THE PRETTY VILLAGES AND MARKET TOWNS of the Peak District and Derbyshire have a unique character and atmosphere of their own and you'll find traditional organic butchers, bakers and ironmongers nestled between contemporary craft studios, charming antique shops and independent book stores.

Markets really are at the core of Peak District and Derbyshire life and there’s an almost endless array of goods and produce available throughout the region. If you’re in Derby, head for the permanent market stalls in Derby’s Eagle Centre or those in the imposing Guildhall Market. Further north, Chesterfield’s renowned market is one of the largest in England with literally hundreds of stalls. The town also hosts a weekly flea market, farmers’ market and a range of medieval, arts & crafts and other specialist markets.

Regular weekly markets and farmers’ markets are also held throughout the Peak District in the larger market towns such as Bakewell, Buxton and Leek, so there’s always an excellent source of high quality produce available throughout the year, much of it sourced locally.

 

Tindall's Bakery and Delicatessen, TideswellSo whether you’re browsing through the bargains at one of the numerous antiques and collectors’ fairs throughout the year, soaking up the international flavour at one of the continental markets or simply stocking up on fruit and veg for the week, you’re sure to find a reason to go to market!

 

Exploring the shops around the historic villages and towns of the Peak District is always a real pleasure, with alleyways, courtyards, arcades and streets revealing new surprises around every corner. Here the accent is more on individual shops and you’ll find an intriguing selection of products, from crafts to couture and outdoor clothing! If you love browsing round antique shops don’t miss Leek and Ashbourne, but if handmade chocolates are your weakness then Bakewell is the place!

 

If you're looking for something a little different, there are numerous shops, galleries and individual workshops throughout the area offering a fantastic range of paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and other arts and crafts, produced both by local as well as national artists and craftspeople.

Royal Crown Derby is one of Derby’s best-loved exports and is sought by collectors worldwide. The factory shop offers good discounts on its range as well as the opportunity to purchase items not available elsewhere in the UK, while the Denby Pottery factory shop and visitor centre also sells an extensive range of table and ovenware, with superb discounts on new and discontinued seconds.

 

If you love a bargain you’ll enjoy one of the widest selections of factory shop outlets available in the UK, all of which offer great choice and excellent value for money. The East Midlands Designer Outlet, just one junction down the M1 from Chesterfield, has more than 50 stores selling big name brands at bargain prices, while Lea Bridge near Cromford is home to the John Smedley Viyella clothing outlet. The David Nieper outlet has designer collections of fine quality nightwear and lingerie and the De Bradelei Mill Shop in Belper, Masson Mills in Matlock Bath and Peak Village at Rowsley, near Bakewell, are all great places to snap up designer clothing and sportswear at bargain basement prices.

 

 

And the shopping doesn’t stop there. With its excellent range of high street stores, boutiques and speciality shops, Derby’s compact and largely traffic-free city centre is the ideal shopper-friendly place to spend the day, while the completion of the £330 million Westfield development in autumn 2007 will make the city's Eagle Centre one of the largest city-centre indoor malls in the UK.

 

Chesterfield's Northern Tea Merchants on Chatsworth RoadChesterfield, too, has a great range of big name stores and shops, while the host of independent retailers along Chatsworth Road sell everything from hand-made pottery and bespoke hi-fi equipment to specialist coffees & teas, oriental rugs and much more besides.

 

Whatever you’re looking for, the Peak District and Derbyshire’s excellent mix of big name stores and specialist shops, markets and unrivalled factory shopping offers a wealth of opportunity for retail therapy!