Bakewell Parish Church
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
See demonstrations on how to make Bakewell Pudding at the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
Traditional Inns in Bakewell
Specialist & Craft Shopping in BakewellKnown as the capital of the Peak District, bustling Bakewell historic market town sits within the Peak District National Park boundary and in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales. The town is a treasure trove of fine independent specialist shops, great markets and lively annual events like the August Bakewell Show and Bakewell Arts Festival. Bakewell is the perfect National Park base from which to explore the central and southern White Peak. Well served by a choice of bus services, Bakewell's central position affords easy access to both Buxton and Matlock and some of the Peak District's most popular iconic attractions including Haddon Hall, Chatsworth House and nearby famous Peaks beauty spot Monsal Head.
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Around Bakewell sit the attractive villages of Rowsley, closely associated with Haddon Hall, and Beeley village which sits within the Chatsworth Estate. Both Rowsley and Beeley contain award winning luxury hotels and traditional inns and feature great attractions like Caudwell's Mill Craft Centre in Rowsley. The scenic Peak Rail Steam Railway also runs regular steam and diesel heritage trains between Rowsley and Matlock.
Bakewell historic market town alongside the River Wye sits within the Peak District National Park boundary and at the heart of the Derbyshire Dale. Easily accessible off the A6, Bakewell is incredibly popular with visitors particularly for its inviting mix of fine shops, markets, historic buildings and great events. Not to be missed in August annually are the Bakewell Show and the Bakewell Arts Festival. Bakewell is the perfect place to start your exploration of the gentle central White Peak area of the Peak District. Bakewell town centre boasts a fantastic choice of independent shops including most famously The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop. Great farm shops, specialist food shops, local butchers and bakers and restaurants and cafes serving the finest local Peak District produce all feature in Bakewell town centre.
Bakewell centre is also home to one of the Peak District National Park's Visitor Centres situated in the beautiful 17th century Bakewell Market Hall. The Peak District National Park visitor centre in Bakewell is jointing run by the National Park Authority and Derbyshire Dales District Council. Here you can purchase Derbyshire Wayfarer Day Rover Tickets (unlimited bus & train travel across Derbyshire) and pick up numerous leaflets and guides on Bakewell and the Peak District. The visitor centre in Bakewell is also where to find out more about the nearby Monsal Trail and access up to the famous Peak District beauty spot Monsal Head which is easily walked to from Bakewell.
Limited bus services also operate from Bakewell to Monsal Head. Visit the Bakewell visitor centre for more information on bus timetables. The Monsall Trail is one of the Peak District's more gentle trails running for just over 8 miles starting just south east of Bakewell and weaving west towards Buxton. This popular Bakewell railway walk follows the line of the old Midland Railway across the Peak District. Visit the Peak District National Park's website for a map and guide to the Monsal Trail from Bakewell. Parts of the Monsal Trail around Bakewell are perfect for family walking and cycling.
Bakewell has excellent bus connections to elsewhere in the Peaks and Derbyshire making it a superb base from which to explore the Peaks by public transport. TransPeak Bus Services run regularly to Bakewell from Matlock, Buxton, Derby, Stockport and Manchester. TransPeak buses also connect Bakewell to Manchester Airport. Find out timetables via the TransPeak website guide. Trent Barton Buses also link Bakewell to Matlock and Derby.
Bakewell Visitor Centre, The Old Market Hall, Bridge Street, Bakewell, DE45 1DS. Tel. 01629 813227.
Bakewell Markets have featured in the town for centuries. Bakewell received its market charter as far back as 1330. Today Bakewell Markets include the weekly Monday stalls street market in Bakewell centre at the Market Hall square. Bakewell Livestock Markets also take place weekly on Mondays at the Agricultural Business Centre situated close to the town centre. Both these Bakewell Markets are popular with visitors. Bakewell Farmers market takes place every month on the last Saturday at the undercover Agricultural Business Centre.
Churches in the Peak District feature some of the most beautiful churches in England. All Saints' Parish Church in Bakewell is one such picture postcard church in the Peak District which retains some medieval features and although remodelled from 1839, the church was reworked to its original medieval structure. The beautiful tall spire is a particular highlight and move inside to admire the famous 19th century stained glass Henry Holiday 'Lamb of God' window situated in the north aisle. Other stunning historic buildings in Bakewell include one of the oldest bridges in England. The old bridge with its five arches across the River Wye at Bakewell dates from around 1300. The Old House Museum in Bakewell sits within a historic house dating from around 1534. Attractions around Bakewell include some of the most spectacular historic houses in the Peak District. Chatsworth House, the historic home of the Cavendish family which has featured extensively in TV and film sits just to the north east of Bakewell. To the south east of Bakewell en-route to Rowsley sits beautiful Haddon Hall, described by Simon Jenkins as "The most perfect English House to survive from the Middle Ages".
Sampling the famous Bakewell Pudding or Bakewell Tart is not to be missed on any day trip or stay in Bakewell. Discover the original Bakewell Pudding experience at the atmospheric Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop situated on The Sqaure in Bakewell Centre. Bakewell Puddings at The Old Original Pudding Shop in Bakewell are cooked to the old traditional recipe which dates from 1860 when Bakewell Puddings were first cooked by accident in the town at the then local White Horse Inn. See The Original Old Bakewell Pudding Shop's website for a complete history of the famous Bakewell Pudding.
The Original Old Bakewell Pudding Shop boasts a fully licensed and air-conditioned restaurant on the first floor. Special group tours (20 or more) of the bakehouse at the Bakewell Pudding Shop are also available. The tour features demonstrations on cooking the famous pudding.
Also not to be missed in Bakewell is a visit to The Bakewell Tart Shop and Coffee House on Matlock Street. The Bakewell Tart Shop has been serving fine Bakewell Tarts to the traditional recipe for over 50 years. Both these famous Bakewell venues offer online ordering of Bakewell Puddings and Bakewell Tarts via their websites (links right).
The Bakewell Old House Museum is located in Cunningham Place just off North Church Street in Bakewell centre. This award winning gem of a folk museum is housed in a stunning Tudor House and succeeds brilliantly in bringing the local history of the area alive for children.
Things to do and see at the Bakewell Old House Museum include a genuine Victorian millworker's dwelling and displays feature elegant costumes such as a delightful pair of mid-18th century embroidered shoes. Many historic toys such as dolls, toy soldiers and a model butcher's shop are also on display. Some pieces of fine Ashford black marble including one of the beautiful Ashford black marble table tops can also be seen within.
Ten great rooms with beams and huge Tudor fireplaces are waiting to be explored. Look out for the rare example of a Tudor lavatory. The Bakewell Old House Museum is open daily from the beginning of April to the end of October, 11am to 4pm, last entrance 3.30pm. Find out more about exhibits within this fine Peak District local history museum via the museum's website.
Pretty Rowsley village sits just to the southeast of Bakewell straddling the A6 and is linked to Matlock by the popular Peak Rail Steam Railway which runs regular steam and diesel trains. Rowsley, a major gateway into the Peak District National Park, is ideally situated close to the striking Haddon Hall which featured in the recent film of 'Pride & Prejudice'. Rowsley has long been a village within and closely associated with the Haddon estate. The village is a meeting place of rivers and valleys, namely the Derwent and the Wye. Rowsley is a top spot in the Peak District for dry fly trout fishing on the River Wye. Details on trout fishing on the River Wye in the Rowsley area can be found on The Peacock at Rowsley's website.
Rowsley like Ashford boasts a stunning surving old 15th century packhorse bridge which crosses the River Derwent. The old packhorse bridge at Rowsley was widened in 1925 to accommodate the then new motorised traffic. Other famous beautiful historic buildings in Rowsley include The Peacock Hotel dating from 1652 which is today a luxury hotel and fine restaurant. The Well near the Peakcock is the site for Rowsley's annual Well Dressing ceremony at the end of June. Award winning pubs in Rowsley include The Grouse and Claret and great Rowsley attractions include the Caudwell's Mill Craft Centre which features a craft shop, cafe, jewellery gallery and glass studio.
A mill has sat on the site from the middle ages but the mill building at the craft centre you see today dates from 1874. Entrance to the craft centre is free with a small admission charge to look around the historic mill. Art galleries and a Blacksmith's Forge are also onsite at this beautifully situated attraction in Rowsley.
Whilst Rowsley has close associations with Haddon Hall, Beeley village has strong historic links with Chatsworth House. Beeley village just east of Bakewell is located within the Chatsworth estate and is home to stunning historic inns such as the Devonshire Arms. Perfectly situated for exploring Chatsworth House, Beeley has close historic links with the Chatsworth estate as a former estate village. Whilst the gentle parkland of the Chatsworth estate sweeps north of Beeley, to the east are the more rugged East Moors which contain stone circles and famous prehistoric remains like Hob Hurst's House burial mound.
