3 Best Sights in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District, England

The Peak District's extraordinary geology can be seen up close in this large limestone cave far beneath the 100 acres of Buxton Country Park. Inhabited in prehistoric times, the cave contains, in addition to the standard stalactites and stalagmites, the source of the River Wye, which flows through Buxton. The Country Park paths take you up to Grin Low, home to the Victorian fortified hill marker Solomon's Tower, the remains of several Bronze Age burial chambers, and views of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout. There's also a fun Go Ape! treetop adventure course on-site. Admission to the cave includes a guided tour lasting nearly an hour.

The area's most exciting cavern has 106 slippery steps leading down to tunnels blasted out by 19th-century lead miners. You transfer to a small boat for the claustrophobic ¼-mile trip through an illuminated access tunnel to the cavern itself. At this point you're 600 feet underground, with views down into the so-called Bottomless Pit, which is filled with water. An on-site shop sells items made of Blue John, a mineral found nowhere else in the world.

Caves riddle the town and surrounding area, and in this massive example, rope making has been done on a great ropewalk for more than 400 years—as evidenced by the remains of a rope-makers' village dating from the 17th century. Some trivia to keep kids amused: the cavern was called the "Devil's Arse" due to the flatulent noise that water makes when draining out of the caves. Events held here include pop-up cinemas, concerts, and Christmas carols.