Buxton (England)

Buxton is a medium sized, picturesque town that lies in the natural hollow of a valley plateau, right on the fringe of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. Despite this location the town is still situated at almost 1,000 feet above sea level, making it the highest town of its size in England.

Today Buxton is the largest and most important town in the western and central Peak. It has a population of around 21,000 people. It ...
...Wye has its source in Buxton and as it flows downhill to join the River Derwent it forms one of the area's most important and impressive Rivers. The nearby Goyt Valley slopes away in the opposite direction and this is where one of the sources of the River Mersey rises. Here is an area of green, rolling hills and steep, twisting valleys where every turn is a completely different vista.

Buxton has a long and colourful history. The Romans ... more

Buxton is a medium sized, picturesque town that lies in the natural hollow of a valley plateau, right on the fringe of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. Despite this location the town is still situated at almost 1,000 feet above sea level, making it the highest town of its size in England.

Today Buxton is the largest and most important town in the western and central Peak. It has a population of around 21,000 people. It lies on the boundary of the gritstone and limestone edges, where the River Wye has been forced to cut magnificent gorges out of the limestone to finds its route.

The River Wye has its source in Buxton and as it flows downhill to join the River Derwent it forms one of the area's most important and impressive Rivers. The nearby Goyt Valley slopes away in the opposite direction and this is where one of the sources of the River Mersey rises. Here is an area of green, rolling hills and steep, twisting valleys where every turn is a completely different vista.

Buxton has a long and colourful history. The Romans established a site here called Aquae Arnemetiae. They were attracted here not only for its important strategic position but also because of its Hot Springs. These warm Springs rise from the River Wye at a constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. The Romans quickly exploited this source and built Baths here which were still in use many centuries after the Romans had long been gone.

These Springs were believed to have many beneficial healing properties and Buxton had probably become a place of Pilgrimage from as early as the Middle Ages. It was even visited by Mary Queen of Scots, when the Earl of Shrewsbury at nearby Chatsworth House held her captive there.

Buxton still draws a large amount of its wealth from the income generated by the tourists that flock here every year for its Warm-Springs and this Mineral Water is now bottled and sold Worldwide as Buxton Mineral Spring Water.

The many famous and wealthy people that visited this town over the centuries left their mark in the magnificent Architecture that can be seen today. Perhaps the most important of these was the 5th Duke of Devonshire who commissioned the building of the Crescent in 1780.

In the years that followed many other Grand Buildings were built including the Palace Hotel built in 1868 and the World famous Buxton Opera House, built in 1903.

Today Buxton is a thriving town. The Crescent has now been transformed into a magnificent Shopping Centre but still retains much of its original character, including one of the original Thermal Baths complete with a wooden chair on a hoist above it.

Next door to the Crescent are the Thermal Baths built between 1851 and 1853. This Building is now used as the Tourist Information Centre.

The Old Hall Hotel forms the remainder of the Grade 1 listed Building Complex that comprises the Crescent, Former Thermal Baths and Old Hall Hotel. The Old Hall Hotel was used as a Town House by Bess of Hardwick and her Husband the Earl of Shrewsbury. This is where they stayed when they visited Buxton.

The Pavillion Park Gardens are a particularly interesting example of a Victorian Park and come complete with a large Duck Pond, as well as many fancy Statues and Monuments. The River Wye flows directly through this Park, providing a lovely tranquil setting.
The town's Public Swimming Baths and Leisure Centre is located at the far end of the Pavilion Gardens. The Swimming Pool here is actually filled with the warm Spring water from the Wells.

Nearby there is another well maintained Public Park, called the Slopes. As its name suggests this Park sits at the top of a mound overlooking the town centre.

If you are visiting Buxton for the first time then the Tourist Information Centre is a good place to start. Here they also have details of accommodation in the area plus plenty of information on the history of the area, places to visit and things to see and do.

It is located at the address below:

Buxton Tourist Information Centre,
The Crescent,
Buxton
SK17 6BQ

Telephone: 01298 25106.

If you want to learn more about the history of the town then a visit to the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery is highly recommended. This closes however during the Winter Months and does not re-open until the Easter Weekend. Admission is free.

It is located at the address below:

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Terrace Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6DA

Tel: 01298 24658
Fax: 01298 79394

The Crescent is perhaps the most famous Building in Buxton but before leaving here you should visit St Anne's Well located just the side of the Crescent Building. This Well has been a constant source of flowing water since medieval times and many people say it has healing properties. The water that pours from the spout of this Well is surprisingly warm and runs at a constant temperature throughout the year.

Since Buxton is one of the most principal towns in the region it is very well sign-posted and has excellent transport links

If you are visiting by Road, Buxton lies on the A6 Manchester to Derby Road. From Leek take the A53 or from Macclesfield the A537. From Chesterfield access is via the A623 Chesterfield to Stockport Road where it joins the A6 a few miles north of Buxton. From Sheffield, take the A621 or the A619 Roads to Bakewell, and then follow the A6.

If you are visiting by Bus there is a Trans-Peak Bus that runs from Derby to Manchester via Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton. This runs every hour during the Summer months and every two hours during the Winter.

If you are visiting by Train these run from Manchester to Buxton every hour.

I have visited Buxton on many different occasions over the years since it is only a 30-minute drive from where I live in Sheffield. The last time that I visited, about 3 years ago, the Crescent was closed for renovation so when I visited Buxton last Sunday this was my first opportunity to go there and I was very impressed.

I decided to travel to Buxton by Bus as there is a direct Bus from Sheffield City Centre to Buxton and I have a weekly saver travel pass that I can use. This also saves the hassle of parking, which can be both difficult and expensive. All of the Car Parks in the town are Pay and Display but it is possible to park for free on some of the side streets at the edge of the town, if you are happy to walk.

In hindsight however, during my recent visit Car Parking would have actually been quite easy since it poured it down with rain all day and many people had decided to stay at home.

Thank you for reading.
 

...less