The Peak District was Britain’s first national park, and it sits right between Manchester and Sheffield. Here you’ll find green dales criss-crossed by dry-stone walls, the gritstone escarpment of Stanage Edge, Mam Tor rising above Castleton, caves with underground lakes and one of England’s finest country houses, Chatsworth House.
The national park is split into two very different halves, though, and the towns are spread out. So where should you stay in the Peak District if you want to spend your time on the trails rather than in the car? Below you’ll find six towns, each with its own strengths, and three places to stay in each.
Contents
Where to Stay in the Peak District: The Best Towns
- Bakewell - best town for first-time visitors and Chatsworth
- Castleton - best town for walking and caves
- Hathersage - best town for train travellers and gritstone edges
- Buxton - best town for spas, culture and rainy days
- Matlock Bath - best town for families
- Ashbourne - best town for Dovedale and cycling
I start with Bakewell in the middle of the national park, then head north to the Hope Valley and finish in the southern towns of Buxton, Matlock Bath and Ashbourne. To the north lies the Dark Peak, with heather, peat bogs and dark gritstone crags, while the White Peak in the south is made up of limestone dales with rivers and small villages. If you stay in the half where you most want to walk, you’ll save yourself hours.
A car makes everything much easier. The buses run between the towns but rarely out to the dales and car parks where the walks start, so I would hire a car via Booking.com at Manchester Airport. That said, you can easily manage without a car by using the train. The Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield stops at Edale, Hope and Hathersage, and another line runs from Manchester to Buxton. My guide to getting from Manchester Airport will help you with the first leg. The prices below come from a search for a weekend in May for two people.
1. Bakewell - best town for first-time visitors and Chatsworth 🏰
- 📍 Location: In the heart of the White Peak on the River Wye. Chatsworth House is about 6 km north-east of town and Haddon Hall about 3 km to the south.
- 🚌 Transport: There’s no railway station in Bakewell. The TransPeak bus runs between Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock and Derby, but it’s far easier to get around by car.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: About 1 hour and 10 minutes by car via Buxton.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three places below ranged from about £138 to £383 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The biggest problem is the traffic and the packed car parks on summer weekends and on Monday market day.
Bakewell is the largest town within the national park itself, and it’s the base I’d choose if you’re wondering where to stay in the Peak District for the first time. The town is built from grey limestone around the River Wye, which you cross on a five-arched medieval bridge. The streets are lined with tearooms, pubs, delis and bakeries selling the town’s famous Bakewell pudding, and on Mondays there’s a market from early morning.
The big draw is Chatsworth House, the Duke of Devonshire’s country seat, set in a vast park by the River Derwent. A ticket to the house and garden costs from about £26 to £35 depending on the day, and you can check the prices on Chatsworth’s own website. Parking costs extra. Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, lies a few kilometres south of town, and the Monsal Trail starts just outside Bakewell. It’s a former railway line that’s now a walking and cycling path through tunnels and over the viaduct at Monsal Head.
I’d stay in Bakewell if it’s your first trip to the Peak District and you want stately homes, dales and cosy evenings all in one. The town is central, so Castleton, Buxton and Matlock Bath are 20 to 30 minutes away by car. That makes it the best base if you only want one address for the whole trip.
The downside is that Bakewell is one of the busiest towns in the national park. At weekends and during the school holidays the streets are full of day-trippers, and the car parks in the centre fill up quickly. Stay here, though, and you get the quiet mornings by the river before the coaches arrive.
Hotels in Bakewell and Baslow
The Cavendish Hotel at Chatsworth - four-star country hotel on the edge of the Chatsworth estate
The Cavendish is in the village of Baslow, about 6 km from Bakewell, and belongs to the Chatsworth estate. There are two restaurants, a bar, a garden and free parking, and from the hotel you can walk through the park to Chatsworth House. Breakfast costs about £20 per person extra, and a couple of guests found the heating in their room hard to control.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely view from the room and a beautiful walk through the park to Chatsworth House.”
See photos and book The Cavendish Hotel here.
Bagshaw Hall - guesthouse on the hill just above the centre
Bagshaw Hall is on Bagshaw Hill, about 250 metres from the centre, and has a garden, terrace, lounge and free parking, which is worth its weight in gold in Bakewell. Breakfast isn’t included, but the town’s cafés are just around the corner. One guest mentions noise from the room above.
From one review: “Fantastic location, very clean and lovely, comfortable beds.”
See photos and book Bagshaw Hall here.
The Red Lion - budget pub with rooms right on the square
The Red Lion is on The Square in the middle of Bakewell, with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor. It was the cheapest of my three picks in town, but there’s no breakfast and no on-site parking, so you’ll need to use one of the public car parks a few minutes’ walk away.
One guest highlights: “The location and a lovely pub.”
See photos and book The Red Lion here.
2. Castleton - best village for walking and caves ⛰️
- 📍 Location: At the western end of the Hope Valley at the foot of Mam Tor. The village of Hope is about 3 km to the east, and Edale lies on the other side of the hill.
- 🚆 Transport: The nearest railway station is Hope on the Hope Valley line, and from there it’s about a 3 km walk along the river into Castleton. There are also buses from Sheffield.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: About 1 hour by car via Chapel-en-le-Frith.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to £££. The three places below cost around £80 to £156 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. In summer and at weekends it gets crowded and parking is difficult, and the road through Winnats Pass is narrow and steep.
Castleton is the village for you if you want to set off on walks straight from the front door. The stone cottages shelter beneath the ruins of Peveril Castle, a Norman castle perched high on the crag, and all around the village rise Mam Tor, Lose Hill and the gorge of Winnats Pass. In the evening walkers gather in the old pubs, and there are more of them than you’d expect in such a small village.
Mam Tor is 517 metres high and is known as the Shivering Mountain because of its many landslides. From the summit you can walk the roughly 3 km Great Ridge to Lose Hill, with views over both the Hope Valley and Edale, and Visit Peak District describes the walk and the parking at Mam Nick. Beneath the hills are four caves you can visit. At Speedwell Cavern you travel by boat through an old mine tunnel, and an adult ticket costs £23.50 online.
I’d stay in Castleton if walking is the main purpose of your trip, or if you’re travelling with children who think caves are the best thing in the world. Edale, where the Pennine Way starts and the paths up onto Kinder Scout begin, is only a short drive away over the hill. If you’re combining your trip with a few days in the city, you can read about where to stay in Manchester.
The downside is the crowds. Castleton is one of the most popular days out in the whole of the Peak District, so on sunny weekends the car parks fill up early in the morning. There are no proper luxury hotels in the village either. On the other hand, the inns are cosy and prices are reasonable.
Hotels in Castleton
The Castle by Innkeeper’s Collection - four-star inn in the middle of the village
The Castle is on Castle Street in the centre of Castleton, with a restaurant, bar and garden. It was the most expensive of my three suggestions in the village, and breakfast is included. There’s free parking, but spaces are limited, and one guest felt the paintwork could do with a refresh.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The breakfast was fantastic, and the staff were really friendly and helpful.”
See photos and book The Castle here.
Dunscar Farm Bed & Breakfast - farm B&B just outside the village
Dunscar Farm is on Buxton Road, about a 15-minute walk from the centre of Castleton, and has the highest rating of my three suggestions. Breakfast is included, and there’s a garden and free parking, but no restaurant, so you’ll walk into the village for dinner. A couple of guests wished breakfast was served over a longer period.
From a review: “The breakfast was superb, the food was high quality, and the service was very friendly!”
See photos and book Dunscar Farm here.
Ye Olde Nags Head - budget-friendly old inn in the heart of Castleton
Ye Olde Nags Head is on Cross Street in the centre, with a restaurant and bar, and was by far the cheapest of my suggestions. Breakfast is included, and there’s free parking. However, several guests mention that the rooms are small and a little old-fashioned.
One guest highlights: “The room was very nice, and the bed was very comfortable.”
See photos and book Ye Olde Nags Head here.
3. Hathersage - best town for train travellers and gritstone edges 🚆
- 📍 Location: In the eastern part of the Hope Valley on the River Derwent, about 8 km east of Castleton and about 14 km south-west of Sheffield.
- 🚆 Transport: Hathersage has its own station on the Hope Valley line. The train to Sheffield takes about 20 minutes, and Manchester Piccadilly is just under an hour away.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: About 1 hour and 10 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price level: £££. The three places below cost roughly £159 to £277 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The main road through the village can be busy, so ask for a room away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.
Hathersage is the place I’d choose if you’re coming without a car. The station is just a few minutes’ walk from the main street, and you can hop on the train to Hope and Edale or into Sheffield without worrying about parking. It’s bigger than Castleton, with pubs, cafés, outdoor gear shops and a supermarket.
Stanage Edge rises above the village. It’s a long gritstone edge that’s popular with climbers and was used in the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice. In the churchyard at St Michael’s lies the grave said to belong to Little John from the Robin Hood stories, and North Lees Hall just outside the village inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. After a long walk, you can go for a swim in the village’s heated outdoor pool, which is open in both summer and winter.
See hotels in Hathersage here.
I’d stay in Hathersage if you’re travelling by train, if you want to climb or walk along the edges, or if you’re combining the Peak District with a city break. Sheffield is only 20 minutes away, and from there the train continues to York in about an hour. If you fancy a medieval city afterwards, you can read about where to stay in York.
The downside is that Hathersage sits on the eastern edge of the national park. It’s a long way to Dovedale and Matlock Bath, and the village itself is more practical than pretty. If you want the classic picture-postcard village, Castleton or Bakewell are better choices, and there isn’t much going on in the evenings beyond the pubs.
Hotels in Hathersage
The George - four-star hotel on the main street
The George is on Main Road in the middle of Hathersage, with a restaurant, bar, garden and terrace, and breakfast is included. It was the most expensive of my suggestions in the Hope Valley, and some guests say it’s almost impossible to find a space in the car park at busy times.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely hotel, very cosy and comfortable. Delicious food. Plenty to choose from.”
See photos and book The George here.
The Little John Hathersage - dog-friendly pub with rooms near the station
The Little John is on Station Road, about a five-minute walk from the station, and has a restaurant, bar and free parking. Breakfast is included, and there are double rooms, family rooms and a two-bedroom house. One guest mentions a damp smell in the room and paper cups instead of proper mugs.
From a review: “Fantastic location and staff, very dog-friendly, the bed was comfortable, the shower was great, and we got a hearty full English breakfast.”
See photos and book The Little John here.
Base Camp Hathersage, YHA Partner - modern hostel with private rooms and a shared kitchen
Base Camp Hathersage is a YHA partner hostel on Castleton Road with both dorms and private rooms, a shared kitchen and a lounge. There’s no restaurant, but you can get a breakfast box. A private room for two wasn’t much cheaper than The Little John when I searched, so the hostel makes most sense if you’re travelling solo or want to cook for yourself. One guest found the beds very hard.
One guest highlights: “Beautiful hostel, clean and modern with really lovely bathrooms! The location is fantastic too.”
See photos and book Base Camp Hathersage here.
4. Buxton - best town for spas, culture and rainy days ♨️
- 📍 Location: Just outside the western boundary of the national park, around 20 km west of Bakewell. From Pavilion Gardens it’s a few minutes’ walk to The Crescent and the station.
- 🚆 Transport: The train from Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton takes about an hour and runs every half hour, according to the train operator Northern. The station is right in the centre of town.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: About 45 minutes by car. By train, you’ll usually change at Manchester Piccadilly.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three places below cost roughly £103 to £266 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. Buxton is a proper town with everyday town life, so the biggest hassles are the traffic and parking in the centre.
Buxton is a Georgian spa town built around the warm springs that the Romans also used. The grand crescent-shaped building, The Crescent, stands in the middle of town and is now a five-star spa hotel with thermal baths. Right next door are the Pavilion Gardens from 1871, with around 9 hectares of gardens, a boating lake, playgrounds and a miniature railway, and at St Ann’s Well you can fill your water bottle with spring water.
The town is also the cultural hub of the national park. Buxton Opera House was designed by the theatre architect Frank Matcham and has a full programme all year round, and in summer the town hosts a festival of music, opera and literature. Just south of the centre you can head down into Poole’s Cavern, a natural limestone cave, and up to the Solomon’s Temple viewing tower in the woods above.
I’d stay in Buxton if you’re arriving by train from Manchester, if the forecast looks wet, or if you want to combine walks with spa time and good restaurants. The town has more places to eat and more shops than any village in the national park, and you’re quickly out in the White Peak and on the Monsal Trail. With the train, you can also spend a day in Manchester without having to drive.
The downside is that Buxton isn’t inside the national park itself and feels more like a town than the countryside. It’s 20 to 30 minutes by car to both Bakewell and Castleton, so you’ll drive a bit more each day than from a village in the heart of the dales. The town is also high up, and the weather can be cooler and wetter than in the dales further east.
Hotels in Buxton
Buxton Crescent - five-star spa hotel in the town’s most famous building
Buxton Crescent is in The Crescent by the Pavilion Gardens, about 300 metres from the station. The hotel has a spa with indoor and outdoor pools and a thermal bath, a restaurant, a bar and a gym, and breakfast is included. There’s no free parking, only paid valet parking, and several guests find it expensive.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The spa was lovely and the rooms are beautifully decorated.”
See photos and book Buxton Crescent here.
Roseleigh - adults-only Victorian guesthouse
Roseleigh is on Broad Walk, about 400 metres from the Pavilion Gardens, in an adults-only Victorian house. Breakfast is included and served between 8 and 10am, and its Booking.com score is the highest of my three picks in Buxton. Parking is free but on a first-come, first-served basis, which makes some guests nervous.
From one review: “Beautiful Victorian house with every comfort you could think of and a very good breakfast.”
See photos and book Roseleigh here.
9 Green Lane Bed and Breakfast - budget B&B with free parking
9 Green Lane is a small B&B in a residential area south of the centre, about 1 km from the station, with free parking and breakfast included. It was the cheapest of my picks in Buxton. Some guests find the rooms smaller than expected.
One guest highlights: “Breakfast was beautifully presented and very tasty.”
See photos and book 9 Green Lane here.
5. Matlock Bath - best town for families 🚡
- 📍 Location: In a narrow limestone gorge on the River Derwent on the south-eastern edge of the Peak District, around 3 km south of Matlock and 16 km south-east of Bakewell.
- 🚆 Transport: Matlock Bath has its own station on the line from Derby, and the train takes around half an hour. The station sits by the river, a few minutes’ walk from the cable car.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: Around 1.5 hours by car. East Midlands Airport is closer, at around 45 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to £££. The three places below cost around £90 to £148 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. On sunny weekends lots of bikers and day-trippers turn up, and the main street can be noisy in the afternoon.
Matlock Bath is the Peak District’s little seaside resort without the sea. The North Parade promenade runs along the river with fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours, amusement arcades and pubs, and at weekends motorbikes line up in long rows along the pavement. It’s a bit kitsch, and that’s exactly why families with children love it. The houses climb up the steep slopes on both sides of the road, and many of them look down over the river.
The biggest draw is the Heights of Abraham, where a cable car carries you across the river and up to a wooded hilltop with views, play areas and guided tours of two caves. It’s open from spring until early November. Just south of the village lies Cromford, where Richard Arkwright built his first water-powered cotton mill in 1771, and the valley with its mills is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Derwent Valley Mills. From the High Tor cliff you can look down into the gorge, and Riber Castle stands on the hill above the village.
See hotels in Matlock Bath here.
I’d stay in Matlock Bath if you’re travelling with children, if you’re flying into East Midlands Airport, or if you’d like to combine the Peak District with some industrial history. Chatsworth and Bakewell are around 20 minutes away by car, so you can easily reach the big White Peak sights from here.
The downside is that Matlock Bath isn’t inside the national park, and the main street is a busy road. On sunny Sundays it’s packed with cars and motorbikes, and in the evening there’s far less going on than in Bakewell or Buxton once the day-trippers have gone home. It’s not the right place for a quiet weekend for two.
Hotels in Matlock Bath
New Bath Hotel & Spa, a member of Radisson Individuals - spa hotel with an outdoor pool at the southern end of the village
New Bath Hotel & Spa is on New Bath Road at the southern end of Matlock Bath, with a restaurant, bar, spa, garden, tennis court and an outdoor pool. Parking is free, but breakfast isn’t included in the price. One guest found items left by the previous guest in the room, so the cleaning isn’t always top-notch.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful building, perfect location, lovely breakfast and friendly staff.”
See photos and book New Bath Hotel & Spa here.
The Gables Bed & Breakfast - adults-only B&B on the hillside above the valley
The Gables is in Starkholmes on the hillside above Matlock Bath, around 2 km from the station, and has the highest rating of all the places in this guide. Breakfast is included and is praised in many reviews, and there’s free parking. The road up is steep, so you should plan on driving, and one guest felt the bathroom could have been cleaner.
From a review: “The breakfast was absolutely exceptional!”
See photos and book The Gables here.
High Tor Hotel - budget hotel close to the cable car
High Tor Hotel is on Dale Road at the northern end of Matlock Bath, around 500 metres from both the station and the cable car. There’s a restaurant, free parking and a 24-hour reception, but breakfast costs extra. One guest felt the dinner portions were small for the price.
One of the guests highlights: “A good hotel with friendly staff and excellent value for money.”
See photos and book High Tor Hotel here.
6. Ashbourne - best town for Dovedale and cycling 🚲
- 📍 Location: On the southern edge of the national park. Dovedale and the stepping stones across the River Dove are about 8 km north-west of the town.
- 🚗 Transport: There’s no railway station, so a car is by far the easiest option. The Tissington Trail, a cycle path along an old railway line, starts in the town.
- ✈️ Time from Manchester Airport: About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car via Leek. From East Midlands Airport it’s about 40 minutes.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three places below cost roughly £86 to £332 per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The biggest problem is parking at Dovedale, which fills up early at weekends and during the school holidays.
Ashbourne is an old market town with steep streets, Georgian houses and a church with a tall spire, and it’s known as the gateway to the Peak District. The town sits just outside the national park, but it’s only a short drive to the southern part of the White Peak, where the River Dove winds through a narrow limestone valley. There are pubs, tearooms and a couple of good bakeries, but the evenings are quiet.
Dovedale is the best-known valley in the area. From the car park it’s a short walk to the famous stepping stones across the river at the foot of Thorpe Cloud, and if you carry on up the valley, you’ll pass rock formations and small caves. The National Trust has a 2.4 km route from Ilam Park to the stepping stones and warns that the car parks can be full as early as nine o’clock at weekends. The Tissington Trail is great for a bike ride of about 21 km from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, and you can hire bikes in the town.
I’d stay in Ashbourne if Dovedale and the southern dales are what you most want to see, or if you’re flying into East Midlands Airport. The town is also a good choice for families who want to cycle, because the Tissington Trail is flat and traffic-free.
The downside is that it’s a long way to the northern part of the national park. Castleton and Mam Tor are about an hour away by car, and several of the best places to stay are in the villages outside the town, so expect to do a bit of driving every day.
Hotels in Ashbourne
Wildhive Callow Hall - country house with a spa just outside town
Wildhive Callow Hall is set in an old country house near Mappleton just west of Ashbourne, with a restaurant, bar, spa, garden and free parking. It was the most expensive of my suggestions in the southern part of the national park, and breakfast costs extra. One guest felt the restaurant dishes were pricey for the portion sizes.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A lovely stay, the staff are fantastic, and both the house and the grounds around it are beautiful.”
See photos and book Wildhive Callow Hall here.
The Okeover Arms - four-star pub with rooms close to Dovedale
The Okeover Arms is in the village of Mappleton, about 2 km north-west of Ashbourne and a short distance from Dovedale. There’s a restaurant, bar, playground and free parking, and breakfast is included. One guest had a very small room and was bothered by noise from the pub below.
From a review: “An absolutely fantastic place to stay, the staff are very friendly and go out of their way for you, the food is to die for, and the rooms are very clean.”
See photos and book The Okeover Arms here.
The Royal Oak - affordable inn with good food in Mayfield
The Royal Oak is in the village of Mayfield, about 2.5 km west of Ashbourne, and has a restaurant, bar, garden and free parking. Breakfast is included, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions around Ashbourne. One guest writes that the carpets were dirty, although the room was otherwise good.
One of the guests highlights: “The friendly and professional staff, and the food was fantastic and good value for money.”
See photos and book The Royal Oak here.
Where not to stay in the Peak District?
I wouldn’t stay in Manchester or Sheffield and drive into the national park every day. It’s doable, but you’ll spend one to two hours in the car or on the train each day and see less of the landscape. Also be careful with the cheaper towns just outside the boundary, such as Chesterfield and Glossop. They look close on the map, but they’re not particularly pleasant in the evening, and you’ll still have to drive out to the trails every morning. Holiday cottages far down narrow lanes are lovely if you have a car, but without one it can be a long way to the nearest pub and bus. And don’t spend the whole week in Ashbourne if it’s Mam Tor and Kinder Scout you’re dreaming of, or in Castleton if it’s Dovedale.
If it’s your first trip to the Peak District and you have three or four nights, I’d stay in Bakewell and take day trips in every direction. If walking is your priority, choose Castleton, and if you’re arriving by train, Hathersage or Buxton is the right choice. Travelling with children, Matlock Bath is hard to beat, and Ashbourne is the base for Dovedale. If you have a week, split it with a few nights in the Hope Valley and the rest in the White Peak.
Many people combine the Peak District with a city break. Liverpool is less than an hour from Manchester by train, and in my guide to where to stay in Liverpool, you’ll find the best neighbourhoods. If you want to see more of the English countryside, I’ve also written guides on where to stay in the Lake District and where to stay in the Cotswolds.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
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• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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