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If you’re looking for a family day out that combines spectacular scenery, fascinating history and plenty of space to explore, Creswell Crags is hard to beat. Straddling the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire border, it is one of those places that feels completely different from anywhere else in England.
We spent around three hours here with our 14 month old daughter, Elanor, and left feeling like we’d only scratched the surface.
Why Creswell Crags is so special
Creswell Crags is an internationally important Ice Age site and one of the UK’s most significant prehistoric landscapes. The limestone gorge is home to a series of caves that were occupied by both Neanderthals and early modern humans tens of thousands of years ago.
It is also the only place in Britain where confirmed Ice Age cave art has been discovered, making it genuinely unique. Alongside the caves, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of animals including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, cave hyenas and reindeer, helping to build a remarkable picture of life during the last Ice Age.
One of the highlights for many visitors is the guided cave tours, which take you inside the caves to learn about the archaeology, geology and internationally important cave art. We didn’t take a tour on this visit, but it gives us a great reason to come back.
Exploring the gorge
Even without entering the caves, the setting itself is stunning. The limestone gorge is far more dramatic than many people expect, with steep cliffs reflected in the lake below and peaceful walking routes around the site.
The whole area feels very natural, with wildlife sculptures dotted around the landscape that fit beautifully into the surroundings rather than dominating them. It’s the sort of place where it’s easy to slow down and simply enjoy being outside.
The museum and exhibitions
Although we didn’t spend time in the museum on this visit, it’s well worth allowing time for. The exhibitions explain the story of the Ice Age, the discoveries made at Creswell Crags and the animals and people who once lived here.
The displays provide valuable context before or after exploring the gorge and make the site accessible even if you don’t take one of the cave tours. There are also examples of early art – for example an ochre carving in a bone and a baby hyena skeleton!
Visiting with a toddler
We visited with our 14 month old daughter and found Creswell Crags worked really well for young families.
We took the pushchair and had no issues getting around. There is a lift connecting the different levels of the visitor centre, making access straightforward, and there were plenty of opportunities for Elanor to get out and walk safely in different areas.
The combination of open space, water, wildlife sculptures and changing scenery kept her interested throughout the visit.
Food and facilities
We stopped in the café for lunch and were impressed. The paninis were excellent and there was plenty of choice for a lighter lunch, as well as cake, which went down very well with Elanor.
The toilets and baby changing facilities were clean and well maintained, and everything felt well looked after.
Parking
Parking is charged, but if you think you’ll return it is worth looking at the annual parking pass, which is very reasonably priced and could quickly pay for itself after a couple of visits.
Make a day of it
If you have time, it’s well worth combining Creswell Crags with a visit to the Harley Gallery, which is only a short walk away. Together they make for a varied day out, mixing internationally significant archaeology with contemporary art, exhibitions and beautiful surroundings.
Our verdict
Creswell Crags feels unlike almost anywhere else in Britain. The combination of dramatic natural scenery, world-class archaeology and accessible family facilities makes it a genuinely memorable place to visit.
Even without taking a cave tour, we spent around three enjoyable hours exploring the gorge, visiting the exhibitions and enjoying lunch in the café. Next time, we’ll definitely be booking one of the guided cave tours to experience another side of this extraordinary place.
If you enjoy history, nature or simply discovering places that are genuinely different, Creswell Crags deserves a place on your list.
