Buxton is a spa town on the Cheshire borders in Derbyshire.
The town, built on the River Wye, has a geothermal spring that remains at a temperature of 28C.
The spring sources from behind Eagle Parade and is piped to St. Ann’s Well near the town centre. Buxton has a long history of being a spa town and people can still be seen filling water bottles at St. Ann’s Well, today.
The town grew in the late 1700’s and was developed by the Dukes of Devonshire. It was again to become important when the Victorians found out about the healing properties of the waters.
The 5th Duke of Devonshire put in the profits from his copper mines to make the area famous as a spa town.
The town has many beautiful and interesting buildings, The Pump Room, built in 1884 was where visitors could ‘take the water’ until 1981. This building is due to be refurbished.
In 1868 the one hundred and twenty-two room Palace Hotel was built on the hill above the railway station.
The Old Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in the town. The building dates from 1670 and has a five bay front with a Tuscan doorway. It was owned by the 6th Earl of Shrewsbuy who, along with his wife, were the jailers of Mary Queen of Scots. She visited the town several times in the 1500’s to ‘take the water’.
In the centre of Buxton are the Pavilion Gardens. The buildings here contain the Opera House. This is a beautiful building with a fantastically decorated interior. During the year, music festivals, operas and plays are held together with a pantomime at Christmas. The buildings dome, when built, was the largest unsupported dome in the world.
The Devonshire Campus of the University of Derby now occupies what was once the old stable block.
A conservatory, filled to the brim with flowers, shrubs and tropical plants, adjoins the Opera House.
In the Gardens of the Opera House is a new bandstand; here people sitting on the promenade can be entertained with music during the summer. There is also a lounge/restaurant with a coffee shop on the balcony
Walking on, there is a cafeteria and shops and from here can be seen the domed Concert Hall. It is in here that exhibitions and collectors fairs can be seen throughout the year. It is also used for conferences and events.
The gardens have an indoor swimming pool and children’s play area. There are lakes in the grounds attracting many species of birds.
Other places to visit include the underground Pools Cavern, offering 300 metres of public viewing or for the more energetic and adventurous there is ‘Go Ape’ where people can swing from tree to tree some forty feet above ground or slide on zip wires through the forest.
Buxton town has a good shopping area with high street stores such as Next, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer plus several boutiques and independent shops.
The Cavendish Arcade has a variety of craft shops, antiques and bookshops together with those trading in fashion or home products.
The Old Court House has specialist shops selling baby wear, toys, home ware and also a physiotherapist café and restaurant.
Buxton is officially the highest market town in Britain with markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the Market Place. The monthly Farmers Market is held in the Pavilion Gardens and this also houses an annual Continental Market attracting traders from all over Europe.
Buxton has direct access to Manchester Airport with flights all over the world. There is also the Trent Bus service from Manchester Airport to Buxton. Other buses have a two-hour service to Stoke on Trent and Sheffield.
Property for rent in Buxton is available with average prices of £603pcm for l bed flat and £498pcm for a 2 bed flat.
The town’s economy includes the commercial value of the local spring waters bottled and sold by the Buxton Mineral Water Company, now owned by Nestle Water UK and Buxton blue cheese, which has a status only allowing it to be made in and around Buxton. Limestone quarrying also rate high in bringing in revenue to Buxton, as do the festivals that are held in town.
In the town there are a large number of hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. There are also several restaurants around the area.
With transport links being good, plenty of places to stay and a large amount of interesting places to visit and things to do Buxton is a good place to visit or use as a base for touring.
Buxton is home to two small motorcycle stadiums and Buxton have been regular competitors in the Conference League. The town also have Buxton Football Club as its local team.
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