Location
Welcome to Chesterfield
One of Derbyshire's most popular and historic market towns, Chesterfield is perhaps most famous for the distinctive Crooked Spire.
The distinctive Crooked Spire dominates the skyline. There are numerous local legends as to why the spire twisted, but its unusual shape is thought to have been triggered by green timber covered with heavy lead tiles.
Whatever the truth, the base of the spire of the Parish Church of St Mary's and All Saints - which stands at 228 feet high and 'leans' 9 feet and 6 inches from its true centre - is a great place to get a panoramic view across the town and beyond.
You might have seen photographs of it before, or even caught sight of it from the train, or from your car. Maybe you already know that it's 228 feet high, and that it 'leans' 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre.
Back on solid ground, Chesterfield is a paradise for shoppers, with its handsome Market Hall and cobbled Market Place, home to one of the largest open-air markets in England, with a host of regular markets including farmers' and artisan markets.
Nearby in the charming Shambles are a cluster of independent shops and cafés, while you'll find famous High Street names at the Pavements and Vicar Lane Shopping Centres.
If you're fascinated by history, visit the Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery charting Chesterfield's commercial and industrial past, or take a short drive to Revolution House at Old Whittington, where a plot was hatched to overthrow James II in 1688.
Eating out is a gourmet experience, thanks to everything from Michelin-recommended restaurants and welcoming cafes and tea rooms to gastro and real ale pubs. You can also enjoy live drama, music, comedy and much more at yhe Pomegranate and Winding Wheel theatres.
Right on the doorstep you'll find the National Trust's magnificent Elizabethan Hardwick Hall, the last and greatest house built by Bess of Hardwick in the 1500s, and impressive Bolsover Castle, a 17th century fairytale mansion, with its magical Little Castle, enchanting Venus Garden, indoor riding school and breathtaking views.
Also close by are Renishaw Hall & Gardens, ancestral home of the literary Sitwell family, and Creswell Crags, one of the most northerly places on earth to have been inhabited by our Ice Age ancestors.
Heritage-lovers shouldn't miss a visit to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the UK's oldest surviving operational railway roundhouse, which hosts a number of spectacular events each year.
Featured Businesses
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Business
Matlock Farm Park
Come on down to Matlock Farm Park, the ideal place for families to visit to enjoy the fresh air and have fun with our friendly animals.
In The Area
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Featured
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Matlock Farm Park
Come on down to Matlock Farm Park, the ideal place for families to visit to enjoy the fresh air and have fun with our friendly animals.
Business
Red Lion Restaurant at Peak Edge Hotel
Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Peak District National Park, the historic Red Lion restaurant boasts a warm, friendly, relaxed atmosphere…
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Tickled Trout at Barlow
The award winning Ticked Trout is a Deliciously Derbyshire gastropub located on the edge of the Peak District.
Hob Hurst's House
A square prehistoric burial mound with an earthwork ditch, named after a local goblin
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Hardwick Old Hall
Discover the full story of Bess of Hardwick with access to both the first time.
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Casa Hotel
Situated in the heart of the historic market town Chesterfield. Casa Hotel is your ultimate destination for luxury and comfort.
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Cow Close Farm by Wild & Other
Restful, eco-friendly holiday cottages in a picturesque Derbyshire village, set in 20 acres of beautiful countryside.
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Queen's Park Sports Centre
A modern, purpose-built leisure centre and pool in Chesterfield.
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Queen's Park
Queen's Park was opened in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. In its early days, the Park was a popular venue for rallies and…
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Chesterfield Market Hall
Our Victorian Market Hall was originally built in 1857 'for the shelter and safeguard of market people'. It housed a Corn Exchange, a covered market,…
Our Great Itineraries
Car-free guide: Things to do in Chesterfield
There's so much to see and do near this iconic Derbyshire market town, famed for its crooked spire.
Day trip from Sheffield: Explore Matlock &…
The busy market towns of Matlock and Bakewell are a great day out for all the family and the bus is the hassle-free way to travel.
Day trip from Sheffield: Explore Matlock Bath,…
Discover some of Derbyshire's most popular towns and villages by bus.
Events in Chesterfield
Events
Stranger Folk at Hardwick
Oh no! A crack has formed between our world and the spirit world, and all sorts of old British folklore creatures have escaped. Download the Stanger…
Events
Derbyshire Makes Festival
Derbyshire Makes Festival returns in 2026 - bigger, bolder, and bursting with even more opportunities to get creative.
Events
Storyfolk presents: Midwinter Stories
Listen to festive songs and Elizabethan tales on the shortest day of the year.
Trails nearby
The Phoenix Greenways
Whether you come for the day, a weekend or a longer stay, there is plenty for the family to do, visit and explore. A network of traffic free walking…
Ashover walks - 'A Seat with a View' and Ashover…
Explore the countryside in and around Ashover Village.
The Five Pits Trail
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can all enjoy the countryside of the Five Pits Trail.
Renishaw to Eckington Circular
This lovely 8 km (5 miles) walk takes you away from the bustle of traffic and out into the deepest, most peaceful countryside - within only a few…
Villages nearby
Millthorpe
Millthorpe is a tiny hamlet in the parish of Holmesfield, surrounded by beautiful countryside verging onto the Peak District National Park. Visit in early summer to see the rhododendrons in Cordwell Valley in full flower.
Renishaw
A pretty village in the north of Derbyshire, is most famous for Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell Family for the last 400 years, built in 1625 by George Sitwell. Renishaw was also a mining village.
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