Idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye, the biggest town in the Peak District National Park's mellow stone buildings, medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards are a magnet for painters, photographers and sightseers alike.
Legend has it that the town's famous Bakewell Pudding was created by mistake by a local cook in the mid-19th century. Today her delectable 'jam tart that went wrong' can be sampled at various bakeries and cafés and posted virtually anywhere in the world!
Bargains galore are on offer every Monday at the bustling outdoor market, and for an extra buzz, head for the livestock market to experience the action in the theatre-like auction ring.
Cherry-pick choice local produce at one of Britain's best Farmers' Markets or browse in specialist shops selling everything from high fashion and outdoor clothing to handmade chocolates and rare whiskies.
Savour a light snack, lunch or dinner at a host of cafés, restaurants, pubs and tea rooms and take a brewery tour and sample world-beating craft beers at Thornbridge Brewery.
Catch the colour of Bakewell Carnival Week and Well Dressing in July or Bakewell Show, one of the oldest agricultural events in the country, in August.
Thinly disguised as 'Lambton' in Jane Austen's literary classic Pride and Prejudice, Bakewell is the ideal place for an interesting town walk.
Take a stroll through the town and discover scenic buildings, charming courtyards and pretty streets, or feed the ducks during a riverside stroll.
For more on great things to see and do in this famous Derbyshire town, visit visitpeakdistrict.com/locations/bakewell.
- Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board
AMENITIES
Aside from the famous shops and streets so popular with visitors and tourists, there’s plenty of offerings which make living in the town convenient. A Co-op store and a smaller SPAR can be found centrally, while there is a large Aldi just outside the town.
There are, of course, plenty of smaller, suppliers of quality locally sourced food and drink produce.
Bakewell’s Medway Centre offers modern, attractive facilities for community use, while there are no fewer than four gyms in and around the town – including Bakewell Swimming Pool and Gym, which is run by Freedom Leisure, which works closely in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Baslow Road is home to Newholme Hospital, a community healthcare facility managed by the Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust.
There are two veterinary practices in the town, a Post Office on Granby Road and a Town Hall, managed by the Bakewell Town and Community Trust under a long lease from Bakewell Town Council whose offices are still in the building.
There are also many community groups in Bakewell which locals can get involved in, including the Bridge Club, Family History Society, Townswoman’s Guild and various yoga and fitness-based clubs which run regularly.
PROPERTIES
According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), properties in Bakewell had an overall average price of £358,838 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Bakewell during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £376,286. Terraced properties sold for an average of £316,278, with detached properties fetching £426,375.
Overall, sold prices in Bakewell over the last year were 23% down on the previous year and 17% down on the 2021 peak of £431,980.
As you’d expect from such a desirable and beautiful Peak District town, Bakewell boasts many stunning, upmarket properties which fit perfectly with the notable aesthetics and architecture of the area.
Schooling in the town comes in the form of Bakewell C of E Infant School and Bakewell Methodist Junior School, while Lady Manners School and Sixth Form, on Shutts Lane, is a proud and historic institution which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
On Stanedge Road in Bakewell, S. Anselm’s is a day and boarding school which provides a high standard of education for boys and girls from three to 13 years, set in over 20 acres of Peak District countryside.
