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Welcome to Chesterfield
One of Derbyshire's most popular and historic market towns, Chesterfield is perhaps most famous for the distinctive Crooked Spire.
The distinctive Crooked Spire dominates the skyline. There are numerous local legends as to why the spire twisted, but its unusual shape is thought to have been triggered by green timber covered with heavy lead tiles.
Whatever the truth, the base of the spire of the Parish Church of St Mary's and All Saints - which stands at 228 feet high and 'leans' 9 feet and 6 inches from its true centre - is a great place to get a panoramic view across the town and beyond.
You might have seen photographs of it before, or even caught sight of it from the train, or from your car. Maybe you already know that it's 228 feet high, and that it 'leans' 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre.
Back on solid ground, Chesterfield is a paradise for shoppers, with its handsome Market Hall and cobbled Market Place, home to one of the largest open-air markets in England, with a host of regular markets including farmers' and artisan markets.
Nearby in the charming Shambles are a cluster of independent shops and cafés, while you'll find famous High Street names at the Pavements and Vicar Lane Shopping Centres.
If you're fascinated by history, visit the Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery charting Chesterfield's commercial and industrial past, or take a short drive to Revolution House at Old Whittington, where a plot was hatched to overthrow James II in 1688.
Eating out is a gourmet experience, thanks to everything from Michelin-recommended restaurants and welcoming cafes and tea rooms to gastro and real ale pubs. You can also enjoy live drama, music, comedy and much more at yhe Pomegranate and Winding Wheel theatres.
Right on the doorstep you'll find the National Trust's magnificent Elizabethan Hardwick Hall, the last and greatest house built by Bess of Hardwick in the 1500s, and impressive Bolsover Castle, a 17th century fairytale mansion, with its magical Little Castle, enchanting Venus Garden, indoor riding school and breathtaking views.
Also close by are Renishaw Hall & Gardens, ancestral home of the literary Sitwell family, and Creswell Crags, one of the most northerly places on earth to have been inhabited by our Ice Age ancestors.
Heritage-lovers shouldn't miss a visit to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the UK's oldest surviving operational railway roundhouse, which hosts a number of spectacular events each year.
Featured Businesses
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Matlock Farm Park
Step into a day of fresh air, fun, and unforgettable family memories at Matlock Farm Park where the countryside comes alive with hands-on adventure!
In The Area
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Featured
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Matlock Farm Park
Step into a day of fresh air, fun, and unforgettable family memories at Matlock Farm Park where the countryside comes alive with hands-on adventure!
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Hardwick Hall
Home to one of the most influential women in the Elizabethan realm, Hardwick Hall is the culmination of the personality and ambition of its builder…
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Sutton Scarsdale Hall
This dramatic 18th Century hilltop ruin of an imposing baroque mansion still retains remnants of its former rich plaster decoration.
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The Cavendish Hotel
Situated on the Chatsworth Estate, The Cavendish Hotel’s location is arguably its greatest asset, offering unrivalled access to all that the Peak…
Hob Hurst's House
A square prehistoric burial mound with an earthwork ditch, named after a local goblin
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Peak Sightseer open top bus
Soak up the scenery from this open top bus service and visit some of the Peak District’s most popular destinations with stops at Castleton,…
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Chesterfield Market Hall
Our Victorian Market Hall was originally built in 1857 'for the shelter and safeguard of market people'. It housed a Corn Exchange, a covered market,…
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Renishaw Hall & Gardens
Renishaw Hall and Gardens have been home to the Sitwell family for almost 400 years. The present owner, Alexandra Sitwell, welcomes you to visit her…
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Hollingwood Hub
Hollingwood Lock House is the sole remaining lock house on this stretch of the canal. It is unique as a railway built lock house.
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Chesterfield Museum
THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT - Chesterfield Museum has closed ahead of ambitious plans to refurbish and reimagine the Grade 2…
Our Great Itineraries
Day trip from Sheffield: Explore Matlock Bath,…
Discover some of Derbyshire's most popular towns and villages by bus.
Day trip from Sheffield: Explore Matlock &…
The busy market towns of Matlock and Bakewell are a great day out for all the family and the bus is the hassle-free way to travel.
Car-free guide: Things to do in Chesterfield
There's so much to see and do near this iconic Derbyshire market town, famed for its crooked spire.
Experiences in Chesterfield
Experiences
Wine Series 13: A Journey Through Greece at The…
Join us on September 3rd 2026 for a memorable Greek wine tasting evening in the Peak District, celebrating Greece’s rich winemaking heritage and…
Prices from £95 per person
Experiences
Festive Bottomless Brunch at Casa Hotel
Make this Christmas one to celebrate with Festive Bottomless Brunch at Barça Bar, Casa Hotel Chesterfield.
Prices from £50 per person
Experiences
Wedding Showcase at Peak Edge Hotel
Join us for a relaxed and inspiring Wedding Showcase at Peak Edge Hotel, a luxury Peak District wedding venue set within the stunning Derbyshire…
Prices from Free Tickets
Events in Chesterfield
Events
Fang-tastic Halloween Festival! at Matlock Farm…
Our hugely popular Halloween Festival & Pumpkin Patch returns this October Half Term with frightfully good family fun
Events
New Year’s Eve Party
Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2026 at Casa Hotel Chesterfield with an elegant evening in our beautiful Barcelona Suite. Join us from 7.00pm, with dinner…
Events
Wintertide Storytelling and Folk Carols with…
Listen to festive songs and Elizabethan tales leading up to the shortest day of the year.
Trails nearby
Trail
The Phoenix Greenways
Whether you come for the day, a weekend or a longer stay, there is plenty for the family to do, visit and explore. A network of traffic free walking…
Trail
Ashover walks - 'A Seat with a View' and Ashover…
Explore the countryside in and around Ashover Village.
Trail
The Five Pits Trail
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can all enjoy the countryside of the Five Pits Trail.
Trail
Renishaw to Eckington Circular
This lovely 8 km (5 miles) walk takes you away from the bustle of traffic and out into the deepest, most peaceful countryside - within only a few…
Villages nearby
Millthorpe
Millthorpe is a tiny hamlet in the parish of Holmesfield, surrounded by beautiful countryside verging onto the Peak District National Park. Visit in early summer to see the rhododendrons in Cordwell Valley in full flower.
Renishaw
A pretty village in the north of Derbyshire, is most famous for Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell Family for the last 400 years, built in 1625 by George Sitwell. Renishaw was also a mining village.
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