The beautiful spa town that’s stealing all the tourists from Bath | Travel News | Travel

A beautiful Peak District town is stealing all of Bath’s tourists, according to a new study.

New data from Independent Cottages reveals a shift in where Brits go for spring staycations. While classic destinations like Cornwall and the Lake District remain popular, other spots have seen a recent surge in demand.

The company’s internal data over the past year shows that Buxton has risen to the top of Brits’ lists for go-to spring escapes.

Buxton is a spa town in High Peak, Derbyshire, which has a population of 20,000. Located in the Peak District, the town is full of Georgian architecture.

Independent Cottages found that more than half of Brits (52%) are planning to holiday in the UK this year, allowing them to explore the destination often overlooked in favour of other spa towns like Bath.

Built on the River Wye and overlooked by Axe Edge Moor, Buxton is home to a geothermal spring, which gushes at 28C.

Once settled by the Romans, Buxton grew in importance in the late 18th century when the Dukes of Devonshire developed it. A century later, Buxton saw a resurgence as Victorians were drawn to the reputed healing properties of its waters.

Sights include Poole’s Cavern, a limestone cavern; St Ann’s Well, fed by a geothermal spring bottled by Buxton Mineral Water Company; and many historic buildings, including Buxton Crescent, Buxton Baths and Buxton Opera House.

Surrounded by the Peak District National Park, it offers a range of cultural events; tourism is a major industry, with over a million visitors each year. Buxton is the main centre for overnight accommodation in the Peak District, with over 64% of the park’s visitor bed space.

England’s highest market town is sited 300 metres above sea level. It lies close to Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, on the edge of the Peak District National Park.

Buxton is within an hour’s drive of Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, and Stoke, and trains and buses are available.