Tips for Chesterfield mini-bus and coach tourism

Useful tips for Chesterfield bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and  ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Chesterfield. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Chesterfield. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Chesterfield highlights.

What to see during your tour in Chesterfield with a hired minibus

The "Crooked Spire" and Our Lady & All Saints Parish Church:

Chesterfield is probably best known for its "Crooked Spire" leaning tower of Our Lady & All Saints Parish Church. The church is located in the centre of Chesterfield and was built for the biggest part in 1930; the bells were added to the tower in 1947. A particular point is that the spire of the tower is not attached to the church. About how it is possible that the spire is crooked, are many different stories. Former the people thought that the devil made the spire crooked, but it is actually because of the lack of professionals. The church and the tower are open all year round from Monday to Saturday. Access to the church is free and the tower costs £2.50 for adults and £1.00 for children.

The Crooked Spire

The Crooked Spire credit: Ben Sutherland CC BY 2.0

The Pomegranate Theatre and the Winding Wheel

It is a monumental Victorian building in the centre of Chesterfield. Previously the theatre was known as the Chesterfield Civic Theatre. The Pomegranate Theatre has a small auditorium with 500 seats. During the year, several shows perform here. The Winding Wheel was formerly a cinema, but is now suitable for various shows and movies. The building is located in the centre of Chesterfield and has an auditorium with 1000 seats. Tickets for shows for both buildings are available to buy online but also at the box office at the entrance of the theatre.

Stephenson Memorial Hall

Stephenson Memorial Hall credit: DncnH CC BY 2.0
These days known as the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield.

City Tours in Chesterfield

You can rent a bus in Chesterfield for tours in the city or in Derbishire County. You can make the route all by yourself, so you can choose what you want to see. For example, you start at the Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre and from there you can continue your journey to one of the churches, the Chesterfield Borough Council, the Pavements Shopping Centre and the parks.

Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery

A museum opened in 1994, the first public museum in Chesterfield. The museum is located in the centre of the city and shows the whole story of the history of Chesterfield. The museum has exhibits with global and local subjects. The museum is open on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is open from 10 am to 4 pm and there is free access.

Markets in Chesterfield

Chesterfield has many different markets throughout the year. On every Monday, Friday and Saturday are the "General Markets", from 9 am to 4 pm at Market Place and New Square. Whatever you want to buy almost everything can be found in the hustle and bustle of the stalls.

Every Thursday is the "Flea Market", also from 9 am to 4 pm in the centre of Chesterfield on a short walk from the car park and bus station. Here you can find second-hand bargains, from collectibles to vintage clothes and jewellery.

Every Sunday, weather permitting, is the "Car Boot Sale" from 8 am to 12 noon in the Proact Stadium (Chesterfield Football Club). There are more than 150 places available and this makes it one of the largest Car Boots in the area.

The second Thursday of the month is the "Farmers Market" from 9 am to 4 pm at Central Pavement next to Market Place. On the stalls you can find rare breed meat, Derbyshire honey, organic vegetables, freshly caught fish, pies and much more.

Chesterfield Market Hall

Chesterfield Market Hall credit: DncnH CC BY 2.0

Queen"s Park

This park was opened in 1971 for the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is an excellent place to go to, if you want to relax for a day. The park has a miniature railway, boating lake, cafe and playground for small children. In summer on the Sunday afternoons, the local brass band plays in the music tent. Queen"s Park also has a cricket field, here are still matches.

The cricket pavillion, Queen

The cricket pavillion, Queen"s Park, Chesterfield credit: Ben Sutherland CC BY 2.0

Shopping

Vicar Lane is the open-air pedestrian shopping area of Chesterfield. In 2000 they renovated the area, because the project was so large, they had to create two new shopping streets. Large chains like BHS, Argos, H&M, New Look, Burger King and River Island are located here.

The Pavements Shopping Centre is located in the centre of Chesterfield. In the shopping centre are large chains like Boots, Tesco and WH Smits, but also small independent shops. The Pavements Shopping Centre is open every day of the week from 9 am until half 6 in the evening.

Good Food

Chesterfield gives you a choice of restaurants serving all the dishes of the world. Asian, Mexican, European, oriental and Fast Food.

O-Tokuda is located in the centre of Chesterfield and serves Japanese food, including Sushi, Sashimi, Yakitori and Sumiyaki. The authentic Japanese dishes are made according to traditional Japanese recipes and fresh ingredients. In the restaurant you can sit at the small tables along the wall, but also to the large group of tables that stand in the back of the restaurant. O-Tokuda is located very close to the Vicar Lane shopping area and the "Crooked Spire" and is the ideal restaurant to eat after a day full of culture and shopping.

The Soulville Steakhouse gives you the opportunity to taste a bit of America in the UK. They use fresh ingredients and British products. Meals are cooked on site, so they are not prepared earlier. The restaurant is accessible for people with disabilities; the staffs take the time to make sure that every customer is okay. The Soulville Steakhouse is located in the centre of Chesterfield, close to The Pavements Shopping Centre.

In the centre you will also find: Thai Pavilion a Thai restaurant, Santiago a Latin American restaurant, Brampton Manor an English restaurant, Calabria an Italian restaurant and Cocina a Spanish restaurant.

Conservatory Restaurant at Chesterfield Mayfair

Conservatory Restaurant at Chesterfield Mayfair credit: Karen Bryan CC BY-ND 2.0

Coffee shops, Bars and Pubs in Chesterfield

BB"s Coffee Muffins

It is a coffee shop in the centre of Chesterfield. Here you can enjoy freshly baked muffins every day and their unique blend of premium coffee. Do you prefer a cold wrap, sandwich or toast with a cold coffee, frappe or soda? Then that is no problem, because this is all available here.

Caffè Nero

It is an Italian coffee shop in the centre of Chesterfield. Caffè Nero uses the highest quality beans. Their professionals are specialized in mixing their classic, special, award-winning Nero Blend. While drinking your coffee, you can also enjoy one of the homemade sandwiches, Panini’s, traditional soups, salads, fresh pastries and cakes.

The Royal Oak

This is one of the oldest traditional bars in the centre of Chesterfield, built in the 12th century. They serve quality beer along with traditional home cooked dishes.

The royal oak, pub

The royal oak, pub credit: Ben Sutherland CC BY 2.0

The Market Pub

This is a pub in Chesterfield. They have many different kinds of beer, cider and Perry, more than 100 types of wine and 50 malt whiskeys. Here you can also taste the locally produced, seasonal, home-cooked food.

Walking tours through the city

The centre of Chesterfield has a lot to offer. There are old buildings, shopping areas, dining possibilities, parks, museums, cinemas and much more. You can explore the city through a hike, but you can also take the bicycle. Chesterfield has several routes on a map, and this map is sold at the Tourist Information Centre. The map contains routes through the city centre and the area around Chesterfield. In Chesterfield itself, is no bicycle rental. The nearest town that rents bicycles is Bakewell.

A street in Chesterfield

A street in Chesterfield credit: Chris Shaw CC BY-SA 2.0

"Chesterfield Borough Council’ organizes "Walking For Health Tours" through Chesterfield. The walking tours are on Thursdays and Fridays and departure points are the Healthy Living Centre, Queen"s Park and Holm Brook Valley Park.

Nightlife

Do you want to discover the nightlife after a day of adventure? Then Chesterfield is an excellent place. The lively centre and market square of Chesterfield ensure that the city has a vibrant nightlife. There are many different clubs and they are open until late in the morning.

Cactus Jax is a "wild west" theme bar and the latest addition to Chesterfield’s nightlife. The bar is open from Thursday to Saturday and has the best party atmosphere. The bar is located in the west of the city centre.

Groove is located in the centre of the city and is the party hotspot of Chesterfield. They run 70s and 80s music, so you can do the boogie all night.

Inspiration is a party bar in the centre of Chesterfield. They are open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until late in the evening. On Saturday evening the DJs drag you through the night with the ultimate party music.

Tours in Derbyshire county

Derbyshire consists of nine metropolitan municipalities. These are: High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire, Erewash, Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover and Derby. Derby is a unitary authoritarian area. Derbyshire Dales is the largest metropolitan municipality, here is Matlock located. Next is High Peak, Buxton is located here. Chesterfield is a small metropolitan community, here is the town of Chesterfield located.

Derbyshire is an area where a lot of history can be found, such as burial mounds of the Neolithic settlers, forts from the Roman period, countryside and coal mines. Matlock is the capital of Derbyshire, but Chesterfield is the largest city. Your tour with private transport in a rented bus with driver around Derbyshire can start at Chesterfield, a town created by the upcoming coal mines and will be discussed on another page, Buxton is the best city for cultural events and to go out, Matlock is best if you want to see the beautiful old buildings and nature.

Business Travel and Tourism in Derbyshire county

Derbyshire is a pretty good destination for conferences and seminars. The cities of Chesterfield, Buxton and Matlock have different spaces. You can find information about venues for seminars, conferences and business events. Chesterfield is the most suitable place for conferences and is the most accessible city in Derbyshire. The city has innovation centres, four star hotels, stadiums, cottages and much more.

Chesterfield city has a wide range, including The Proact Stadium and the Chesterfield Innovation Centres. These are the Duston Innovation Centre and Tapton Park Innovation Centre. In both centers WIFI is available.

The Proact Stadium is the home of Chesterfield Football Club and has four rooms, two of which can be linked to one large room. The rooms are The Leengate Legends Lounge, The Inspirepac Lounge, The Leengate Legends Lounge + The Inspirepac Lounge, The Club Lounge and the Boardroom. The Proact Stadium has a maximum capacity of 350 people.

The Duston Innovation Centre has two rooms, the Conference Room and Meeting Room. The Conference Room can accommodate up to 98 people, the Meeting Room can accommodate up to 44 people.

The Tapton Park Innovation Centre also has two rooms, the Tapton Room and Board Room. The Tapton Room can accommodate up to 56 persons, the Board Room can accommodate up to 28 people.

The Devonshire Dome is a good location in Buxton. This location has been around since the 18th century and has breathtaking scenery. The Devonshire Dome is suitable for conferences, seminars, meetings, receptions, etc. and has more than 10 rooms. The minimum capacity is 24 persons and the maximum capacity is 300 persons.

In Matlock, the East Lodge Country House Hotel is a suitable location. The East Lodge Country House Hotel is a perfect place to meet and relax and it has 12 bedrooms. The venue has three rooms, these are the Derwent Room, Terrace Room and the Wye Room. The rooms have a minimum capacity of 12, 22 and 24 persons and a maximum capacity of 20, 100 and 50 persons.

Golf Travel and Tourism

Derbyshire has a small selection of golf courses. Some examples are Cavendish Golf Club (18 holes) in Buxton, this is in the northwest of Derbyshire. The golf course is first in the Derbyshire top 100. Kedleston Park Golf Club (18 holes) and Chesterfield Golf Club (18 holes), this golf course has won the "Golf Mark Award" for best and safest environment for juniors.

Cavendish Golf Club is suitable for golfers of all standards and was built in 1923. The course had to look as natural as possible, is located on a vast landscape and consists of rolling woodlands and dense shrubbery. The result was brilliant and it still looks today like it did in 1923. The facilities of the golf courses consist of opportunities for lunch and dinner, bar snacks, coffee & tea, changing rooms and a pro shop. Cavendish Golf Club and Kedleston Park Golf Club also have clubs, trolley and buggy hire.

Cavendish Golf Club

Cavendish Golf Club credit: Dave Wilcox CC BY-SA 2.0
Derbyshire, England

Peak District National Park

It is the fifth largest national park in England and Wales. The area is generally regarded as one of the most scenic areas and seen by about 10 million visitors per year, this makes the Peak District the second most visited national park in the world. The area has escarpments, hills, lakes, remarkable gardens, Bakewell Pudding and events in the only village in the Peak District: Bakewell, annual cultural events in the spa town of Buxton, old beautiful buildings in Matlock and shopping, enjoyment and entertainment in Chesterfield. By the beautiful area and the diversity of activities and sights, Derbyshire is suitable for every kind of tourist, whether they want to travel in groups or alone. The Peak District is perfect for the older and nature-oriented tourists and Chesterfield is excellent for young tourists.

Buxton

Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire; this is due to the geothermal resource that has a constant temperature of 28˚C. The city has a beautiful Georgian architecture and this includes The Pavilion Gardens. This is an award winning ornamental garden with about 23 acres of land. One of the beautiful old buildings of Buxton is the Buxton Opera House. This is the home of the Buxton Festival, Fringe and the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. The shopping area of Buxton includes the Cavendish Arcade and the Spring Gardens Shopping Centre. Cavendish Arcade has many different independent boutiques, from household items to clothing, books and a chocolatier. Spring Gardens Shopping Centre is the main shopping street of the city and has many national high street chains such as Waitrose, New Look, Next, WH Smits and Dorothy Perkins. After visiting the gardens and the old buildings you can have a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants, cafes, pubs or bars, but you can also go for a quick bite at one of the Takeaway"s.

Matlock

Matlock is an ancient spa town in Derbyshire. There were 20 Hydro"s built, but they all closed around 1950. In one of the old Victorian spas is now Matlock Bath Aquarium. They have a selection of British and Tropical freshwater fish, a thermal pool, The Petrifying Well and a collection of fossils and gemstones. In the Peak District Mining Museum you can learn more about the world of the lead miners in Derbyshire. Here you will learn how the people have struggled for centuries to earn a living. The museum is daily open and costs £2 for children and £3 for an adult. Matlock also has many old buildings such as Crown Buildings, Town Hall, Old Methodist Church, County Hall and The Old Tram Depot. If you prefer to enjoy the nature, you can go to Lea Gardens and Nursery. Here you can enjoy short walks in nature and locally produced food in the Tea Garden Cafe. You can also go to the Hall Leys Park in the city centre. Here you can play bowls, miniature golf and tennis. There is also a playground for children, boating lake and a paddling pool. This is a perfect place for relaxation.

800px-MotherShipton

Mother Shipton"s cave credit: chris CC BY 3.0
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