chesterfield tourist information

Destination Chesterfield

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Visit Chesterfield for a great day out or to stay. Brilliantly located in the centre of the UK with superb road, rail and air links, the town is famous for its 800 year-old open air market and the unique and unusual ‘ Crooked Spire ‘ Church.

A step out of town brings you to the rugged beauty of the Peak District, the allure of Chatsworth , the majestic ‘Palace of the Peak’ and the Elizabethan splendour of Hardwick Hall . The cities of Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham are close at hand and offer a complementary experience to the rural villages nestled in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.

With modern conferencing facilities for the business market, we truly are a special and welcoming place to visit.

Chesterfield is the perfect base to explore the Peak District and Derbyshire.  Check out 101 great things to do in the area.

Plan  to visit Chesterfield and discover more about the Peak District .

Next events

Don't miss out on the return of Valefest - a 3-day music festival and fun for all the family. Dance, sing and laugh your way through this joyful

Come and look at the stunning night sky as Chesterfield Observatory is open to the public. Take a look through the telescope and see what you can

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• Explore Chesterfield

Visitor information

Come to Chesterfield, where you’re sure of a friendly welcome and a wide range of things to do.

Take a day in the town to find out how the Crooked Spire  got its twist. Or go bargain hunting on Chesterfield Market every Monday, Friday or Saturday. Call on a Thursday for a rummage around the flea market, or check out local goods at the farmers’ market on the second Thursday of every month.

Stay overnight and explore the area – Chatsworth , Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle are just a few of the things you’ll find just a short drive away. Not to mention great walking country, sleepy villages, cycle trails and stunning views.

Find out where to stay, what’s on, where to go and where to eat, not to mention places to shop, activities, how to get to Chesterfield and how to get in touch for more information and ideas on our tourism website – www.visitchesterfield.info .

Here is some information to help you enjoy your visit to Chesterfield:

Information for visitors

Find out about local accommodation options at:  www.visitchesterfield.info/accommodation .

Timetables and information are available from the local bus companies operating in our area, such as:

• Trent Barton

Timetables can also be accessed by visiting www.derbysbus.info and www.traveline.info

We have a variety of car parks across Chesterfield, from short stay to long stay, pay and display and pay on return - find car parking here .

Scratch cards for use in council car parks can be purchased from our Customer Services Centre , located on the ground floor at the Town Hall.

Please enquire directly with coach holiday companies. For example:

Andrew’s of Tideswell - www.andrews-of-tideswell.co.uk / 01298 871222

Johnson Bros - www.johnsonstours.co.uk / 01909 720337

Free parking an be booked in advance for coach parties.

Find out about coach parking here .

We have cycle lockers available to hire.

Please ask at the Customer Service Centre , located on the ground floor at the Town Hall.

Derbyshire Wayfarer bus and train day rover tickets allow almost unlimited bus and train travel throughout Derbyshire for a whole day.

Wayfarer tickets are available from the driver on the following buses:

• Arriva Midlands
• D and G Bus
• Diamond Bus
• Derbyshire Community Transport
• Notts and Derby Buses
• Stagecoach Chesterfield and Mansfield
• Trentbarton

You may be able to purchase tickets from some local rail stations.

You can also purchase a Derbyshire Wayfarer smartcard on the TravelMaster website .

There are a number of local independent businesses in the town centre that sell localised gifts, books, cards and much more.

More information about gifts and souvenirs .

If you are thinking of booking a holiday in the UK and want to find out more take a look at the Visit England website .

Find out about the great activities and events that Chesterfield has to offer by visiting www.visitchesterfield.info

You can also email our team at: [email protected] or call 01246 345777.

You can book tickets via the National Express website:  www.nationalexpress.com  

For information on rail services please check the National Rail Enquiries website , call 0345 748 4950, or visit Chesterfield Rail Station .

If you need a RADAR key to be able to use accessible public toilets, please visit the Customer Service Centre  on the ground floor at the Town Hall (step-free access is available on the East side of the Town Hall, closest to the town centre).

Check what's on and book theatre tickets online on the Chesterfield Theatres website .

You can purchase tickets and National Theatre tokens in person at the box office at the Winding Wheel Theatre.

To find out more information about performances and our venues call 01246 345222, email [email protected] , or ask at the box office.

If you wish to hire a council venue, including the Winding Wheel Theatre, please contact the venue hire team on 01246 345333 or by email [email protected] .  

Further details can be found at  www.chesterfieldvenuehire.co.uk .

Phone 01246 345345

Text only 07960 910264*

By post Chesterfield Borough Council Town Hall Rose Hill Chesterfield S40 1LP

* Our text number is monitored during opening hours and doesn't accept voice messages.

Out of hours and emergency information

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Welcome to Chesterfield

One of Derbyshire's most popular and historic market towns, Chesterfield is perhaps most famous for the distinctive Crooked Spire.

The distinctive Crooked Spire dominates the skyline. There are numerous local legends as to why the spire twisted, but its unusual shape is thought to have been triggered by green timber covered with heavy lead tiles.

Whatever the truth, the base of the spire of the Parish Church of St Mary's and All Saints - which stands at 228 feet high and 'leans' 9 feet and 6 inches from its true centre - is a great place to get a panoramic view across the town and beyond.

You might have seen photographs of it before, or even caught sight of it from the train, or from your car. Maybe you already know that it's 228 feet high, and that it 'leans' 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre.

Back on solid ground, Chesterfield is a paradise for shoppers, with its handsome Market Hall and cobbled Market Place, home to one of the largest open-air markets in England, with a host of regular markets including farmers' and artisan markets.

Nearby in the charming Shambles are a cluster of independent shops and cafés, while you'll find famous High Street names at the Pavements and Vicar Lane Shopping Centres.

If you're fascinated by history, visit the Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery charting Chesterfield's commercial and industrial past, or take a short drive to Revolution House at Old Whittington, where a plot was hatched to overthrow James II in 1688.

Eating out is a gourmet experience, thanks to everything from Michelin-recommended restaurants and welcoming cafes and tea rooms to gastro and real ale pubs. You can also enjoy live drama, music, comedy and much more at yhe Pomegranate and Winding Wheel theatres.

Right on the doorstep you'll find the National Trust's magnificent Elizabethan Hardwick Hall, the last and greatest house built by Bess of Hardwick in the 1500s, and impressive Bolsover Castle, a 17th century fairytale mansion, with its magical Little Castle, enchanting Venus Garden, indoor riding school and breathtaking views.

Also close by are Renishaw Hall & Gardens, ancestral home of the literary Sitwell family, and Creswell Crags, one of the most northerly places on earth to have been inhabited by our Ice Age ancestors.

Heritage-lovers shouldn't miss a visit to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the UK's oldest surviving operational railway roundhouse, which hosts a number of spectacular events each year.

Featured Businesses

Matlock farm park.

Come on down to Matlock Farm Park, the ideal place for families to visit to enjoy the fresh air and have fun with our friendly animals.

In The Area

Chesterfield market hall.

Our Victorian Market Hall was originally built in 1857 'for the shelter and safeguard of market people'. It housed a Corn Exchange, a covered market,…

Sutton Scarsdale Hall

This dramatic 18th Century hilltop ruin of an imposing baroque mansion still retains remnants of its former rich plaster decoration.

No. 4 – Clowne

Situated right in the heart of Clowne village, No.4 is the perfect place to relax with friends and family in unique and historic surroundings.

Cocina Restaurant

The award-winning Cocina restaurant, located within Chesterfield's four-star hotel, Casa

Chestnut & Willow Holiday Cottages

Chestnut & Willow are situated in the hamlet of Old Brampton. There's much to see here, look around, & learn all there is to know about us.

Hagg Hill Hall

Historical property with swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna, BBQ hut, outdoor chess-set and more.

Hardwick Hall

Home to one of the most influential women in the Elizabethan realm, Hardwick Hall is the culmination of the personality and ambition of its builder…

Stone Edge (pronounced 'Stanege' locally) is a pretty area of countryside with a stunning view across the valley to Chesterfield.

Barca Bar at Casa

Barca Bar in Casa Hotel provides the perfect place whatever your occasion, from pre-dinner drinks to grabbing a coffee with friends or colleague

Crooked Spire Church

The 'Crooked Spire' is Chesterfield's best-known landmark.

Bottle & Thyme

Cafe, restaurant and bar serving great, locally sourced food with botanical cocktails, craft beers

Our Great Itineraries

Day trip from sheffield: explore matlock bath,….

Discover some of Derbyshire's most popular towns and villages by bus.

Castles, Markets & Spires

Explore the lesser-known North East of Derbyshire, near Chesterfield.

Car-free guide: Things to do in Chesterfield

There's so much to see and do near this iconic Derbyshire market town, famed for its crooked spire.

Events in Chesterfield

Chesterfield area walking festival.

Enjoy the Chesterfield Area on foot, discovering our moorlands including Big Moor with its stone circles, searching out wildflowers in ancient…

Wedding Showcase at Peak Edge Hotel

Whether you're at the beginning stages of planning your special day or adding the final touches, this event is a must-attend.

Spital Cemetery Well Dressing

This ancient custom is only found in Derbyshire, and is the art of decorating springs and wells with pictures made from natural materials.

Trails nearby

The five pits trail.

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can all enjoy the countryside of the Five Pits Trail.

Ashover walks - 'A Seat with a View' and Ashover…

Explore the countryside in and around Ashover Village.

The Phoenix Greenways

Whether you come for the day, a weekend or a longer stay, there is plenty for the family to do, visit and explore. A network of traffic free walking…

Special Offer

3 for 2 on tapas every Tuesday at Casa Hotel

Choose three tapas dishes and enjoy the cheapest dish free of charge.

Villages nearby

One of the prettiest villages in Derbyshire, Ashover has a fascinating history.

A friendly village in beautiful walking country.

An historic town near Chesterfield that grew from industry.

Millthorpe is a tiny hamlet in the parish of Holmesfield, surrounded by beautiful countryside verging onto the Peak District National Park. Visit in early summer to see the rhododendrons in Cordwell Valley in full flower.

A pretty village in the north of Derbyshire, is most famous for Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell Family for the last 400 years, built in 1625 by George Sitwell. Renishaw was also a mining village.

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Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre

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CHESTERFIELD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre

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Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Chesterfield

• 1.1 Crooked Chesterfield
• 2.1 By train
• 2.2 By road
• 3 Get around

Chesterfield is a market town in Derbyshire in the English Midlands, with a population of 76,402 in 2021. It's best known for it's "leaning spire", the twisted spire of St Mary's Church, but its chief attraction a few miles southeast is Hardwick Hall. It's also a good base for exploring the Peak District to the west.

Understand [ edit ]

The name "Chester" means a Roman camp, but there's no trace of it - presumably it's somewhere under a field, if only you could find a field. It was probably just a "marching camp" or similar temporary structure. Until the Middle Ages , Chesterfield was a hamlet and tract of farmland within the village of Newbold, which according to the Domesday Book had "six carucates and one bovate to the geld...there the king has 16 villans and one slave." Chesterfield market traded in local wool, leather and farm produce, plus salt from Cheshire.

All the area's villages grew from the 18th century with the onset of the Industrial Revolution , but Chesterfield outstripped them to become the main town. There were extensive coalfields, part of the Yorks-Derby-Notts "coal triangle" laid down in a long-ago swamp, and iron ores. The canal improved transport but even better was the railway, built by Stephenson from 1837. And while building it, he happened upon more coal deposits, which made him a rich man. He's buried in Holy Trinity: you could hardly bury this excellent engineer at St Mary's, which already by his day had taken on its distinctive skew-wiff.

Heavy industry collapsed in the late 20th century, precipitated by the miners' strike of 1985. The colliery sites felt derelict then were re-landscaped, to disappear as completely as the Roman camp. There was a move to light and service industries and today the largest employer is Royal Mail, who base their admin and pensions here.

Crooked Chesterfield [ edit ]

Chesterfield's most-recognisable landmark, clearly seen from any train passing by the town on the Sheffield to London mainline, is the crooked spire of St Mary's and All Saints Church. It was constructed in 1362, to sit atop a tower built earlier in the century. Although it was built straight, the spire has been both twisted and leaning for many hundreds of years, evidenced in the rich local folklore around the church. One story was that the Devil himself was seated one day on the church, with his tail wrapped around the spire, intent on causing mischief to the town. The townspeople bandied together to ring the church bells, which startled the Devil so much that he jumped and fled, with his swishing tail causing the spire to twist in its wake. Another less favourable estimation of Chesterfielders holds that a virgin once married in the church, and the church was so surprised that it craned its spire around to take a look at the bride. Should a virgin ever again marry in St Mary's Church, the spire will right itself!

The first attempt at an actual historical explanation for the spire's odd shape states that since it was constructed in the wake of the Black Death (bubonic plague), there must have been a lack of skilled craftsmen on hand to complete such a delicate job. The theory holds that a bunch of idiot builders simply bodged it, using the wrong kind of wood and poor techniques. This theory was added to at a later date by claims that the lead tiling that covers the spire twists because of a heat discrepancy when the sun is shining on one side and not the other. As for why this doesn't affect other church spires in the area is unknown; maybe the tales of clumsy devils and rarer-than-hen's-teeth virgins really are true.

Get in [ edit ]

By train [ edit ]

By road [ edit ].

From the south take M1 to junction 29 then A617. From the north, junction 30 onto A619 is shorter but this road drags through a series of villages, it's generally quicker to stay on M1 to junction 29. From Sheffield follow A61 south.

Lots of town centre parking, for instance, the multi-storey by the bus station.

By bus [ edit ]

National Express NX560 runs four times a day from London Victoria , taking 3 hr 30 min and continuing to Sheffield.

Stagecoach Bus X17 runs every 30 min from Barnsley via Meadowhall and Sheffield, and continues to Matlock , Cromford and Wirksworth in the Peak District.

Bus 43 / 44 is a slower route every 20 min, taking 80 min from Sheffield via Dronfield, Newbold and Old Whittington. Bus 77 runs from Worksop every 30 min via Staveley.

Pronto Bus runs every 30 min from Nottingham , taking 1 hr 40 min via Mansfield .

Trentbarton Comet runs hourly from Derby, taking 1 hour 15 mins via Ripley , Alfreton and Clay Cross.

53.234 -1.4288 2 Chesterfield coach station is on Beckinsale Way off A619 Markham Rd.

Get around [ edit ]

The town is compact and walkable, but you need wheels to explore the surroundings and get into the Peak District. Pronto Bus to Mansfield drops you two miles north of Hardwick Hall.

Taxi firms are Central Cars (+44 1246 200500), A-Line (+44 1246 555555) and Door2Door (+44 1246 202020).

See [ edit ]

• Chesterfield Museum opposite the church is closed for rebuilding. The new space, opening late 2025, will incorporate Pomegranate Theatre.
• The Shambles are medieval alleyways just north of the bus station. Historically a place called "shambles" was the slaughterhouse and butchers' area, probably from Anglo-Saxon fleshammels , the benches or shelves where they displayed their wares. The word came to mean any horrible mess.
• 53.2464 -1.4243 3 Christ Church , completed in 1870, is a chapel-sized building at 91 Sheffield Rd, part of Holy Trinity parish.
• 53.2461 -1.4197 4 Chesterfield Canal starts from the River Rother near Tapton Park. It's a narrow-boat canal, max beam 7 ft 0 in / 2.13 m, and when completed in 1777 it ran 46 miles to the Trent at West Stockwith, exporting the town's iron ore. In 1906 mining subsidence collapsed Norwood Tunnel and severed the canal. The local section has been restored as far as Staveley and there's a footpath the full 46 miles, but completing the missing nine miles to the restored eastern section remains an aspiration.
• 53.2458 -1.4128 5 Tapton House the last residence of George Stephenson is now a business centre, but the park and gardens are free to access 24 hours.
• 53.2511 -1.4466 6 Eyre Chapel is late Saxon, a time when Newbold was a larger village than Chesterfield. It became the Eyre family chapel and vault, Roman Catholic, and was sacked by a Protestant mob in the 1680s. It's now the village hall.
• 53.2698 -1.4256 8 Revolution House , High Street, Old Whittington S41 9JZ , ☏ +44 1246 345727 . Closed . 300 years ago this cottage was an alehouse, the Cock and Pynot - a pynot is a magpie. Three local bigwigs - the Earl of Devonshire (from nearby Chatsworth), the Earl of Danby and Mr John D'Arcy - here plotted to invite William and Mary of Orange to take the throne and replace the deeply unpopular King James II. This "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 succeeded and James was ousted, though he and his successors fought a sixty-year "Jacobite" campaign to try to regain the throne. The cottage is a small museum, temporarily closed in 2024 as part of budget cuts by the council. Free . ( updated Mar 2024 )

Do [ edit ]

• Pomegranate Theatre . A traditional Victorian hall on Corporation St opposite St Mary's Church. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• Winding Wheel is a larger performance space 100 yards west at 13 Holywell St.
• Cineworld is on Alma Leisure Park off A61 Derby Rd.
• Golf courses are Chesterfield GC , Tapton Park , South Chesterfield and Stanedge GC .

Buy [ edit ]

• 53.2355 -1.4289 1 Chesterfield Market , Market Place S40 1SR . M, Th-Sa 10AM-4PM . The largest market in the area, in a hall and open square. Its charter of 1204 states that the market cannot be closed down unless nothing is bought there for a week - although King John signed quite a few documents that everyone ignored, such as Magna Carta. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• The Pavements , New Beetwell St S40 1PA ( between bus station and market ). M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM . Shopping centre with typical brand names. It's clean but hollow, with many empty units. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• The Yards is an alley east side of the Pavements, traditionally lined with small independent shops, but in 2024 looking sad and deserted.

Eat [ edit ]

• Blaze Bar & Grill , 5 Stephenson Place S40 1XL ( south side of Crooked Spire ), ☏ +44 1246 200008 . Tu-Th noon-10PM, F-Su 11AM-11PM . Describes itself as East Med, but mostly standard burgers and grills. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• O-Tokuda , 37 Knifesmithgate S40 1RL ( block west of Crooked Spire ), ☏ +44 1246 556996 . M, W-Sa 5-10PM, Su 4-10PM . Good Japanese menu, small portions but there's an all-you-can-eat buffet. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• Bottle and Thyme , 15 Knifesmithgate S40 1RL ( by O-Tokuda ), ☏ +44 1246 768283 . Tu-Th 9AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-midnight, Su 10AM-3PM . Modern English cuisine. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• Odyssey , 1 Knifesmithgate S40 1RF ( block west of Premier Inn ), ☏ +44 1246 721573 . Tu-F 5-10PM, Sa 1-11PM, Su 1-9PM . Cheerful authentic Greek taverna. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• Filippelli's Bistro is trad filling grub at 9 Glumangate behind the Odyssey, open M-Sa 8AM-3PM.
• Indian Blues is no better than okay. It's at 7 Corporation St by the crooked spire, open daily 6-11PM.
• Ashoka gets better reviews. It's a short way west at 19 Holywell St, open daily 5-11PM.
• 53.238 -1.4258 1 The Old Post , 43 Holywell Street S41 7SH , ☏ +44 1246 468366 . W-Sa 6-9PM . Relaxed dining in a charming old building. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2341 -1.4458 2 Northern Tea Merchants , 193 Chatsworth Road S40 2BA , ☏ +44 1246 232600 . M-Sa 9AM-5PM . Cafe within a tea & coffee shop with sandwiches, panini and cakes. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2585 -1.4222 3 Crossroads Cafe , 51 Brimington Road North S41 9BE , ☏ +44 1246 453875 . Su-F 8AM-2PM, Sa 8AM-12:30PM . Trad British food, mixed reviews. ( updated Mar 2024 )

Drink [ edit ]

• Burlington just south of the crooked spire gets rotten reviews.
• Market Pub , 95 New Square S40 1AH , ☏ +44 1246 273641 . M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 12:30-11PM . Great traditional pub with good grub and ales, and a huge selection of gin. ( updated Mar 2024 )
• The Hidden Knight likewise has good food. It's just north of Market Bar at 18 Soresby St, open M Tu 11:30AM-7PM, W-Sa 11:30AM-10PM, Su noon-4PM.
• Portland Hotel is a JD Wetherspoon with rooms on West Bars.
• 53.2332 -1.4537 1 Rose & Crown , 104 Old Road, Brampton S40 2QT , ☏ +44 1246 563750 . M Tu 3-11PM, W-Su noon-11PM . Buzzing pub with live music. ( updated Mar 2024 )

Sleep [ edit ]

• 53.2329 -1.4231 1 Ibis Chesterfield Centre , Lordsmill Street S41 7RW , ☏ +44 1246 385050 . Value-for-money reliable Accor chain hotel. B&B double £80 .  
• 53.2368 -1.4279 2 Premier Inn Chesterfield Town Centre , Elder Way S40 1UN , ☏ +44 330 135 9039 . Smart budget hotel, no on-site parking. B&B double £120 .  
• 53.2508 -1.4197 3 Premier Inn Chesterfield North , Tapton Lock Hill S41 7NJ ( behind Tesco Superstore ), ☏ +44 333 777 4593 . Friendly efficient hotel a mile north of centre. B&B double £160 . ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2509 -1.4239 4 Casa Hotel , Lockoford Lane S41 7JB , ☏ +44 1246 245999 . Clean welcoming place a mile north of centre. B&B double £140 . ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2602 -1.4273 5 Travelodge , Brimington Road North, Old Whittington S41 9BE ( jcn A61 / B6050 ), ☏ +44 871 984 6129 . Simple but worth what you're paying. B&B double £75 . ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2377 -1.5423 6 Premier Inn Chesterfield West , Baslow Rd, Eastmoor S42 7DA , ☏ +44 333 777 4596 . Cosy chain hotel in a quiet spot. B&B double £200 . ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2476 -1.5349 7 Lambs Glamping , Moorhay Farm S42 7JJ , ☏ +44 7970 435219 , [email protected] . Three glamping pods (sleep 4) each with a private hot tub. Open all year. Pod £160 per night . ( updated Mar 2024 )
• 53.2582 -1.3824 8 Ringwood Hall Hotel , Ringwood Road, Brimington S43 1DQ , ☏ +44 1246 280077 . Pleasant spa hotel, built in the early 1900s by coal and iron tycoons. B&B double £140 . ( updated Mar 2024 )

Connect [ edit ]

As of March 2024, Chesterfield and its approach roads have 5G from all UK carriers.

Go next [ edit ]

• Chatsworth House is ten miles west near Bakewell in the Peak District.
• Go hiking in the attractive Peak District .
• The city of Sheffield is 13 miles north.

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Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre

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Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 15 Best Things to Do in Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England)

15 Best Things to Do in Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England)

A mining town until the 1980s, Chesterfield’s industrial sites have been regenerated and the town is almost unrecognisable from just a generation ago.

The Medieval alleys and courtyards in the old centre are commanded by the postcard landmark, the crooked spire of the Parish Church.

At Chesterfield you’re on the east flank of the Peak District National Park, while Hardwick Hall, one of the England’s finest Elizabethan estates, is tantalisingly close.

The town’s most distinguished resident was the 19th-century civil engineer, George Stephenson, described as the “Father of Railways” and remembered with an inspiring exhibition at the Chesterfield Museum.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Chesterfield :

1. Chesterfield Parish Church

The Church of St Mary and All Saints, also the Crooked Spire Church, is Chesterfield’s big landmark, famed for its twisting and leaning spire.

Even the local football team, Chesterfield FC, is nicknamed the Spirites.

That spire dates to 1362, and while the twist is intentional, and was common in Europe at the time, its tilt was caused by centuries and expansion and contraction in the lead tiles coating the structure.

Of course, there are local legends explaining the twist and the lean, one being that a local virgin married in the church, and the building was so surprised that it span around to see the bride.

On Fridays and Saturdays you can take a 45-minute tour of the tower, taking you part way up to take in the townscape and Derbyshire countryside.

2. Chesterfield Canal

When it was completed in 1777, this waterway connected Chesterfield with the River Trent at Stockwith, 46 miles away.

With the 2.6-kilometre Norwood Tunnel and some of the first staircase locks in the UK, Chesterfield Canal was a groundbreaking piece of engineering, exporting coal, limestone and lead, and bringing in timber, corn and fresh produce.

A partnership between Derbyshire County Council and the Chesterfield Canal Trust has fully restored the waterway between Chesterfield and Staveley Town Basin.

The green, peaceful towpath is named the Cuckoo Way can be cycled or walked.

There’s also visitor centre at Tapton Lock, and you can take narrowboat trips from Hollingwoodhub, both in striking distance of the town.

3. Hardwick Hall

The definition of an Elizabethan Prodigy House, Hardwick Hall pushed the boundaries of stately architecture in the late 16th century.

What will strike you right away is the size of the windows, giving rise to the saying “Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall”. As a Prodigy House, Hardwick Hall was a statement of power and wealth for Bess of Hardwick, an irrepressible businesswoman who also increased her wealth with help of four shrewd marriages.

On the facade you can see Bess’s initials “ES” in openwork above six banqueting house pavilions that shape the hall’s silhouette.

On the inside there’s furniture and stunning tapestries which have been in the house’s inventory since Bess was here.

4. Hardwick Old Hall

In the grounds you’ll come across the vestiges of Hardwick Old Hall, looked after by English Heritage.

Like Bess’s new hall, this is a Grade I-listed monument and predates its neighbour by a few years, later becoming guest accommodation.

There’s an exhibition in the adjoining West Lodge, going into depth on Bess of Hardwick and the evolving architecture of Elizabethan England.

The ruins of the Old Hall are thrilling too, for the craftsmanship of the plasterwork over the fireplaces in the main rooms.

You can make your way up four floors of this roofless building for an all-encompassing panorama of the estate.

5. Stainsby Mill

Something else to see on the grounds of Hardwick Hall is this 19th-century flour mill, managed by the National Trust and in perfect working condition.

A mill has stood on this spot sine the 1200, but the present building composed of dressed sandstone dates from 1846. Go in to find how all the wheels, cogs and gears function, and follow the course of wheat from the field to the flour bag.

You can grind your own flour to take home, and the mill even hands out traditional recipes for bread.

Outside you can negotiate the Miller’s Shoe Walk next to the mill race and pond that feed the waterwheel.

6. Bolsover Castle

A day out not to turn down, Bolsover Castle is 15 minutes in the car from Chesterfield and is a resplendent Stuart mansion.

Designed as a statement of luxury rather than for defence, it was built at the start of the 17th-century by the Cavendish family, on top of an earlier castle dating back to the 1100s.

Most lavish is the Little Castle, ordered by the courtier and playboy Sir William Cavendish, and playing host to King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria in 1634, when Cavendish spent an incredible £15,000 to entertain them.

The Little Castle has been restored and has marble fireplaces and colourful frescoes on its walls and ceilings.

Don’t miss the wall walk on the faux battlements and the Terrace Range facing the Vale of Scarsdale.

7. Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery

This compelling, multifaceted museum is in the grand Stephenson Memorial Hall, built as a mechanics school in a neo-Gothic style in 1879 and occupied by the museum since 1994. No aspect of Chesterfield’s history is overlooked, whether it’s the Romans or the Industrial Revolution.

An attention-grabbing exhibit is the rare builder’s windlass, a Medieval wooden wheel used to lift stone material during the construction of the Parish Church.

One man who features repeatedly in the art gallery is Joseph Syddall (1864-1942), considered one of the most accomplished draughtsmen of the time and commissioned for the illustrations of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles in Graphic Magazine.

8. Queen’s Park

Chesterfield’s main park is best known as the home of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

The ground has seating for 7,000 fans, and if you’re a cricket fan or curious about the sport you can watch first-class, one-day and T20 matches here throughout the summer.

T20 and one-day have more batting action if you’re new to the sport.

Queen’s Park is also a graceful Victorian urban park, inaugurated in 1893 and boasting an exquisite conservatory, bandstand and miniature railway.

Check the council website as there’s a calendar of brass band concerts at the bandstand, while the beautifully maintained miniature train runs all through the spring and summer.

9. Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre

There’s a charming piece of railway history at this former maintenance building for steam locomotives, dating to 1870. The Barrow Hill Roundhouse was where these engines were turned, restocked with coal and cleaned, and is a rare survivor as most roundhouses were pulled down when the steam age came to a close.

A museum since the 1990s, Barrow Hill Roundhouse has a functioning turntable and lifting gear, with steam, diesel and electric locomotives, as well as displays explaining a working day at the roundhouse.

Here you can browse black and white photos, signs and an array of hands-on stations related to engineering and science.

10. Revolution House

This modest-looking thatched house three miles north of the centre of Chesterfield has a big story to tell.

In the 17th century it was the Cock and Pynot alehouse, where in 1688 the Earl of Devonshire, Earl of Danby and a Mr John D’Arcy met to plan the Glorious Revolution, in which the English crown would be taken from King James II and given to his daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange.

The house is now a free museum, with 17th-century furniture and a short film about the background to the Glorious Revolution.

A host of events take place here year-round, including carols singers at Christmas.

11. Poolsbrook Country Park

Like a couple of the public spaces around Chesterfield, Poolsbrook Country Park is on what used to be a colliery.

There’s a hint of what came before at the main entrance, which has a preserved pulley wheel.

The pits were filled in to become fishing lakes, and on their shores are woodland and meadows, woven with trails for walkers, cyclists and people on horseback.

If you’re up for a real hike, the park is on the long-distance Trans Pennine Trail.

On an easy ramble through the park you may catch sight of cormorants, yellow wagtails and great crested grebes and there’s a cafe next to the main lake.

12. Sutton Scarsdale Hall

In the village of the same name are the ruins of a Georgian late-Baroque country house, built from sandstone.

Sutton Scarsdale Hall went up in the 1720s and at the time had a splendour and scale that can be compared to the more famous Chatsworth House.

Its fireplaces, staircases, plasterwork and oak panelling were produced by some of the period’s most famous craftsmen, but after decades of neglect the house was asset stripped in 1919 when even the roof was removed.

The remaining skeleton, with pediment relief and Corinthian pilasters and columns was saved from demolition in the 1970s, and English Heritage has preserved fragments of the masterful stuccowork inside.

13. Holmebrook Valley Country Park

In Chesterfield’s western suburbs, the Holmebrook Valley Country Park is on what used to be an opencast coalmine.

These 130 acres of ponds, meadows, woodland and sports fields were reclaimed over several years and opened to the public in 1995. There’s a mountain bike course, a sculpture trail, a cafe, angling lake, outdoor gym, playground, sports pitches and a visitor centre explaining the park’s nature and the history of the site.

On walks keep your eyes peeled for woodpeckers and yellowhammers, while flowers like bluebells, red campions and orchids grow in the meadows and woodland.

In summer there’s also a programme of children’s activities organised by the park’s rangers.

14. Chesterfield Open Air Market

Off the High Street in the shadow of the 1857 Market Hall, Chesterfield’s Open Air Market is one of the largest in the country, with around 250 stalls.

Chesterfield received its market charter in 1204 and the general market trades on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 09:00 to 16:00. There you can go shopping for seasonal fresh produce, homewares, fashion, jewellery and handicrafts.

There’s also a flea market on Thursdays, as well as less frequent farmers’ and artisan markets.

The market hall was refurbished in 2013 and has more stalls selling clothing, food and fabrics, and is home to the sociable Market Plaza Cafe.

15. The Yards and The Shambles

Mixing historic houses with newer constructions, the Yards is a series of snug interconnecting alleys off Chesterfield’s main shopping area at South Street and Central Pavement.

Signs above the passageways read “Theatre Yard” and “Falcon Yard” beckoning you past former workshops and stables, now featuring a range of independent shops, confectioners, cafes and a gallery.

Across Central Pavement from the Yards there’s another picturesque grid of alleys dating back to Medieval times, at the Shambles.

At no. 1 you’ll find the 16th-century Royal Oak pub, the oldest pub in Chesterfield and one of the oldest in England.

15 Best Things to Do in Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England):

• Chesterfield Parish Church
• Chesterfield Canal
• Hardwick Hall
• Hardwick Old Hall
• Stainsby Mill
• Bolsover Castle
• Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery
• Queen's Park
• Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre
• Revolution House
• Poolsbrook Country Park
• Sutton Scarsdale Hall
• Holmebrook Valley Country Park
• Chesterfield Open Air Market
• The Yards and The Shambles

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Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Exuberant, extravagant and electrifying – our list of 5 things to do in St. Louis this weekend is a riot of festivities.

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Don’t let the suburban setting of Chesterfield fool you – this residential area boasts world-class attractions, electrifying entertainment venues, first-class shopping and pretty public parks.

Incorporated in 1988, Chesterfield is located approximately 25 miles west of downtown St. Louis along Interstate 64. While you’re exploring the peaceful enclave, don’t miss The Awakening created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. in 1980. The aluminum sculpture on the east side of Central Park Chesterfield depicts a 70-foot-tall giant clawing his way out of the ground. If it’s not too hot, you can sit in his hand, climb up his arm and slide down his leg.

Visiting in the fall? Chesterfield has stunning fall foliage, plus plenty of places to eat when hunger strikes.

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