Water, water everywhere, and in the case of Buxton, the Derbyshire spa town deep in the Peak District, there is more than a drop to drink.
In fact, it’s virtually impossible to escape the sound of the ancient springs bubbling 5,000 feet below.
And not least thanks to the Santa Ana well, located in front of our hotel.
This warm, natural spring runs in rhythmic repetition throughout the day, providing a free source of Buxton’s famously rich, natural water to anyone who wishes to fill their bottle (some come from around the world to do so).
“It’s a little warm,” my husband says. Well, it’s thermal.
Angela Epstein explores the Derbyshire spa town of Buxton, situated in the Peak District. Above is the town’s River Wye
Angela is staying at the Buxton Crescent hotel, which has a chemical-free pool filled with mineral water and a rooftop pool (pictured)
The Buxton Crescent Hotel is a Grade I listed Georgian building built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in the 1780s.
We found (and heard) even more water in the fountains surrounding Buxton Crescent, a Grade I listed Georgian building built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in the 1780s as the centrepiece of the elegant Georgian spa town.
A short distance away is the Grade II listed Victorian Pump Room, purpose-built in 1894 so visitors could ‘take the waters’, and which is a useful place to start as it now houses the town’s visitor centre.
There’s no escaping the water during a session of retail therapy. Cavendish Shopping Arcade, a hub of independent shops selling designer clothing, jewellery, locally sourced food and more, is housed in a former Victorian thermal baths, where original features such as the plunge pool and a chair that was used to lower people into the healing waters are still on display.
Angela visits St Ann’s Well (seen above), a historic well that provides Buxton’s famously rich natural water free of charge.
Rich history: Buxton Opera House (seen above) is one of the UK’s most important provincial theatres, reveals Angela
As for nightlife, one of the country’s leading provincial theatres, the Buxton Opera House, offers a lively programme of plays and concerts.
The town also hosts the annual Buxton International Festival (buxtonfestival.co.uk) and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival (festivalesgs.org).
About a mile to the south, you can explore Poole’s Cavern, a large Carboniferous limestone cave filled with strange formations formed over millions of years – one of the local highlights.
However, if you’re claustrophobic, like me, there are also plenty of hiking trails in the area, especially in Grin Low Woods, which is dotted with wooden sculptures.
Tired and sore, we returned to our hotel, dipped our bones in the healing waters of Buxton and retired to bed listening to the sound of the springs lulling us with their eternal babbling.
Where to stay
Buxton Crescent Hotel and Spa features a chemical-free pool filled with rich mineral waters and a rooftop pool. Rooms are spacious and airy. Double rooms cost from £180 per night including breakfast.ensanahotels.com).
