This hidden gem (it can be found at the back of a cute boutique) should not be missed. The coffee…read moreis delicious and the cakes are absolutely amazing. We stopped in Matlock en route to Chatsworth House and had a late breakfast / early lunch. It was so wonderful (the cakes especially) that we seriously considered going back for tea after our visit even though it was out of our way! Sadly it couldn't be done, but it will definitely be a top reason to head back to matlock soon!

Poor value for moneytheir idea of breakfast is a piece of toaststaff not interested.read more

As a chain it clearly is the same as everywhere else but at least you can sit outside and people…read morewatch in the centre of Matlock. A little noisy with the traffic but pleasant nonetheless.

Hall Leys is one of the biggest and best parks in the lovely spa town of Matlock some 30 miles…read moreoutside of Manchester. The quaint little town is absolutely lovely, and is well worth a visit from Manchester. If you do visit, make sure this park is on your list of places to visit. Its absolutely lovely, and has everything from nice green spaces for picnics and flower beds, a pitch and putt mini golf course, tennis courts, a skate park, a bowling green, a kids paddling pool and swimming area, a kids adventure playground, a Victorian band stand, a lake with boats, and a cafe, and an ice cream shop. Its even got a tiny little train that runs through the park, that kinds can sit on! So whether you want a quiet stroll, a picnic, a motor boat ride on the lake, a lovely cup of coffee or a whole day out with the family full of entertainment, then this is the place for you. This is categorically my favorite park. Five stars.

I'm lucky enough to live next door to this lovely park, i tell my friend it's really my back garden!read more

The coffee was great, the service was lovely. I'd go again and again. We had a mix up with our…read moreorder and the owner came over to work with us to resolve it. She was very sweet and gave us lots of tips for sightseeing in the area. Something else that impressed me was how friendly the young man was behind the counter. He went out of his way to open doors for people and make them feel welcomed. Loved it!

Scarthin Books is a fine second-hand book shop in a lovely little village called Cromford, about…read morethirty miles outside of Manchester. The peak district is a great place for a long walk through the hills and little villages, and Cromford may be one of the places you can arrange to visit. Scarthin Books would make a lovely addition to any country visiting experience. Situated in a crowded, thin building with rickety stairs and five floors, Scarthin Books is an amorphous pile of literature which would feel like a building from a Kafka novel, only where there it is misery, here is it joy. The literature ranges from Greek Drama, to railway manuals, to modern day novels, travel books, philosophy, history, geography, psychology and childrens books. They really do have everything. Its organization is a mystery to me, but it all contributes to the quaint feel of this unique bookshop. Scarthin Books is famous amongst the locals as the best place to buy literature in the area. Also, on the third floor (I think, its pretty confusing in there!) is a quaint little tea and coffee shop selling homemade cakes and homemade soups. Staff are, as you would expect, delightful. My only criticism would be that a lot of the books are not second-hand but brand new. This means that they are full price and in many cases, more expensive than Amazon if not Waterstones. Even so, the range here is unbelievable. For any book lover this place is a really excellent book shop, and as an English Literature postgraduate I have a lot of experience of book shops. I really think that this is one of the better bookshops in the UK, and certainly it's the best (or second best, see The Art of Tea on Yelp) that I've seen anywhere near Manchester.

This place is a real gem. Nestled in the village of Cromford where Arkwright built his mills under…read morethe black rocks. There is a pond in the middle of the village and beside it, just up the street behind the pub, is Scathin Books. There is a sign outside that says "We value old books" which is certainly true. Step inside and you can hardly move for old books, floor to ceiling in every nook and cranny there are books everywhere. Even the cash desk seems to be hidden behind a barricade of books. If you can find it a stairwell leads upstairs to more books and, hidden behind a bookcase door, a lovely vegetarian cafe serving cakes, light snacks and a very nice cup of coffee. There is an abundance of coffee and tea shops around here. It is a very picturesque village. But if you want something a bit different, and you too value old books, this is the place for you.

A nice atmosphere, decent service and pleasant surroundings, let down a bit by the food…read more The starters were so so, the Gruyère soufflé was ok but the French onion soup was not the classic rich stock and uber cheesy topped dish we were expecting. The lamb and the pork belly main courses were ok but the bouillabaisse was very disappointing. The portion was huge but it was just tons of potatoes, carrots and tomato stock, the soup tasted like it had zero fish stock and overall it was more like a vegetarian goulash with some seafood dropped on top. The wine selection was nice and decently priced. The deserts were also ok. One of my dinning companions couldn't eat nuts and at the start of the meal when we enquired whether the pate starter contained nuts the waitress went to check and came back with the answer that "the packet says it may contain trace amounts of nuts". The same response was received when we enquired about another of the starters. Pate from a packet in a French restaurant? It's so easy to make. All in all it was an ok meal but I wouldn't think of returning. It's a shame the food didn't match the surroundings or the service.

Nice French restaurant in Matlock! Cool vibes and nice seating downstairs! Started with the French…read moreonion soup and ordered the veggie dish with mushrooms chestnut and mashed potatoes then requested to add chicken. Delicious dish and good place for lunch/dinner.

Great coffee, Great Home Made Cakes, Amazing Breakfasts and really good service. Very friendly…read moregood for families, walkers and cyclists.