Great British getaways: soak it all up and immerse yourself in this charming Peak District spa town

Water, water everywhere – and in the case of the Derbyshire spa town of Buxton, deep in the Peak District, there’s more than a drop to drink.

It is almost impossible to escape the sound of the ancient springs bubbling 1,500 metres below.

Not least thanks to St Ann’s Well, located opposite our hotel.

This natural hot spring flows rhythmically around the clock, offering a free source of Buxton’s famous, naturally rich water to anyone who wants to fill their bottle (some come from all over the world to do so).

“It’s a little warm,” my husband says. Well, it’s thermal.

Angela Epstein explores the Derbyshire spa town of Buxton, located in the Peak District. Above is the River Wye

Angela is staying at the Buxton Crescent hotel, which has a chemical-free swimming pool filled with mineral water and a rooftop pool (pictured)

The Buxton Crescent Hotel is a Grade II listed Georgian building built in the 1780s by the 5th Duke of Devonshire.

We find (and hear) more water at the fountains surrounding Buxton Crescent, a Grade II listed Georgian building built in the 1780s by the 5th Duke of Devonshire as the centrepiece of this fashionable Georgian spa town.

Within walking distance is the Grade II listed Victorian Pump Room, built in 1894 specifically for visitors to take a dip in the water. It’s a handy place to start, as it now houses the town’s visitor centre.

You can’t even escape the water during a bit of retail therapy. The Cavendish Shopping Arcade, a hub of independent shops selling boutique clothing, jewellery, locally produced food and more, is housed in a former Victorian thermal bath, where original features remain, including the plunge pool and a chair that was used to lower people into the healing waters.

Angela visits St Ann’s Well (pictured above), a historic spring that supplies Buxton’s famous naturally rich water free of charge

Rich history: The Buxton Opera House (pictured above) is one of the UK’s most important provincial theatres, Angela reveals

As for nightlife, you can head to one of the country’s leading provincial theatres, the Buxton Opera House, which offers a lively programme of plays and concerts.

The town also hosts the annual Buxton International Festival (buxtonfestival.co.uk) and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival (gsfestivals.org).

About a mile south, you can explore Poole’s Cavern, a large Carboniferous limestone cavern filled with strange formations formed over millions of years. It is one of the area’s major attractions.

If, like me, you suffer from claustrophobia, there are also plenty of hiking trails in the area, for example in Grin Low Woods, where you will find numerous wooden sculptures.

Tired and with sore feet we return to our hotel, soak our bones in the healing waters of Buxton and go to sleep to the sound of babbling springs lulling us to sleep with their eternal babble.

Where to stay

The Buxton Crescent Hotel and Spa has a chemical-free swimming pool filled with rich mineral water, plus a rooftop pool. Rooms are spacious and airy. Double rooms cost from £180 per night B&B (ensanahotels.com).