A spring in your step...
selection with rock oysters, king scallops, crab and langoustines for starters along with classic mains such as steak tartare, loin of venison and short rib of beef.
Famed for its mineralrich waters, Buxton became a spa destination in Roman times. A settlement was built around the warm spring that still sends up a million litres a day from its original source beneath the hotel.
And when you step outside, the old pumphouse-turned-tourist information centre is right there in front of you.
Towering over it is The Slopes, a Grade II-listed public park once used as pleasure grounds for the guests of The Crescent hotel to promenade.
Elsewhere, Buxton’s Grade II-listed Pavilion Gardens have been around for more than 150 years and provide a charming open space to enjoy, with the Pavilion Arts Centre, indoor market, the Buxton Cinema and an indoor public swimming pool and fitness centre close at hand.
In recent times it has benefited from a £3.3million Lottery funding project, with new facilities including a Victorian-style bandstand used for summer concerts and weddings, play areas and a children’s miniature railway.
My wife and I enjoyed the simple pleasure of the train that gives a snapshot of the Pavilion Gardens grounds. There’s also a small tourist tram that visits the interesting features around the town.
Close to the gardens lies the famous Buxton Opera House, which dates back to 1903 and hosts events for the Buxton International Festival, a summer celebration featuring opera, music and literature.
Alongside the BIF, there’s the town’s Fringe festival, with an exciting mix of live events and online entertainment, which ended on July 25 but is still online.
And let’s not forget the eclectic mix of shops, bars and restaurants.
The Cavendish Arcade is a boutique shopping area set within the historic hot baths, with the present buildings opened in the 1850s. It was converted into a shopping centre in the 1980s, and boasts jewellers, a chocolatier, fashion boutiques and furnishing outlets.
Elsewhere, there’s The Springs Shopping Centre, with all the usual high-street favourites. We also tried
a superb restaurant called Simply Thai, which served up delicious and freshly cooked, Thai-inspired cuisine for a great price in relaxed surroundings.
With its grand architecture, ornamental gardens and rich variety of festivals, shops and restaurants, Buxton is a beauty of a town.
Staying at its masterpiece spa hotel will certainly leave you relaxed, refreshed and raring to go again.
Fountains sparkle with the town’s water, a real talking point for passers-by