Chesterfield – Derbyshire Is Much More Than A Market Town

The second largest town in Derbyshire, Chesterfield – Derbyshire had its beginning as a market town. Even now, the markets still thrive. Here, you can take a trip back in history and enjoy a truly quaint town in the country. Chesterfield has been inhabited since as far back as the Iron Age.

When people think of Chesterfield, they often think of the Church of St Mary and All Saints and its crooked spire. It is the parish church and Derbyshire’s largest. Dating from the 13th century, it is often thought incorrectly to be a cathedral. There are a lot of theories to explain why the spire is crooked. The most logical explanation, however, is that the lead tiles which cover it weigh 32 tons.

You will want to visit the market on either Monday, Friday or Saturday, the days on which it runs. Here you will find over 200 stalls for your shopping pleasure. You can stop by on Thursday to see the flea market and the 100 stalls it holds. There has been a market here since 1165 at the very least. You can find the Shambles close by which is a collection of medieval streets dating from the 12th century. There are tearooms, shops and even one of the oles pubs in Britain, The Royal Oak.

If you are done with the town for a bit and want to get to the country, there are many trails nearby to stroll over. Derbyshire holds many activities for the outdoors such as caving, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking and rock climbing. The Linacre reservoirs in Chesterfield also offer opportunities to walk and cycle in the woods.

Queen’s park offers gardens, a play area for children and gardens. A sports centre here offers a place to swim or play badminton, tennis or squash and more.

When it comes to gastronomy, there are many choices. If you want fine dining, it is there. For something more exotic, you can choose Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian or Mexican. Whatever your individual tastes or budget, there is something for you here. Local specialties include Bakewell pudding, Ashbourne gingerbread, Hartington stilton and Derbyshire oatcakes.

There are a lot of different types of accommodations also. There are lovely little bed and breakfasts as well as larger hotels and self-catering options. You can even find places to camp or caravan.

For a weekend getaway, or even longer, it is hard to beat Chesterfield – Derbyshire. The Peak District is a truly lovely place to lose yourself in the beautiful English countryside.

Look for hotels in Chesterfield.

categories: travel,travel and leisure