short break but here’s why I think it’s a great weekend destination. Whether you’re looking for family friendly activities, culture and history or just places to eat and drink, there are so many great things to do in Derby. Situated…
Keep reading
Thornbridge Hall Gardens REVIEW
Thornbridge Hall Gardens is currently a little known secret and Peak District hidden gem Thornbridge Hall is a grade two listed stately home nestled in 12 acres of quirky, quintessentially English gardens with stunning views of the surrounding Derbyshire countryside. Go for good, wholesome family fun. And don’t miss the hook a duck fountain! Thornbridge…
Keep reading
Church Farm Anslow REVIEW
Church Farm Anslow, near Burton on Trent is just beyond the Derbyshire border in Staffordshire. It’s a family run, children’s farm where you can feed, pet and stroke various different farmyard animals. There’s some great play equipment. And also a good tearoom which also sells a small selection of gifts and cards. We went today…
Keep reading
Family Friendly Cromford Canal Walk
As an added extra to my popular, Pushchair Friendly Walks blog post, which contains ideas for over twenty lovely places for a wander with a pushchair, I’ve teamed up with Boom Magazine Belper to bring you a free sample of one of their family friendly walks for little legs. The PDF below can be easily…
Keep reading
15 Things to Do with Kids in Chesterfield
I’ve been meaning to write something like this for a while. Firstly because this is exactly what I would have liked to have read when I was new to the area. And then also a knackered, sleep deprived parent scrabbling round for something fun to do for my child that didn’t make me want to…
Keep reading
For older kids
22 Fabulous Places in Derbyshire for Coffee and a Walk
Ditch the faceless chains. Here’s the best independent coffee shops in Derbyshire to combine with a walk [AD] This post is sponsored by Hobbs Café at Monsal Head – the ultimate place for coffee and walk in Derbyshire! Read why I love Hobbs below. Plus all my favourite places for coffee and a walk in…
Keep reading
What’s On Derbyshire 2023 Events Guide
Head here for the 2025 Events Guide The Lovely Local Indie What’s On guide has moved! Click here for the 2025 events guide.
Keep reading
For adults (because we need holidays too!)
8 Stunning Beer Gardens in Derbyshire
Last year, by far and away the most popular blog post I wrote was a guide to the best places to eat and drink outdoors across Derbyshire. This summer I’ve noticed some incredible outdoor spaces opening up. Here’s my round up of the most stunning pub gardens imaginable. The term ‘beer garden’ probably doesn’t do…
Keep reading
24 Places with Gorgeous Outdoor Seating in Derbyshire
Amazing outdoor seating: attractive, comfortable and often covered and/or with some heating and serving up great food, quality drinks and a wonderful ambiance. This was originally written in anticipation of 12th April 2021 and the much awaited date for the reopening of outdoor hospitality. It was last updated September 2021. Click here for the best…
Keep reading
25 Lovely Places with Outdoor Seating in Chesterfield
The loveliest cafés, restaurants, pubs with and bars with outdoor seating in Chesterfield and nearby Since my outdoor seating in Derbyshire blog post has been so popular, I thought I’d write a version closer to home. Chesterfield has some real gems of independent bars, cafés and restaurants with some lovely outdoor seating. No faceless chains…
Keep reading
The Best Independent Cocktail Bars in Derby and Derbyshire
Prior to me writing this article, if you googled “best cocktail bars in Derby” you basically get lists of national chain pubs. Whilst there’s a time and a place for that, I know that personally I’d rather be drinking at a great independent, with a professionally trained mixologist who serves high quality cocktails in beautifully…
Keep reading
