The historic market town of Chesterfield acts as the gateway to the Peak District, and has much to offer visitors. The town is famous for its 14th Century church with “Crooked Spire”, twisting curiously from its true centre, while the frequent bustling market days are ideal for exploring the many different specialist shops and stalls which line the old Market Hall and charming Shambles beyond. The town also boasts Queens Park, with its lake, walks and summer bandstand, as well as a museum and theatre. Nearby, the Elizabethan Hardwick Hall is still impressive today, with its 6 grand towers elaborately monogramed with Bess of Hardwick’s initials, overlooking the superb gardens and walled courtyards of the grounds. Also popular is the semi-ruined 17th Century mansion of Bolsover Castle, set high on a wooded hilltop, looking west towards the heights of the Peak District. Chesterfield has a host of other attractions within easy reach, such as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall, the amenities of Matlock and Bakewell, or the opera at Buxton. An interesting base for a varied break.
