Location
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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Barrow Hill Roundhouse
Barrow Hill Roundhouse is the last surviving railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom, now an amazing family-friendly museum and events venue..
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Tickled Trout at Barlow
The award winning Ticked Trout is a Deliciously Derbyshire gastropub located on the edge of the Peak District.
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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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The Hide Hotel
The Peak District begins here, where locally crafted interiors are inspired by the surrounding hills and heritage, featuring artworks and objects…
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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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Winding Wheel Theatre
Hosting a diverse programme of events including West End musicals, stand-up comedy, music concerts and lectures.
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Peak Edge Hotel
A historic boutique hotel and restaurant with modern adaptions nestled in the idyllic peak district, proudly stands as the recipient of multiple…
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Red Lion Restaurant at Peak Edge Hotel
Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Peak District National Park, the historic Red Lion restaurant boasts a warm, friendly, relaxed atmosphere…
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Havendale
Havendale: A luxury Accessible Holiday Escape in the Heart of Derbyshire ten minutes from the Peak District, for everyone to enjoy
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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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Chesterfield Canal – Tapton Lock Visitor Centre
The Chesterfield Canal is a beautiful waterway, an oasis of calm in the busy market town.
Our Great Itineraries
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
Challenge Hikes in the Peak District with…
Challenging guided hikes across the Edale Skyline, the Great Ridge, Nine Edges and the Derbyshire Three Peaks, led by a qualified Mountain Leader.…
Prices from £40
Experiences
Christmas Day Lunch in the Oak Room or Walton…
Celebrate Christmas Day Lunch in the Peak District in the elegant surroundings of the Oak Room or Walton Suite at Peak Edge Hotel, our 4-star hotel…
Prices from £150
Experiences
Christmas Day Lunch at Cocina Restaurant
Book your Christmas Day lunch in Chesterfield at Cocina Restaurant, Casa Hotel, for an elegant and unforgettable festive dining experience.
Prices from Three courses for £150pp | Under 12s £60pp
Events in Chesterfield
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
Mamma Mania Tribute Night at Casa Hotel
Step into a night of pure ABBA magic with Mamma Mania! Experience the hits, the glamour, and the fun as the music comes alive. Sing, dance and let…
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
Trails nearby
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…
Ashover walks - 'A Seat with a View' and Ashover…
Explore the countryside in and around Ashover Village.
The Five Pits Trail
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can all enjoy the countryside of the Five Pits 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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