Buxton Heritage Trail

From the station turn right and cross the road at the pedestrian crossing on the left. Continue down Station Approach and pass the taxi rank. Cross Terrace Road at the pedestrian crossing and continue straight ahead past the Thermal Baths and Turner’s memorial. Continue straight ahead past Cavendish Arcade, formerly the Thermal Baths, and Turner’s Memorial. Continue towards The Crescent Hotel on your right and enter The Pump Room to your left and ask for the QR Code. Once you have sampled some fresh spring water from the well, cross the road into The Cavendish Arcade. This was once the Buxton Baths, and many features remain amongst the quirky independent shops.

Turn right as you leave the arcade and walk through the Crescent colonnade where you will find the next QR Code explaining the history of the Crescent Hotel in the window of the Buxton Crescent Experience. Continue past the Natural Mineral Baths and the Old Hall Hotel on your right. At the end of the building turn right to enter the Old Hall Hotel. The Old Hall is one of the oldest operating hotels in the UK and you will find the next QR code at the hotel reception telling you more about the history of the building.

Turning right as you exit the hotel the famous Frank Matcham Opera House is ahead of you. The next QR Code is at the Box Office where you can find out more about the history of this building. Behind the Opera House is St. Johns church built in 1807, the Tuscan style belltower is particularly impressive. You can scan the QR code on the church noticeboard or behind the bar of the Old Club House pub opposite the Opera House.

Return to the Opera House and you will notice across the street one of just a few remaining Penfold post boxes from 1867. There is evidence of Roman settlements in this area and the river Wye is running in a culvert under your feet. You can find out more about the Wye in the Buxton Tap House on Water Street. Bar Rene, situated a couple of doors down, is the location of the next QR Code. Bar Rene is in the Old Courthouse, a building with a fascinating past.

Outside the Old Courthouse you will see the imposing Devonshire Dome across the street. Walk up Devonshire Road where the Dome is usually open to the public. More information on the history of this important building is available at the reception desk or the spa reception located at the side of the building.

Retrace your route down Devonshire Road and turn left at the bottom, you will be heading back towards Buxton’s railway station and the Grade II listed Fan Window. There is a display about the history of rail in Buxton on the station platform.

Cross over at the pedestrian crossing and head down Station Approach keeping left under the covered walkway into Spring Gardens. The QR Code in Appleyards Tobacconist tells the story of the Children’s Well. For some retail therapy, explore as far along Spring Gardens as you like but resume this walk between Greggs and Argos facing uphill towards Hardwick Mount. Follow the inside curve of the banking to the right and you will arrive at Potters Department Store. Potters is a Buxton institution and on the first floor they have a wall dedicated to the history of their business. They also have the QR code with more information on the history of the Slopes which is your next stop.

If you have visited Potters, you will know by now that the Slopes were constructed with exercise in mind. Use the pedestrian crossing into the grassed area. There is no direct route to the top of the Slopes so walk upwards and at the top is Buxton’s Grade II listed Town Hall, built in 1889 as a replacement for the former market hall. Continue to the Market Place, behind the town hall and the QR code telling the history of this, the highest marketplace in England is located at the counter in the Lighthouse charity shop. Continue to the Market Place located behind the Town Hall.

Use the pedestrian crossing close to the New Inn and turn left towards Buxton Museum & Art Gallery and the Green Man Art Gallery. Both buildings have a rich historical link to Buxton’s spa history and the next QR code is available at reception of the Green Man Gallery.

Return to the Market Place and continue along the High Street until you reach Scrivener’s Bookstore on the right just past the junction with Bath Road. This bookshop is another local institution. It contains a tiny museum downstairs and five floors of books covering many topics.

Turn left as you exit Scrivener’s and walk left around The Swan Inn into Bath Road. Behind the pub you will find St. Annes Church, one of the oldest buildings in Buxton where the QR code is on the notice board. Continue along Bath Road and as you come down hill note the pretty terrace of townhouses.

Cross over at the bottom of the road taking a sharp right into Pavilion Gardens. Here you will find a boating lake, miniature railway rides and children’s park. Explore the gardens and end your walk at the Pavilion where the QR Code is on the noticeboard inside the main doors. You can find your way back to the Pump Room by proceeding along the promenade, through the gates at the Opera House and retrace your route to the Pump Room and the train station.