Some main events in 2023 to look forward to are
Buxton spring fair 2023,
Buxton International Festival 2023,
Buxton Festival Fringe 2023 , the Buxton Well Dressing Festival 2023 and the Great Peak District Fair and Buxton Beer Festival 2023. Please check dates and times with the tourist information centre.
Buxton Tourist Information Centre is situated in the
Pavilion Gardens, St Johns Road,
Buxton SK17 6BE
Telephone: 01298 25106
Email: tourism@highpeak.gov.uk
The Great Peak District Fair and Buxton Beer Festival is one of Buxtons most popular and exciting events. With over 100 stalls selling only the best high quality goods from across the Peak District including many delicious outdoor hot food stands and an exciting array of entertainment
Buxton is an old market and spa town, nestling amongst the surrounding Derbyshire hills at a height of over 1000ft, making it the highest town in England. There is a variety of accommodation available in the town and surrounding area as well as plenty of local attractions and things to do, making Buxton a great place to spend a few nights or longer.
Buxton is often refered to as the Festival Town or the cultural capital of the Peak District and with such a diverse mix of festivals and other attractions, there is something in the town for everybody. Buxton has a great choice of places to stay including hotel accommodation as well as other B&Bs and self catering. It also has a variety of places to eat and drink, making a holiday in Buxton a memorable occasion.
Buxton grew in fame as a spa town because of the pale blue water which bubbles up from thermal springs beneath The crescent. These are the outlets from a subterreanean resevoir, where the water lies for many years before coming to the surface at a constant temperature of 82 degrees fahrenheit. Buxton has a mixed economy with tourism playing a major role. The University of Derby is also significant employer. There are 2 main retail areas with higher Buxton holding a market on tues and saturday, whilst lower Buxton has a pedestrianised shopping area with indoor malls.
Buxton Opera House |
Solomans Temple Buxton |
Buxton |
Pavillion Gardens at Buxton |
Pavillion Gardens Buxton |
Pavillion Gardens at Buxton |
Pavillion Gardens Buxton |
At Anns Well at Buxton |
Buxton Opera House |
Opera House Buxton |
Pavillion Gardens Buxton |
Gardens at Buxton |
Old Hall Hotel Buxton |
Hexagonal post box at Buxton |
The Crescent Buxton |
The Crescent at Buxton |
Buxton's fame as a health spa dates back to Roman times, who were thought to have settled here around AD80 and built baths, the remains of which were excavated in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over the years Buxton became popular with pilgrims wanting to take the waters and one famous visitor was Mary Queen of Scots who suffered badly from rheumatism.
The 18th century saw much development in Buxton with the building of The Crescent by the 5th Duke of Devonshire with money made from his copper mines. The building included a ball room and an assembly room and was completed in 1788. Originally it contained a town house for the Duke but by 1804 he had relinquished his accommodation and it became the Centre Hotel with a hotel on each side, St Ann's to the west and the Great Hotel to the east. Hotel guests were able to use private entrances to the baths.
The Devonshire Royal Hospital was built in 1790 as stabling for horses.
In 1857 a portion of the stabling block was given over as a hospital. The magnificent slate dome was added in 1880 and at that time was the largest unsupported dome in the world with a span of 154 feet. The hospital is now part of Derby University.
The Palace Hotel was designed by Henry Currey in 1867 and is now the largest hotel in Buxton. It was built to accommodate the growing number of visitors anticipated with the coming of the railway to Buxton.
The Serpentine Walks have been a feature of Buxton for many years. They were originally landscaped by Joseph Paxton in the 19th century.
The Pavillion gardens lie on the banks of the River Wye and are the home of the spa water swimming pool. The pavillion itself, a glass and iron structure was built in 1871. It has been carefully restored to maintain its Victorian feel, It houses a variety of native and tropical plants.
The Pump Room which faces The crescent was built in 1894 and thermal water was served here until 1981. Now the public can sample the water from the drinking fountain next to it, known as St Ann's Well, which is decorated at Well Dressing time.
The Opera House, completed around the turn of the 20th century acts as a focal point for the annual Buxton Festival , founded in 1979, and held in the last week of July and first week of August at various venues including the Opera House. The festival programme includes literary events , concerts, recitals as well as opera. Another popular event is the Buxton Festival Fringe which features films, drama, dance, music and other cultural events along the same lines but on a smaller scale to the Edinburgh Fringe. The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, founded in 1994, also runs for over three weeks from the end of July through most of August. The Opera House has a year long program of drama, concerts, comedy and other events and recently the former Paxton Suite in the Pavilion Gardens was re-opened as a performance venue called the Pavilion Arts Centre and includes a 369-seat auditorium.
Visit the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery to discover the geology, archeology and history of the Peak District in the Wonders of the Peak time tunnel. The museum also has a collection of 19th and 20th century paintings, and holds regular exhibitions by local and regional artists and various other events. The Pavilion Gardens hosts regular arts, crafts, antiques and jewellery fairs.
There are a couple of churches of note. St John the Baptist Church was built in the Italianate style with a cupola and a massive portico. It contains some very fine mosaics and stained glass. St Annes Church is probably the oldest building in Buxton dating back to at least 1625. It is towerless and aisleless and has a chapel like appearance.
The Old Hall Hotel was originally Buxton Hall. It was built by the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, George Talbot, whose wife was Bess of Hardwick, in 1550, replacing an earlier building. It is situated over a natural spring, the warm mineral waters of which were the reason for Buxton's origin. This was the site of the Roman Baths ("Aqua Arnemetiae") thought to have been named after the Celtic water Goddess Arnemetiae. The Celts considered this Spring as a sacred shrine, possibly a thousand years or more before the Roman occupation.
Close to the hall is a Victorian letter box, hexagonal in shape and erected in 1867. It is quite unique in Derbyshire.
A major attraction to the west of the town is Pooles Cavern, a natural limestone cave, known to have been inhabited by primitive man. Adjoining the site is a country park. Footpaths lead to Solomon's Temple on Grin Low, half a mile away, providing extensive views over Buxton.
Buxton Town is made up of two halves separated by quite a steep hill, Terrace Road, which is skirted on one side by the Slopes - a very pleasant grassy hill, criss-crossed by paths and benches. Higher Buxton is where the market place is situated, and Higher Buxton was traditionally the heart of the town. Tuesday and Saturday are market days. This area includes the Buxton Museum & Art Gallery as well as craft and other shops.
Lower Buxton is where the majority of shops are, including the two shopping arcades, Cavendish and Spring Gardens. Spring Gardens is pedestrianised. Buxton boasts a wide range of shops from Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, as well as some of the best in specialist designer boutiques. The Cavendish Arcade is a unique and vibrant mix of craft, fashion, antiques and books. Buxton’s Market days are Tuesday and Saturday on The Market Place in Higher Buxton. There is also a monthly Farmers' Market in the Pavilion Gardens and an annual Continental Market bristling with traders from across Europe.
Tourist Information for Buxton. Buxton attractions and activities
For information on where to eat and drink in Buxton see Buxton Food and Drink
Buxton has its own real ale trail which takes in 17 pubs and bars around Buxton
town centre, all offering some of the UK’s finest
ales and beers. All the venues on the trail are within
walking distance of one another and will take you
past some of Buxton’s finest historic buildings and
architecture. For a copy of the trail see Buxton Real Ale Trail
For Events in and around the Pavillion gardens in Buxton in 2023
see Pavillion gardens in Buxton
How to get to Buxton
Buxton is a good base for exploring the western and southern part of the Peak District as there are direct bus services to many of the popular tourist attractions including Bakewell, Castleton, Haddon Hall and Chatsworth. Getting there is easy as there is a Train service from Stockport and Manchester and a National Express coach service from London
By Car
Buxton is easy to reach by car via the A6, A515 and A53.
By Rail
A train service is available from Manchester Picadilly Station to Buxton. For further information on all available services and connections call 08457 484950.
Buxton Tourist Information Centre is situated in the
Pavilion Gardens, St Johns Road,
Buxton SK17 6BE
Telephone: 01298 25106
Email: tourism@highpeak.gov.uk
Buxton Street Map
Main Car Parks
Market Place (Town Hall) 52 (incl. 4 Disabled)
Market Place (Sainsbury's) 21 (incl. 3 Disabled)
Market Street 86 (incl. 6 Disabled)
The Slopes 62 (incl. 5 Disabled)
Sylvan Car Park 68 (incl. 4 Disabled & 11 Coach)
Bridge Street 18 (incl. 1 Disabled)
Spring Gardens Centre 422 (incl. 26 Disabled)
South Street 10 (incl. 1 Disabled)
Pavilion Gardens 262 (incl. 15 Disabled)
Doctors in Buxton
Buxton Medical Practice
2 Temple Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9BA
Tel: 0129823298
The Stewart Medical Centre
15 Hartington Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6JP
Tel: 0129822338
Elmwood Medical Centre
7 Burlington Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9AY
Tel: 0129823019
Hospitals in Buxton
Buxton Hospital
London Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9NJ
Tel: 01298 214000
Cavendish Hospital
Manchester Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6TE
Tel: 01298 212800
Dentists in Buxton
Broad Walk Dental Practice
Broad Walk
Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6JH
01298 23504
David Monaghan
3 Belmont Terrace
Terrace Road
Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DZ
01298 71898
High Street Dental Practice
Dental Surgery
6 High Street
Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6EU
01298 22549
Lightwood Dental Surgery
3 Lightwood Road
Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 7BJ
01298 27077
Public Toilets
Public Toilets are located at the following places in Buxton. Except where stated, the toilets are open all day and night, all year round.
Sylvan Car Park Accessible
20p and RADAR key entry from 5pm to 8am
Baby changing facilities
Market Place RADAR key accessible
Closed at 5.30pm to 8am
Baby changing facilities
Buxton Cemetery
Pavilion Gardens Car Park
and Boating Lake Accessible.
Closed at 5pm
Chemists in Buxton
Boots: 62 Spring Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6BZ
Tel: 01298 23084
Burlington Road Pharmacy: 7 Burlington Road, Buxton, SK17 9AY
Tel: 01298 26999
C R Clowes & Son Ltd: 4 Cavendish Circus, Buxton SK17 6AX
Tel: 01298 23218
Lloyds Pharmacy: 2 Temple Road, Buxton SK17 9BZ
Tel: 01298 23411
Peak Pharmacy: Scarsdale Place, Buxton SK17 6EF
Tel: 01298 23488
Superdrug: 11-12 Spring Gardens, Buxton SK17 6BJ
Tel: 01298 23195
buxtonoperahouse.org.uk for information on concerts and other events at Buxton Opera House