Buxton Visitor Centre & The Buxton Crescent Experience — Attraction in High Peak

My wife and I stayed at the Buxton Crescent for one night in October during the Covid 19 pandemic. Although we live in the Peak District and had seen work progressing on the Crescent over the last several years, we decided to treat ourselves to an overnight stay in order to use the Spa facilities and have a meal out without having to drive home afterwards.

Externally, the Crescent is undoubtedly a fine and impressive building. Regrettably, the water feature and meagre planting scheme outside does not do justice to the building. If the small fountains had a few extra feet height and there was more imaginative planting then first impressions would be greatly improved.

On entering the hotel reception area, we were treated to a temperature check (good) and a rather long wait before the one receptionist could check us in. We were then able to make our way to our ground floor room. What a disappointment. The room was decidedly on the small side and furnished in 'corporate bland'. Given that this is a Grade I listed building I had expected better.

First impressions of our room were not improved when we looked out of the window (see picture). This is a 'classic' room but with a sub- standard view. We also noted that the window was decidedly dirty. Anyway, since it was not our intention to stay too long in the room, we got changed put on the provided white robes (clean and fresh) and headed off to the Spa.

Things looked up at the Spa. The spa is everything it should be with sauna, steam, and several pools and an assortment of treatment rooms. I tried the 'salt room' (extra £35 for 25 minute session) my wife had a 30 minute massage. To be honest, for me, the salt room was a complete waste of money but others may have a different view. Having sampled all the pools inside and outside, we returned to our room to get ready for the evening meal.

The restaurant menu is simple and does offer options for vegetarians. I had a smoked mackerel rarebit followed by loin of venison with a sherry and almond trifle to finish. The mackerel rarebit was rather stodgy but edible. The venison was good. The sherry and almond trifle was rather lacking in sherry. We chose a surprisingly good Chilean cabernet sauvignon to accompany the food.

Unfortunately, the restaurant fails badly when it comes to ambiance. The corporate bland decorators have left there mark were also. We had expected more intimate surroundings; perhaps a candle, maybe a flower or two on the table but no. There was not a single plant to be seen anywhere in the restaurant (surely this is not banned because of covid).

After eating, we moved to the bar for one last drink. Like the restaurant, the bar area lacks any sparkle and is honestly rather drab. Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like too much glitz but surely for a multi-million pound, multi-year renovation project someone could have injected a bit more life into the decoration.

Returning to out room, we were actually rather glad of the good bed and warm duvet since the room was really quite chilly no doubt due to the single glazed window. I guess we have the conservation officer to thank for that.

Breakfast in the morning was OK. The food reasonable but the service poor.

Overall, a huge disappointment. Given that the refurb of the building has taken so many years and cost so much with funding from public and private sources. Quite honestly, Buxton deserves much better.

I'm giving two stars only. I would so much have liked...

Located right in front of the hilly park known as The Slopes, this unique visitor centre is inside the Victorian Pump Room, a beautiful old building with stained glass windows and spa water bubbling up from a marble pool at the back of its gift shop. I loved reading about the history of Buxton as a spa town on the info boards, and about the Well Women who kept the well clean and served spa water to visitors seeking health benefits and cures for a wide range of ailments. There were useful free leaflets about local attractions, and I was able to get a free town map of Buxton. Excellent selection of gifts and souvenirs, including some nice confectionery and preserves, locally made gin and craft beers, toiletries, and lovely jewellery. There's also a little café where you can get tea, coffee and cakes at very reasonable prices, and you can buy ice-cream to take out. The staff at the information desk were knowledgeable and friendly. You can buy tickets here for the Buxton Crescent Experience just across the road. I didn't get to visit it myself, but I did enjoy a stroll along the colonnade at the front of the elegant...

Undergone massive redevelopment to grade 1listed building . Costing over £75 million 5 star hotel and spa when development finishes . They have added a restaurant and open air spa pool to rear of building . Outside terrace for summer. New fountain to front of crescent. The whole lot looks really smart excellent restoration .The new 5* hotel and spa now open. Opened October 2020 See website for further info. Along with the crescent experience tour takes 90 mins . Very informative tells you history of buildings in crescent and shows other iconic buildings. Learn all about the water and treatments given. Free sample at fountain taste the famous water take bottles. excellent tour visit the pump room tourist information. Has range of Buxton products . In formation on all the attractions in Buxton and peak district. Good informative staff. Also go to Saint Anne's well taste Buxton water . 5,000 years old goes back to ice age . Has high reputation for helping treat ailments . Good free water. Enjoy your...