An ideal base for visitors who want to explore the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District during the day and stroll around Buxton in the evenings. It is the highest market town in England, with many restaurants, old pubs, bars and clubs to visit anytime.
Buxton is a Spa Town in the Derbyshire Peak District that has attracted bathers for many hundreds of years (starting with the Romans) to its warm spring waters. You can fill your own bottles from the spring at St Anne’s fountain that flows freely 24hrs a day.
The old thermal baths were extremely popular during Victorian times for therapeutic healing and well being. Also Queen Mary of Scots was a regular visitor in the 1500s staying in the Old Hall Hotel until her cousin Queen Elizabeth 1 had her head removed..!
The Buxton summer music festivals and impressive architecture, in particular the Crescent built for the 5th Duke of Devonshire to rival that of Bath, the well known Opera House with regular performances of opera, ballet, drama and comedy.
The 23 acre Pavilion Gardens with its Winter Gardens and Octagon Suite home to antiques, crafts and specialist fairs.
The Devonshire Royal Hospital originally built as stables for the Duke of Devonshire, the only unsupported dome in the world and until recent times the second largest in the world. The building is now part of the University of Derby. In term time (Tues to Fri – 12pm and 1pm) you can enjoy at the Dome Restaurant a 3 course meal prepared and served by the students. You need to book in advance as it is very popular. Contact the Restaurant on 01298 330620 to book.
The Devonshire Spa is also situated in the Dome. Our friends recently went as a result of a present they were given. They really enjoyed it and where told if you look on line there are regular offers available .
The town’s showpiece Pavilion Gardens is the only park in the East Midlands to boast a coveted Green Heritage Award, It was only one of four shortlisted finalists for the prize of Best Park in Britain – which is only a 5 minute stroll from Smithy’s Cottage. The park has recently been taken over (March 2019) by a private firm and they are busy making lots of improvements. There could be boats on the boating lake in the near future. The cafe by the lake is to be open on a more regular basis. They have already installed lots of new seating in front of the bandstand so on the Sunday afternoons when bands from all around the area come to play you can sit and enjoy.
Poole’s Cavern and Country Park, set in woodland one mile from the town centre, offering the natural wonders of a limestone cavern. There is a cafe at Poole’s Cavern. There are numerous paths in the woodland which is also where Go Ape is. You can walk up and get to Solomon’s Temple up on the hill. Great views from up there. Or you could walk up to Corbar Cross on the adjacent hill and see Buxton from a different angle. There is a booklet in the cottage on the ‘Ring of Trees’ walk which encompasses the town.
There are many long distance or local walks from Buxton into the Derbyshire Peak District and plenty to see in Buxton itself to make an ideal holiday break.
Click here to view a video clip of some of the places to visit around Buxton and the Peak District
Some of the events during the year include the Buxton Festival, the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival and the many celebrated Well Dressings.
There are several locations where you can hire a bike so you can get along the trails close by. Just off the A6 at Wyedale is Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire for cycling along the Monsal Trail which has the tunnels to go through all the way to Bakewell. At Parsley Hay there is the cycle hire for going along the Tissington Trail and The High Peak Trail.
More about the history of Buxton
Travel Options to Smithys Cottage
Buxton is well served by public transport links from Manchester, Derby, Sheffield and Nottingham for those who do not want to use their car.
By Bus:- The main bus stops only 250m from the cottage which apart using to get to Buxton also gives easy access to explore all parts of the Peak District – check the links for local and national bus services.
By Train:- The railway station is about a half mile from the cottage – a taxi to the cottage from the station costs around £5 – just ask for “Smithys Cottage on Church Street”. Train tickets are available from the link – the JAM TAXIS on 01298 72333 or BUXTON RADIO TAXIS on 01298 23457. Alternatively a 15 min walk by the town centre – click directions in left hand column for a map.
By Car:- If you do use your own car or one hired from an airport (NB. car hire is available from the link in the left hand column) we have easy and private off-road parking next to the cottage.
In and around Buxton:-
How Far To:-
Bus Stops – 250m
Sainsbury’s Local – 300m (supermarket)
Tesco’s Express (24hrs) & Garage – 300m (supermarket)
Waitrose – 1000m (supermarket)
Morrisons – 850m (supermarket)
Marks & Spencer – 900m
Post Office – 200m
Railway Station – 850m
Market – 250m (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
Main Shopping Area – 450m
Swimming Pool – 800m
Opera House – 750m
Tourist Information Centre – 650m
Airport – 20 miles
Golf Course – 1 mile
Library – 500m
Museum – 400m
Attractions within Walking Distance (say 2 miles)
Buxton (Spa Water) Swimming Pool
Buxton Opera House behind the scenes tours
Curbar Cross (view point)
St Annes Well (free Buxton Spa Water)
Pavillion Gardens
Serpentine Walk
The Slopes, Crescent and Pump House
Old Baths (shopping centre)
Buxton Market (Saturdays and Tuesdays)
Smithys Cottage, Buxton, Peak District 