Machine Inn
A comfortable Ashbourne base with dietary options covered
About this hotel
Machine Inn sits in Ashbourne, the market town at the southern gateway to the Peak District National Park, offering air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, walk-in showers, tea and coffee makers and free toiletries throughout. The modern, family-friendly restaurant covers vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, removing the stress of finding suitable food for a family with a specific need after a tiring day. A bar and free WiFi round out the leisure side, while the thirteen-kilometre distance to Alton Towers keeps the drive to the waterpark comfortably short. Chatsworth House sits thirty-two kilometres away for families wanting a second, calmer day out during a longer Staffordshire and Peak District stay. The bar adds a further option for an evening drink without needing to leave the property after a long day out.
- Walk-in showers
- Family-friendly restaurant
- Ashbourne town centre
- 13 km to Alton Towers
Our take
Machine Inn suits families who want modern room comfort and reliable dietary options in a proper market town, rather than a countryside estate with more character but less predictability. It works particularly well for a multi-night trip that mixes a waterpark day with time exploring Ashbourne and the Peak District's southern edge. Larger groups travelling together should confirm room configurations directly, since the inn's layout suits couples and small families more naturally than bigger parties.
- ✓Confirm any dietary requirements with the restaurant ahead of arrival, since the kitchen already accommodates vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free needs.
- ✓Request a room with a walk-in shower specifically if quick post-pool washing matters to your family.
- ✓Book early for a longer Staffordshire trip that pairs a waterpark day with time in Ashbourne and the Peak District.
Why we love it
- Walk-in shower in every room
- Vegan and gluten-free dining
- Central Ashbourne location
- Air-conditioned rooms
Why guests love itFamilies basing themselves at Machine Inn for an Alton Towers trip tend to comment on how straightforward the dietary options made mealtimes, particularly households managing a gluten-free or vegan need. The walk-in showers get a specific mention after a day spent largely in the water. Guests using Ashbourne as a base for a longer trip also valued being able to walk into the town's own shops and cafes on rest days rather than needing to drive everywhere.