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Buxton

Sights in Buxton

  1. A

    Poole's Cavern

    Poole's Cavern is a magnificent natural limestone cavern, about a mile from central Buxton. Guides take you deep underground to see an impressive formation of stalactites (the ones that hang down) - including one of England's longest - and distinctive 'poached egg' formation stalagmites.

    From the cave car park, a 20-minute walk leads up through Grin Low Wood to Solomon's Temple, a small tower with fine views over the town and surrounding Peak District.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Slopes

    Opposite the Crescent, a small park called the Slopes rises steeply in a series of grassy terraces. From the top there are views over the centre and across to the grand old Palace Hotel and the former Devonshire Hospital, with its magnificent dome. It is now part of the University of Derby.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Pavilion Gardens

    Next to the Opera House is the equally flamboyant Pavilion Gardens, dotted with domed pavilions. The main building contains a tropical greenhouse, a nostalgic cafe and the tourist office. Beware of getting lost in the unlit gardens after dark.

    reviewed

  4. D

    St Ann's Well

    Modern day health tourists queue up to fill plastic bottles from a small spout known as St Ann's Well. Climbing the green terraces of the Slopes provides the definitive view over Buxton's grand Victorian rooftops.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Natural Mineral Baths

    On the other side of the Crescent, the tourist office is in the old Natural Mineral Baths, where you can still see the source of the mineral water, now Buxton's most famous export. A small display tells the full story.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Crescent

    Another impressive Buxton construction, the graceful curved terrace of the Crescent - reminiscent of the Royal Crescent in Bath - is waiting its turn for regeneration. A luxury hotel complex is imminent.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Pump Room

    At the base of the Slopes is the Pump Room (to be turned into tearooms in 2014), which dispensed Buxton's spring water for nearly a century.

    reviewed

  8. H

    Opera House

    Buxton's flamboyant, turreted Victorian Opera House is the town's most famous building. It hosts an impressive variety of stage shows

    reviewed

  9. I

    Devonshire Dome

    A glorious piece of Victoriana, the Devonshire Dome contains part of the campus of the University of Derby and an opulent spa offering a full range of pampering treatments.

    reviewed

  10. J

    Buxton Baths

    In Victorian times, spa activities centred on the extravagant Buxton Baths complex, built in grand Regency style in 1854. The various bath buildings are fronted by a grand, curving facade, known as the Crescent, inspired by the Royal Crescent in Bath. It's expected to re-open in 2014 as a five-star hotel and spa.

    reviewed

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  12. K

    Buxton Spa

    In Victorian times, spa activities were centred on the extravagant Buxton Baths complex, built in grand Regency style in 1854. The various bath buildings are fronted by a grand, curving facade, known as the Crescent, inspired by the Royal Crescent in Bath. Today it sits empty, awaiting a developer with enough money to restore the town spa. For a taste of what the baths looked like in their heyday, pop around the corner to Cavendish Arcade, whose walls retain their original eggshell-blue art-deco tiles.

    Across from the Crescent at the base of the Slopes is the empty Pump Room, which dispensed Buxton's spring water for nearly a century. Modern day health-tourists queue up to…

    reviewed

  13. L

    Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

    Just downhill from the town hall in a handsome Victorian building, the town museum displays local historical bric-a-brac and curiosities from Castleton's Victorian-era 'House of Wonders', including Harry Houdini's handcuffs.

    reviewed