Britain's bizarre 'seaside resort without the sea' that attracts 1.6 MILLION visitors a year - despite being 70 miles from the coast

With its excellent fish and chip shops, hordes of visitors filling the streets and beautiful views, it would be easy to mistake Matlock Bath for a quintessentially British seaside spot.

But the village, which attracts 1.6million tourists a year according to the BBC, is in fact, firmly landlocked – located some 70 miles away from the coast, in the Derbyshire Peak District.

Often described as a 'seaside resort without the sea', Matlock Bath has almost everything a coastal destination could offer – except the ocean.

Indeed, visitors to the picturesque village can happily spend the day enjoying portions of cod and chips from Tucker's Fish & Chips – the most highly rated in the area on Tripadvisor - just without the accompanying soundtrack of seagulls squawking, or sand finding its way into every orifice.

But aside from an impressive selection of chippies, Matlock Bath also boasts other classic seaside amenities, including arcades. 

The village is also home to Derwent Amusement Centre, which is packed with games and 2p machines – very similar to those you might find along the coast. 

Further along North Parade you'll find Matlock Bath Aquarium, which is home to over 50 species of fish.

Visitors can check out a worldwide gemstone and fossil display, as well as see the only remaining petrifying well in Matlock Bath. Entry costs £6.90 and the attraction is open daily.  

The Heights of Abraham cable car soars over the Derwent Valley, offering breath-taking views of the countryside, and heads all the way up to the summit of Masson Hill.   

The base station can be found on Dale Road, in Matlock Bath, and adult tickets are priced at £27, children aged between four and 15 are charged £16. 

The village even has its own equivalent to the famous Blackpool Illuminations. 

Matlock Bath Illuminations are held from September 12 to November 1, and promise a fun-packed day out for all of the family.

And during the weekends when the illuminations are taking place, visitors are treated to parades of decorated boats and even fireworks on certain dates, according to Visit Peak District and Derbyshire. 

Conveniently located in the Derbyshire Peak District, Matlock Bath is a great starting point for walkers, too. 

Derwent Gardens is a beautiful riverside park, that boasts 19th-century water gardens and grottoes fuelled by thermal springs. 

It's around 15 hectares and has a bridge that links the area to Lovers' Walks, another public park.  

Elsewhere, the Peak District Mining Museum delves into the area's history and offers guided tours into an authentic 1920s lead and fluorspar mine. 

Trains from London to Matlock Bath take around two hours and 20 minutes, or it's an approximately three-hour car journey. The village is also just a two-hour drive from Manchester.