Welcome to Chesterfield

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.