UK’s oldest tourist town is being ‘ruined’ by ‘noisy’ kids’ theme park and area is so smelly we feel sick, locals cry
THE UK’s oldest tourist town is being “ruined” by excessive noise and the smell of deep-fried takeaways, locals say.
Matlock Bath in Derbyshire has been described as “Little Switzerland” due to its beautiful scenery and quaint buildings.
Only 800 people call this steep-sided village in the Derwent Valley their home, but in the holidays 10,000 people a day visit.
The town is largely dominated by Gulliver’s Kingdom, a children’s theme park that sits overlooking the village.
But locals say their idyllic village isn’t always paradise.
One homeowner, who didn’t want to be named, complained that he had to regularly confront tourists parking in his private street.
The 52-year-old property manager said: “This is not about Gulliver’s, their visitors park where they should but the place can get very busy and it can be a nightmare here with cars being parked up illegally and the police taking no action.
“They tell me they need to see the people leaving their cars to do anything about it but it’s not fair on us residents.
“In peak season, I have to get out early if I want to use the car to take the dogs for a walk and just accept that I won’t be going anywhere after that.”
A third of Matlock Bath’s homes are rentals – creating another issue that tourists bring, noise.
One 46-year-old said Airbnbs can work well, but out of towners often came into Matlock Bath and had parties making noise late at night.
“But when you have one [Airbnb] that sleeps 20 and if it’s all young people with their own cars, that creates another parking problem.”
Dan Nightingale, 40, moved in four years ago to renovate one of the homes between Gulliver’s Kingdom and the town below.
He said: “It can be a bit noisy. You can be having a nice, quiet afternoon in the garden and then suddenly you hear children screaming or a bit of music coming over.
“It’s not late at night. If we get noise at night it comes from the big house down the road which has been turned into a 20-room Airbnb.
“You get stag do’s, wedding parties, hen do’s and the noise can go on until 3am.
“But this is the UK’s oldest tourist town. It will be full of tourists. You know that when you move here.”
Dan also complained about the deep fried takeaway smell in the town.
Matlock Bath’s high street boasts six fish and chip shops, several amusement arcades as well as eateries offering up Chinese and grilled meats.
You get stag do’s, wedding parties, hen do’s and the noise can go on until 3am
Dan Nightingale
He said: “When I first moved here, the chip shop smells which rise up from below the house made me feel quite poorly.
“But when the grilled meats business is open and the Chinese…that can make me feel quite hungry.”
As well as attracting families, the place is popular with motorbike enthusiasts.
Several shops supply biker paraphernalia and those working in the town scoff at the idea of Gulliver’s being noisy.
One shopkeeper said: “Any time there is good weather, this place is full of bikers,’ said one chip shop worker. ‘If you want to know about noise pollution, try dozens of Harley’s and straight pipes (extra noisy exhausts).”
But the village’s top attraction is Gulliver’s Kingdom, a theme park aimed at families and tucked into the side of the valley overlooking the village.
Opened in 1978, nearly half a century later the site has an uneasy relationship with the local population.
One councillor, who asked not to be named, said: “There have been a lot of issues with Gulliver’s Kingdom over the years – the owners are a bit of a law unto themselves.
When I first moved here, the chip shop smells which rise up from below the house made me feel quite poorly
Dan Nightingale
“A few years ago they created a Gulliver’s Hotel by converting some shipping containers but the last I heard they did not go through the formalities of getting planning permission or building regulations.
“But they were there for so long, they got development rights and they did the same thing when they converted a building used for model railways into a glamping site.
“It seems they do whatever they want knowing they will get away with it.”
Clashes have occurred over such issues as noise and air pollution to do with the theme park.
The councillor added: “We had a situation where the coaches in their car park would keep their engines running all day because the drivers wanted the air conditioning and there were fumes affecting the local primary school which is nearby.
“There was also a period when they would start leaf blowing at 5am which also had to be sorted out. Now I still hear complaints from locals of visitors having a pee in the trees before they go home.”
Others living near to Gulliver’s described the owners as being “difficult people”.
But many were prepared to defend them.
One home owner said: “We had an issue with work outs being done early on a Sunday morning but we had a word and they changed the direction of the speakers and it was fine.
“They seem to be quite responsive people.
Another shop-keeper said: “There’s a lot of jealous people everywhere. This is a local, family business that has done really well for itself.
“The occasional person visiting there comes into town so there is a trickle-down effect. Without tourists, where would we be?”
Tourism has been a thing in Matlock Bath since the 17th Century when its spa waters were an attraction to the elite of the day.
It really took off in the 19th Century when the young Princess Victoria visited and the poet Lord Byron dubbed it “Little Switzerland”.
Derbyshire Dales District Council did not want to comment.
Gulliver’s Kingdom and Derbyshire County Council have been approached for comment.
You can rent a whole hotel with its own pub from £30pp a night
HOLIDAYMAKERS can rent a hotel with its very own pub – from £30pp per night.
The Temple in Matlock Bath, in the Peak District, sleeps 34 people in 15 bedrooms, has two hot tubs, a games room and two bars all with stylish furniture and décor.
The Georgian Grade II listed former hotel was refurbished in 2019 and is located in two acres of hillside in the historic spa village.
The games room/pub has its own pool table as well as table tennis, air hockey, piano and a six speaker karaoke machine with lights.
It also contains an open fire, for which a first basket of logs is provided, and a large bar with a bottle fridge, so guests can have a night at the pub without leaving the accommodation.
Upstairs, in the first-floor south wing there is a large kitchen with two gas range ovens and hobs, three dishwashers, two microwaves, two kettles, two toasters, two washing machines and two American fridge/freezers.