Situated on the fringes of the Peak District, one town is adorned with Georgian architecture, inviting traditional pubs and picturesque gardens. In addition to these charms, Buxton boasts miles of countryside walks at its doorstep and a stunning, other-worldly showcave.
Just over an hour's drive from Derby, Buxton offers a blend of rural tranquillity and spa-town grandeur. As you stroll around the town centre, your gaze is inevitably drawn to the striking buildings, including the sweeping Crescent, a Grade I-listed Georgian Building erected by the fifth Duke of Devonshire to establish Buxton as a chic spa town.
Then there's the Devonshire Dome, which towers over the town's skyline and was once the world's largest unsupported dome, and the town's opera house, embellished with exquisite Art Nouveau Stained glass signage. Adjacent to the opera house and the connected Pavillion Arts Centre are the impressive landscaped Pavillion Gardens, where paths meander through well-kept lawns and bridges span the River Wye, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Naturally, Buxton is most renowned for its water, which has moulded the town's history. You can even taste it for yourself at the St Ann's Well, situated next to the Pump House, now the Buxton Visitor centre.
Yet, much like villages scattered across the Peak District, Buxton also hosts rustic pubs and cosy tea rooms, such as The Old Sun Inn nestled in a 17th-century coaching inn, and No. 6 The Square Tearooms, where a collection of vintage teapots are neatly displayed on shelves.
Another hidden treasure, a stone's throw away from the neat architecture of The Crescent, is Scrivener's Books and Bookbinding. This second-hand bookshop, spread across five floors in a corner building, bears an uncanny resemblance to a shop straight out of a Harry Potter film.
On the town's outskirts lies Buxton and Poole's Cavern Country Park. Here, hikers can ascend to Solomon's Temple for breathtaking views or delve underground into Poole's Cavern, a two-million year old natural limestone cave.
These attractions make Buxton a must-visit destination throughout the year. However, come July, the town will once again play host to the Buxton International Festival.
This event is recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the UK's largest arts festivals. This year, the festival runs from July 10 to July 27, with events taking place at various venues across the town - including opera performances inside Poole's Cavern. Top performers from the worlds of opera and jazz, such as Rwandan-born Belgian jazz singer Ineza, pianist Sir Stephen Hough, and saxophonist Emma Rawicz, will grace the town.
In the literary sphere, onstage interviews with politicians Diane Abbott and Jeremy Hunt, along with Rev Richard Coles, who secured third place in last year's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, are on the agenda. The festival offers fans a chance to indulge in their favourite genres and others an opportunity to discover something new.
