The Peak District, located to the east of Manchester in the county of Derbyshire, is one of England’s most popular national parks. It offers fantastic limestone caves, rolling hills and dales, and beautiful towns filled with their own quirks and surprises. If you’re planning a visit to this stunning national park, check out three of the towns which you can’t miss.
Buxton, Derbyshire
Buxton is one of the largest towns within the Peak District. It has an annual opera and theatre festival and is also home to the Buxton Spa which greatly increased the town’s fame and popularity during the Victorian era. You can still taste the spring waters today, they are meant to have health-giving properties. The town is worth exploring for its range of independent shops and cafes, it also makes a good base if you’re planning to stay and explore the Peak District.
Eyam, Derbyshire
This isolated town has a fascinating, if morbid, history. In 1665 there was an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in Eyam. The town responded by quarantining itself from the outside world, to reduce the risk of the plague spreading to other communities. There are many memorial plaques around the town to those who died in that outbreak, and the historical architecture is also worth seeing, too.
Bakewell, Derbyshire
This charming town has a reputation for its delicious Bakewell tarts and puddings, but you will also find pretty streets crammed full of independent shops and cafes, plus a charming riverside walk if you fancy a stroll. Bakewell is also a great place to stay if you would like a base from which to explore the rest of the Peak District.
