Explore the serenity of both the great outdoors and indoors this autumn with a stay at the history-steeped Buxton Crescent hotel. Combining excellent wellness facilities with guided eBike tours, a pedal-powered staycation at this Buxton-based stay has never looked so inviting. Sophie Ritchie shares more:
Sayonara to airport check-ins – the season of staycations is upon us. Shifting away from the typical Cornwall weekend or local hotel stay, there’s an abundance of beauty in the UK’s north, where a sweeping landscape of rolling hills and picturesque puzzle piece fields can make even a simple taxi transfer feel quite atmospheric. In particular, the Peak District National Park is perfectly suited for such a scene.
Easily reached within three hours of London thanks to Avanti West Coast’s swift train services, these 555 picturesque square miles are ideal for the ramblers and the roamers. In Derbyshire in particular, one can set off for miles and miles of meandering the Peak District’s diverse landscape – making this county an outdoor lover’s dream. As much fun as exploring can be, the post-adventure wind down (and sustenance) matters just as much. That’s where the luxuriously historic surrounds of the Buxton Crescent hotel in Buxton comes in.
Located on the very edge of the Peak District National Park in the scenic town of Buxton, this extravagant building was originally built and completed in 1789 for William Cavendish – the 5th Duke of Devonshire – as part of his campaign to establish Buxton as a fashionable Georgian spa town that rivalled Bath. The building was designed to incorporate hotels, private lodging houses, shops, and a grand assembly room, in order to firmly put the town on the map.
Flash forward to 2020 (let’s not mention the C word) and an extensive £78m restoration that spanned the course of 17 years later, the grand property reopened its doors (although the original front entrance has since been replaced) as the five-star Buxton Crescent Spa Hotel.
Welcoming guests with 81 rooms and suites – including several dog-friendly and accessible rooms, it is now recognised as one of the most luxurious destinations in the Peak District. Steeped in intricate history from tip to toe, the archaic abodes combine comfort with mod cons.
However, it’s the vast award-winning spa that really steals the show at this hotel, where three floors of pampering await – plus the contemporary British restaurant 1789, in which fine dining with flair can be found in abundance.
The Room
Each spacious bedroom at Buxton Crescent could be a history lesson in itself. The personality-filled walls here are steeped in 200 years of stories and past lives, offering a unique blend of Georgian architectural beauty and lavish modern-day comfort, complimented by large windows that showcase the surrounding town’s beauty and beyond.
The rooms have been painstakingly restored to preserve their traditional features whilst incorporating modern amenities, elegant décor and easy on the eye colour schemes. Airy and generous in size, open a door to admire traditional features like fireplaces, chandeliers and impressive roll top baths, as well as statement four poster beds where a good night’s sleep comes as standard. Good news for the overpackers – closet space seems to runneth over here.
A property well-suited for the modern roamers, helpful post-adventure comforts in the form of fluffy bathrobes, slippers, Nespresso machines and king-sized beds so large they could easily sleep a small family all add all the small details required to make a guest feel settled and comfortable.
The Wellness
Wellness at Buxton Crescent Spa Hotel goes above and beyond the standard spa experience – here, guests can soak in thermal waters first discovered by the Romans themselves.
Far superior to the bog standard steam room and modern sauna experience that so many hotels simply offer as a tick list, don a robe and drift your way through unique rooms that feature oodles of natural light, ornate original features, stained glass and art deco tiles.
Spread across three floors, the intricate, somewhat maze-like spa features an impressive 22 treatment spaces that showcase an array of unique wellness and health experiences, along with various sauna, steam, and multiple pools. Here, hours soon disappear as you immerse yourself in the various experiences.
Must-try highlights include an indoor-to-outdoor rooftop pool that’s well-suited for Insta-perfect moments, as well as an original Victorian thermal pool worth dipping into on the lower floor, naturally heated to 27.5C, which is drained, cleaned and refilled daily with Buxton mineral water.
The Food
Whether you’re hiking, biking or simply resting weary legs, a staycation is always hungry work. Recently rebranded as 1789, a name that stems from the year in which William Cavendish completed the historic ‘Crescent,’ the hotel’s restaurant curates an array of fine dining dishes for guests.
Open a menu and summon a waiter to try an array of dishes, including Seared Scallops and Steak Tartare, as well as plenty of options from the Grill. Dessert is well-worth rolling to bed for, with seasonal sweet treats in the form of a tempting Dark Chocolate Crémeux, Black Forest Torte and classic Sticky Figgy Pudding.
There’s also a varied international wine list and list of cocktails to wash it down alongside with. For those who fancy a pre-dinner tipple or night cap, the lounge can be enjoyed at leisure with its snug, library-like cozy feel.
Breakfast is also served within 1789’s well-heeled realm, offering both a small selection of continental items plus a wider a la carte menu of breakfast classics. The full-on Full English, pancake stacks, oodles of avocado toast and specialty coffee can all be ordered on a whim from the helpful team.
Things to try
With so much natural surrounding beauty, don’t forget the outdoor excursions. Pack your raincoat (and perhaps the thermals) and take on a Peak District National Park escapade, of which many await at the doorstep of this beautiful hotel. A few hours of rambling or trail running never goes amiss, but there’s plenty to see on two wheels too – particularly if you struggle to cover long distances when traversing on-foot.
Local eBike specialists PeakePedals offer a selection of both guided and self-guided e-bike tours of the nearby terrain, combining a more accessible form of exercise with stunning view points and famous local pitstops (did someone say cheese shops?). With the ease of an eBike, 20km can be covered in a matter of hours – with plenty of picnic time along the way.
The Wordrobe Verdict
Explore the serenity of both the great outdoors and indoors this autumn with a stay at the history-steeped Buxton Crescent hotel. Combining immersive wellness facilities with guided eBike tours, a pedal-powered staycation t’up North has never looked so inviting.
Make it happen
Where: The Crescent, Buxton SK17 6BH
How: Find out more and make a booking via ensanahotels.com
Getting there: Avanti West Coast offers regular train services from London Euston to Macclesfield station, where private onward transfers can be arranged. Find out more and make a booking via avantiwestcoast.co.uk
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
