The 10 best family days out in Derby, ranked by someone who has done most of them with the kids.

Ten genuinely good ways to spend a day out with the family in Derby, from the parks to the Museum of Making, with one where the whole family is in it together near the top.

Derby is a brilliant city for families. There are free parks with wildlife and play areas, a UNESCO World Heritage museum that is free to enter, trampolines, soft play, adventure golf and farms with animals to feed, all within easy reach. This is our honest top ten, and every single one is worth a day.

We run escape rooms on Iron Gate, and we have put ourselves at number two. We are not going to rank ourselves above a free day at Markeaton Park, but we will happily make the case for why ours is one of the few days out where the whole family, teenagers included, is genuinely in it together.

1. Markeaton Park

Derby’s most-loved park, and free. A craft village, a play area, a boating lake full of wildlife and acres to run around. On a dry day it is genuinely hard to beat, and it can easily fill a whole day.

2. The Escape Room Guys (us, Iron Gate) ★

Our pick for number two, and here is why: it is one of the very few days out where older kids, teenagers, parents and grandparents are all needed at once, hunting clues in the same room with the clock ticking. It is the rare trip where the teenager looks up from their phone. Three themed rooms, up to 22 players, suited to ages eight and up, £20 to £25 a head.

3. The Museum of Making

Free, fascinating and set in a UNESCO World Heritage site at the Silk Mill. Hands-on exhibits, the story of the world’s first modern factory, and a brilliant rainy-day option that surprises the kids who expected to be bored.

4. Bluebell Dairy Farm

An award-winning, family-run farm with animals to meet, a play park and plenty of ice cream. A lovely, gentle day out, especially for younger children.

5. Oxygen Freejumping

Over 150 connected trampolines, a foam pit and a dodgeball arena, with toddler sessions as well as full-on jumping. Brilliant for burning off energy, and there are parent areas to catch your breath.

6. Paradise Island Adventure Golf

Two indoor 18-hole courses at Derbion, all volcanoes and shipwrecks, right next to the bowling and cinema. Weatherproof, fun for mixed ages, and easy to combine into a full day.

7. Injoy Derby

A state-of-the-art indoor play centre that is far more than soft play, with a climbing wall and the UK’s first interactive zone, plus a decent cafe. A perfect rainy-day rescue for younger families.

8. Climb Derby Cathedral tower

Climb the 189 steps up the 212-foot Tudor tower for a view over the city and a peek at the oldest working ring of ten bells in the world. A memorable hour for families with older children.

9. Hollywood Bowl at Derbion

Bowling with adjustable bumpers so every age can join in, food and drink to the lane, and an arcade alongside. A reliable, all-ages afternoon under one roof.

10. The Heights of Abraham

A short trip into the Peak District: a cable car up to a 60-acre hilltop park with caverns, play areas and stunning views over Matlock Bath. A proper adventure day when the weather is kind.

The hard thing to find: an activity for the whole family at once

A good family day does not mean the children are entertained while the adults wait. It means everyone is doing the same thing at the same time, and that is surprisingly rare, because most attractions are aimed squarely at little ones. The parks and the museum on this list are wonderful and we love them. A puzzle room earns its high spot for a different reason: the mix of ages is the point, because different people spot different things.

Which one suits your family?

For little ones, the farms, parks and soft play are perfect. For that tricky stage where the kids are too old for soft play but too young to leave at home, the rooms with us, the tower climb and adventure golf all keep everyone involved at once. Our rooms suit ages around eight and up. Tell us the ages and we will point you to the right room.