What is it like to live in Buxton?

I don't live in Buxton but have visited many times. I have never heard about it being the coldest place in England- for me that would be the north-east!
It is a small town with some historic architecture, the usual cafes and bars but also the recently restored hotel which I've yet to visit.
The Opera House is a great venue with a variety of shows you would find in any city- so that's a bonus.
I have never been to Buxton by train- it isn't on the Hope Valley line which connects Sheffield and Manchester.
Yes, tourists can be a problem as in anywhere scenic but the town centre itself isn't too touristy- it is mainly the beautiful countryside around Buxton that gets busy.
Any other info? A beautiful park and of course, the great outdoors that Derbyshire is famed for- climbing, caving, wind-surfing, rambling, all that stuff.
It is very hilly as well.
Reminds me a little of Harrogate, which I think is far more touristy.
I'm sure others could give you more info- but hope that's a start!

We went there this summer. stayed at the recently restored hotel with spa, fantastic!

Opera house has a really good programme - including real opera! We were there for the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in early August, we intended to do a bit of site seeing while there, but Saturday apart, the roads were congested and the towns overwhelmed with visitors. We wanted to visit Chatsworth, drove there, took one look at the hundreds and hundreds of cars parked there, turned round and went back to Buxton.

Buxton itself is a funny mix of the rather run down and the up and coming. I suspect its worst period is behind it and it is recovering. A huge and expensive looking block of retirement flats has been built there recently, always a good sign.

We will continue to go to the G&S Festival, now we have discovered it, but will see it as a nice rest cure in Buxton and not try to take in any other overcrowded sites.

Not sure about the coldest part of England but is possible seeing as they always say Buxton gets cut off by snow in the winter.

I’ve been to Buxton a couple of times recently and as others say it is full of tourists in the summer, sorry I was one of them. It is quite hilly and its popularity is somewhat due to its proximity to the Peak district.
Chatsworth is lovely and huge with extensive grounds. You can book your tickets in advance to avoid queuing, as well as a tour round the estate in a Landrover. Also there’s a little train that covers the nearer garden area.

I live quite close to Buxton.
It is a lovely little place and the countryside is wonderful.
Frequent trains to Stockport and Manchester, not a long journey at all.
One major drawback is the lack of a hospital.
My local hospital is the nearest for both emergencies and maternity.
Apart from that a great place to live.
Incidentally that lovely refurbished hotel is not doing well and is ,I believe, for sale.

I have just checked my timetable.
One hour on the train to Manchester with 75 trains a day.

Only a visitor. We stayed in Buxton a decade or so ago. We opted for it as a base to tour the Peak District. I liked it, I remember The Opera House and the Georgian crescents, a bit like a mini Bath. I also remember a lovely park, which had a boating lake, it was summer when we visited. Bakewell was fairly nearby where we also spent some time, and where I had the best Bakewell tart ever! to be expected though. Also had a great day at Chatsworth House. It was my first and only visit to the Peak District, beautiful scenery and we were lucky with the weather sunny most days, although I gather they have harsh winters. I think it would be a pretty good place to live, if you don't mind cold winters,. There seemed to be a good selection of cafes and restaurants, I recall a Pizza Express, and a nice Italian Restaurant, there was also a Marks when we were there but I believe that was closed a year or two ago. Sheffield is easily accessible and the train station was on the line that went to Manchester so I imagine a day out shopping in either of those cities would be easy to do. Hopefully an actual resident will post who could give you a clearer overview of what life is like there all year round.

Ahh thanks everyone, all so useful and interesting 🙏

I have only visited once, too hilly for my liking (both for winter driving and walking)!

We used to go to the lovely Opera House. My partner used to do a lot of driving with his work and said that the roads around Buxton are a bit treacherous ice wise in winter. For that reason if we went to an evening concert we would stay there overnight. I do love the place, though.

I think Buxton is thought to be one of the coldest places in England.

The lovely hotel has just gone bust - not sure if it's still open.

Oh that's a shame- I never got to go!

From what people are saying Chatsworth does take visitors away although I don't consider it to be nearby. So much more to see and often ignored by the all things Chatsworth chasers!

Buxton seems to struggle by as opposed to flourishing, which is very sad as it has significant history and some very fine buildings. It isn't all about shopping either.

At least the fewer people who go the more enjoyable it is for those that do!

We loved Buxton. When we go next year we will just stay within the town and its environs. It has a wonderful park, interesting shops and lovely archtecture.

I am sorry the hotel has closed. It was part of a big chain and seemed quite busy when we were there, but the wonderful spa facilities were underused, which surprised me, at a time when spa breaks are so popular, I suspect the marketing of the spa and the provision of associated services was not that good. We were surprise, for example, with the lack od signage to it in the hotel, It needs to use the spa to make it a destination. It also had a 5 star rating, which I thought was too high. It was very pleasant and comfortable, but didn't have that air of luxury I associate with a 5 star hotel.

Good place to visit as per above, and very beautiful houses and nice areas, but if the O/P is asking about living there its another matter.

I did look up and notice a very thriving U3A so there is clearly a core of active 50 plus's which might appeal to GNetters. But it is struggling in some ways, not enough jobs post failing industry, and are the shops nice for tourists but not so relevant all year round?

Hospital - not sure where nearest A and E is, I couldn't find by googling.

M0nica

We loved Buxton. When we go next year we will just stay within the town and its environs. It has a wonderful park, interesting shops and lovely archtecture.

I am sorry the hotel has closed. It was part of a big chain and seemed quite busy when we were there, but the wonderful spa facilities were underused, which surprised me, at a time when spa breaks are so popular, I suspect the marketing of the spa and the provision of associated services was not that good. We were surprise, for example, with the lack od signage to it in the hotel, It needs to use the spa to make it a destination. It also had a 5 star rating, which I thought was too high. It was very pleasant and comfortable, but didn't have that air of luxury I associate with a 5 star hotel.

I did enquire abput a day pass bit £200 seemed a bit steep to sit in a pool.

I don’t know Buxton, but would love to visit one day. I’m not sure about it being the coldest place in England, I think there are a few contenders for that position; at which point I would like to suggest Cromer on the North Norfolk coast. The wind comes straight down from the North Pole with no land in between when it is in that direction.

Buxton Crescent Spa Hotel was one of the winners of this year's spa hotel feature in a recent Condé Nast guide.

I'm surprised it's closed if it's supposed to be so good.

Buxton used to be very busy in the summer - as did Matlock Bath - it was somewhere we used to avoid in that period - but if you lived there it might be nice to have a couple of months of "madness" and different activities once a year.

www.buxtonweather.co.uk/metofficeslopes.htm#:~:text=%22Buxton%2C%20while%20possessing%20a%20pleasantly,in%20England%20during%20the%20winter.%22
This is really interesting interesting, and it looks like it is the coldest place in England - or at least, the best recorded consistently coldest place.
My son lived in Buxton for a year in 2023. I visited him quite a few times, and found it to be a lovely place. The park is exceptionally beautiful and has lots of activities, and there seems to be a lot of local activities available generally, people seem to be very involved in the community, and it’s friendly. I’d live there.

I meant to say interesting reading…

Good charity shops

I didn't say it had closed - I have no idea.

But, it was put into administration because it failed to pay back loans from the council.

eggplant I did enquire abput a day pass bit £200 seemed a bit steep to sit in a pool.

You are telling me? We are going to Champneys, admittedly on a special offer, one day in the spa and on overnight stay with bed, breakfast and evening meal in a fe week time for £125.

A day ticket for the spa alone is generally rarely above £100, although they usually try and sell you a package of spa and treatments, which we do not want , just the spa and the meals.

kittylester

I didn't say it had closed - I have no idea.

But, it was put into administration because it failed to pay back loans from the council.

OK. Apologies kittylester
Must pay more attention when I read.
🙄