St Ann's Well Buxton - Britain All Over Travel Guide

St Ann’s Well Buxton, Derbyshire

Buxton (Aquae Arnemetiae), south of Manchester and Stockport on the western edge of the Peak District, was the second most important Roman spa in ancient Britain, after the Roman Baths in Bath, Somerset.

The water source

Spa Town

Buxton enjoyed an architectural and financial renaissance as a spa town with the coming of the railway line from Manchester in 1863.

Buxton is rightly famous for the quality of its water. St Ann’s Well provides water for the famous “Buxton” brand of mineral water. It is also available free of charge at the source.

St Ann and her daughter, the Virgin Mary

The water flows from a lion’s head below a statue of a woman (St Ann) and her daughter – the Virgin Mary.

Nearby is The Crescent, now completely refurbished, as well as The Old Hall Hotel, where Mary Queen of Scots, once stayed. The Victorian Pump Room, also restored, is now the Buxton Visitor Centre (opened in 2019). It was here that guests could pay a penny to take the waters in relative privacy away from the masses at St Ann’s Well.

Buxton’s most family-friendly attraction is Pavilion Gardens. It has a cafe, a miniature railway, and also a boating lake. Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre offer a wide range of entertainment including cinema, comedy, dance, drama, music, and opera.

The water flows from a bronze lion’s head

Access – Getting There

Buxton in Derbyshire is on the A6 south of Stockport. There are trains to Buxton from Piccadilly Station in Manchester. The 199 bus connects Buxton to Manchester Airport. From Manchester take the 192 bus from Piccadilly to Stockport and change to the 199. Sheffield is a 50-minute drive northwest.

Where to Stay in Buxton

Buxton has some great places to stay to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and the town’s lively festivals.

As well as the five-star Ensana Buxton Crescent Hotel and the historic Old Hall Hotel, try the Portland Hotel, the Palace Hotel or the Best Western Plus Buxton Lee Wood Hotel.

The Portland Hotel offers traditional furnishings and a full English breakfast. The Palace Hotel dates from Victorian times and includes a swimming pool and a restaurant. The Westminster Hotel overlooks the Pavilion Gardens and is a family-run establishment.

See here for a listing of accommodation in Buxton to suit all budgets.