Barbecues are not permitted at any of our sites.
Middleton Top, as you might expect, is at the top of a hill and offers delightful views of the surrounding countryside.
This site has a visitor centre, gift shop and cycle hire centre, car park, toilets and picnic area. Whether on foot, horse or bike it is an ideal place to start your visit along the beautiful High Peak Trail.
It houses the restored steam engine house built in 1829 by the Butterley Company to haul wagons up the Middleton incline.
The Middleton Top Engine House is open to the public on certain weekends throughout the year.
The countryside centre sells a range of books, maps, leaflets and gifts, along with hot and cold drinks, ice creams and snacks.
There are plenty of places nearby to enjoy a scenic picnic including Redhill Quarry Nature Reserve located behind Middleton Top. Here you will find wildflowers growing in abundance in the summer, including several species of orchid.
Visitor centre summer opening hours
Easter to 3 September 2023 from 9.30am to 4.45pm.
September to October weekends only and October half term.
Toilets open 9am to 5pm. The accessible toilet requires a RADAR key which can be borrowed from the visitor centre during opening hours.
Visitor centre winter opening hours
Weekends only, November to Easter from 9.30am to 4.15pm.
Christmas and new year week 26 December 2023 to 1 January 2024, subject to weather.
Toilets open 9am to 4pm. The accessible toilet requires a RADAR key which can be borrowed from the visitor centre during opening hours. .
Middleton Top Engine House operating days
See the world’s oldest beam engine of its type in action. Discover how it got wagons up and down steep hills on one of the world’s first long-distance railways.
Operating days are from midday to 4pm on:
- Easter Sunday 9 April 2023
- Monday 10 April 2023
- Sunday 30 April 2023
- May bank holiday Monday 1 May 2023
- Saturday 3 June 2023
- Sunday 4 June 2023
- Sunday 2 July 2023
- Sunday 9 July 2023
- Sunday 16 July 2023
- Sunday 23 July 2023
- Sunday 30 July 2023
- Sunday 6 August 2023
- Sunday 13 August 2023
- Sunday 20 August 2023
- Sunday 27 August 2023
- August bank holiday Monday 28 August 2023
- September Heritage Open Day - free
- Sunday 17 September 2023
- Sunday 8 October 2023
- Sunday 29 October 2023
Charges
Admission is £4, concessions are £2.50. Parking charges apply.
Parking
The car park machines on this site take cash only.