East Midlands Tourism

Take a journey back to an age when Britain held centre-stage as the world's first industrial nation - to a place where water power was first successfully harnessed for textile production - a milestone in the Industrial Revolution. Amid breathtaking countryside in the heart of rural Derbyshire, and offering fascinating insights into industrial and social life during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site is the perfect choice for a summer outing or a winter break. Snaking 15 miles down the river valley from Matlock Bath to Derby, the World Heritage Site contains a fascinating series of historic mill complexes, including some of the world's first 'modern' factories. No less important are the watercourses that powered them, the settlements that were built for the mill workers, and the remains of one of the world's earliest steam railways - all nestling within a stunningly beautiful landscape that has changed little over two centuries. Here, too, you can enjoy a range of country walks, quality shopping, wholesome food and drink, and abundant local hospitality.