Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<p>From fabulous forts and daring rope bridges, these are the best playgrounds in Notts &amp; Derbyshire. Some have zip wires, swanky new pump tracks, and even a flat white too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chatsworth-farmyard-amp-adventure-playground-near-bakewell"><a href="https://www.chatsworth.org/visit-chatsworth/chatsworth-estate/farmyard-playground/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chatsworth Farmyard &amp; Adventure Playground</a>, near Bakewell</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Chatsworth-1024x683.jpg" alt="Chatsworth adventure playground" class="wp-image-17195" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Chatsworth-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Chatsworth-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Chatsworth-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Chatsworth.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you’re after a bit of culture but your little ones have other ideas, Chatsworth is always a hit. Not only can you explore the stunning house and gardens, but there’s a brilliant adventure playground, complete with giant slides, interactive water play, and wooden forts. Probably the best woodland adventure playground in Derbyshire, it&#8217;s well worth the £12 entry fee (if you want the house and gardens too it&#8217;s £28 for adults and a tenner for kids).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-oak-adventure-playground-wheelgate-farnsfield"><a href="https://www.wheelgatepark.com/rides/major-oak-adventure-playground/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Major Oak Adventure Playground</a>, Wheelgate, Farnsfield</h2>



<p>You&#8217;ll need to fork out for tickets (from £10.56pp) to&nbsp;the theme Park to access this one, but it&#8217;s a corker. Towers, rope bridges, and secret hideaways-a-plenty, but it&#8217;s the cool curly slide that&#8217;s the real draw. .</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mundy-play-centre-markeaton-park-derby"><a href="https://www.inderby.org.uk/parks/things-to-do-on-our-parks/mundy-play-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mundy Play Centre</a>, Markeaton Park, Derby</h2>



<p>A fabulous, free-to-access park with adventure playground with a dedicated toddler area. It&#8217;s a prate ship theme for the older kids, with large swings, slides and a spider net. It&#8217;s suitable for disabled children too. Just beyond the playground, there&#8217;s a skate&nbsp;park with jumps and grind bars, plus a huge paddling pool for the warmer months. When the sun shines, bring a picnic  and you&#8217;ll find enough to fill a whole day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-king-john-s-castle-sherwood-pines"><a href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/sherwood-pines/play-sherwood-pines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King John&#8217;s Castle</a>, Sherwood Pines</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Sherwood-Pines-1024x683.jpg" alt="adventure playground at sherwood pines" class="wp-image-17196" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Sherwood-Pines-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Sherwood-Pines-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Sherwood-Pines-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Sherwood-Pines.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>&nbsp;Who&#8217;s the king of the castle? Littlies will love this castle-themed playground, with two towers connected by a wobbly clatter bridge (wide enough for wheelchairs). Back on solid ground, there&#8217;s a secret den, tunnel, kitchen and dungeon, along with a tube slide, balance trail, and trebuchet swing. The perfect place for role play, Robin Hood&#8217;s Hideout and Workshop will keep little outlaws happy, with sand chutes and pulleys to fill up the sand table to ‘forge’ a sword and arrowheads.</p>



<p>If you can chuck the bikes in the back of the car, be sure to explore the new <a href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/sherwood-pines/pedal-and-play-trail" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pedal &amp; Play</a> tracks designed to help little riders build off-road cycling skills on berms and rollers. Loads of fun.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rosliston-forestry-centre-rosliston"><a href="https://www.roslistonforestrycentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosliston Forestry Centre</a>, Rosliston</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow.jpg" alt="adventure playground at rosliston" class="wp-image-14339" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/08/rosliston-sparrow-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Another adventure playground that&#8217;s easy to spend a whole day at with kids. Plenty of nets, climbing frames and swings, along with a fun timber trail and sand pit. Tag on a woodland walk afterwards &#8211; there are gorgeous trails and boardwalks to follow.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carsington-water-carsington"><a href="https://www.stwater.co.uk/our-visitor-sites/carsington-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carsington Water</a>, Carsington</h2>



<p>This lakeside (ok, reservoir-side) adventure playground is a great one for kids of all ages. It&#8217;s got challenging arc climbing frames and giant rope swings to test older kids, and lovely toddler-friendly equipment to keep tots happy. It&#8217;s also packed with plenty of accessible play equipment and the trails around the water are great for bikes.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hood-s-hideout-nottingham-castle"><a href="https://www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hood’s Hideout</a>, Nottingham Castle</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Notts-Casle-1024x683.jpg" alt="adventure playground at Nottingham Castle" class="wp-image-17197" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Notts-Casle-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Notts-Casle-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Notts-Casle-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Adventure-play-Notts-Casle.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nottinghamcastle">@nottinghamcastle</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Bows and arrows at the ready! This city centre medieval-themed adventure playground is in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. Loads for imaginative play, plus a rope climbing wall, a ladder and scramble net for scrambling up, and slides to whizz down.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heights-of-abraham-matlock-bath"><a href="https://www.heightsofabraham.com/see-and-do/childrens-playgrounds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heights of Abraham</a>, Matlock Bath</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq.jpg" alt="heights of abraham adventure play derbyshire" class="wp-image-7610" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/01/LBB-heights-of-abraham-adventure-play-sq-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Way more than a cable car ride, there&#8217;s stacks to do at the summit of the Heights of Abraham. Alongside the cool underground caverns and woodland walks, you&#8217;ll find a brilliant adventure playground that works for pretty much any age group. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gedling-country-park-gedling"><a href="https://gedlingcountrypark.com/things-to-do/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gedling Country Park</a>, Gedling</h2>



<p>A beaut&#8217; of an adventure playground, this one incorporates the park’s mining heritage with a head-spinning mining tower slide, mining train and old pit grasslands.&nbsp;Loads to keep them happy for hours and a separate enclosed toddler playground to keep them safe too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buxton-pavilion-gardens-buxton"><a href="https://paviliongardens.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buxton Pavilion Gardens</a>, Buxton</h2>



<p>A zip wire, vast wooden climbing frame, swings, and a separate, enclosed toddler area gives mums of tots peace of mind. There&#8217;s also a cute miniature train that toot-toots around the gardens (weekends and school holidays). It&#8217;s a big area, with plenty of smooth paths, so it&#8217;s a good place for scooters, skates and small wheels too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hall-leys-park-matlock">Hall Leys Park, Matlock</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/Matlock-Phil-Sproson-VistPD-1024x683.jpg" alt="flowers in hall leys park matlock with Riber castle behind" class="wp-image-10372" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/Matlock-Phil-Sproson-VistPD-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/Matlock-Phil-Sproson-VistPD-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/Matlock-Phil-Sproson-VistPD-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/Matlock-Phil-Sproson-VistPD.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by Phil Sproson/Visit Peak District &amp; Derbyshire</figcaption></figure>



<p>Sunny day? This is the one to head for. It&#8217;s a decent adventure playground, but there&#8217;s also a boating lake, skate park, splash area and a seasonal miniature railway. When the spring bulbs are out, it&#8217;s a riot of colour.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/easter-activities-kids-near-me/">Hop to it! Excellent adventures with the kids this Easter</a></p>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/whats-on-near-you-this-month-march/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your local March what&#8217;s on guide</a></p>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/nominate/">Nominate your best local family experience in the Muddy Awards</a></p>


11 epic adventure playgrounds in Notts & Derbyshire

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