Member Details

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Buxton, an 18th century spa and market town, situated in the heart of the Peak District which itself is an area of stunning beauty and spectacular scenery.

Buxton is the main centre for accommodation in the Peak District - from four star grandeur to first class, family run hotels and B&Bs.

Like Bath, it owes its existence to the thermal springs that bubble up beneath the Crescent. The Romans found the natural warm pale blue waters very beneficial and called the town 'Aquae Arnemetiae' which means 'the Spa of the Goddess of the Grove'. But it was the building of the Crescent by the Fifth Duke of Devonshire in 1784 to provide accommodation for visitors attracted by the health-giving thermal spring that really launched the town as we know it today.

For centuries, Buxton has been a spa town popular with visitors from around the world, renowned for its spa water, its summer festivals, music and its impressive architecture. Now, Buxton has plans to revive its spa heritage with some new state of the art facilities - see below for details.

In the centre of town, St Ann's well, a fountain located opposite the Tourist Information Centre, continues to give forth a constant flow of natural mineral water. The Opera House, built by the famous theatre architect, Frank Matcham in 1903, is the venue for high-standard performances of music, dance, drama and opera throughout the year.

The adjacent 23-acre complex of the Pavilion Gardens embraces a recently restored Victorian park, fully licensed catering facilities, a swimming pool and a conservatory. Nearby, is the remarkable Devonshire Royal Campus of the University of Derby originally built as the Duke of Devonshire's Great Stables and recently converted.

There is a fantastic range of outdoor leisure activities available in the area, and the whole of the Peak District is rich in special events, festivals and local traditions including a very special one - well dressing.

Buxton has all this and more, further details of which can be found at www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Buxton - a spa town for the future

Buxton is famous around the world for its bottled water and now is building on the town's immense spa heritage. The University of Derby College already offers one of the first Spa Management courses in Europe and will soon operate its own spa within its new Devonshire Royal Campus.

Also, funding has been agreed by the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the Buxton Crescent & Thermal Spa Project which will result in the UK's second only natural mineral water spa and the first spa hotel for over a century upon completion in 2009. Based in the Crescent, the project is looking to provide an 79-bed 4 star hotel linked to a modern thermal natural mineral water spa in the adjoining Natural Baths. The Pump Room, opposite the Crescent, will be refurbished to allow the public to take the waters once again. Finally, a visitor centre is planned for the Crescent which will look at the town's spa heritage and give access to the magnificent John Carr designed ballroom - described as one of the best rooms in the Midlands.