​​Between Manchester And Nottingham Is A Charming Town With Shops And Tasty Restaurants Tucked In A National Park

The United Kingdom's Peak District National Park encompasses over 550 square miles of rolling moorlands, charming villages, and rural farms. Set amidst this protected landscape in Derbyshire is Bakewell, the biggest town within the park. With a prime location on the banks of the River Wye, Bakewell boasts a quaint downtown in the shadow of the spire of the All Saints Church. Here, visitors will discover streets that brim with shops selling local wares and tasty restaurants serving British cuisine and the town's most famous delicacy, Bakewell pudding, which was invented here in the 19th century.

Bakewell serves as the de facto gateway for outdoor activities in Peak District National Park. The park's visitor center is located in the heart of Bakewell to orient visitors for all the park's outdoor adventures. In this stunning landscape of moors, reservoirs, and peaks reaching up to 2,000 feet high, travelers can embark on active pursuits such as hiking, biking, climbing, and caving. For those who want to see Bakewell's more manicured natural settings, the town also features a legendary estate, alongside independent shops and delicious eateries. 

Bakewell is a 1.5-hour drive southeast of Manchester and a nearly 1.5-hour drive northwest of Nottingham. If you're flying in, Manchester International Airport (MAN) is a close international hub to Bakewell, receiving nonstop flights from other European cities. The best time to visit Bakewell is between June and August, when temperatures hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Bakewell, visitors can stroll down the historic, cobblestone streets lined with shops and restaurants. The town's market history dates to the 14th century, and Bakewell's weekly market is still held every Monday with more than 100 vendors. A Bakewell institution is the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, which has stood in town since 1860. Bakewell pudding is a pastry pie filled with almond custard and strawberry jam that has become the town's signature dessert. At the shop, you can sample the original recipe of Bakewell pudding in the tasty restaurant, as well as the Bakewell tart, and browse the gift shop.

A few steps away is The British Emporium, a family-owned business where you can discover unique home decor, tableware, jewelry, skincare, accessories, and gifts that are all exclusively made in Great Britain. For more British-sourced wares, head down the street to the Derbyshire Emporium, where you'll find arts, crafts, and provisions from the surrounding Derbyshire region. 

For those who have worked up an appetite shopping, the town has a wide range of eateries, ranging from traditional pubs to Michelin Guide-rated restaurants. According to Tripadvisor, the top pub in Bakewell is The Castle, a 16th-century inn located just a block from the famous Bakewell Bridge, whose old stone arches extend over the River Wye. Here you can dine on pub staples, such as sausage and mash, steak and Ruddles Ale pie, and burgers, all washed down by local beers. For a Michelin Guide-recognized meal, make a reservation at Lovage, which serves multi-course tasting menus of elevated British cuisine, featuring plates such as beef fillet with fat chips or Yorkshire duck with blackberry dressing.

Bakewell is an excellent base for exploring the Peak District National Park, one of Europe's most stunning national parks. Start at the National Park Center on Bridge Street, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Here, you can learn more about the exciting outdoor activities that you can enjoy in the park. Hikers and bikers will want to set out on the Monsal Trail, an 8.5-mile trail that runs past Bakewell. This scenic trail was once a 19th-century railroad route, and today, you'll bypass local flora and fauna, historic tunnels, and limestone valleys. "For enthusiasts of railway walks, this route stands out as one of the finest in the U.K.," raves a reviewer on Tripadvisor where the trail has a 4.6-star rating. For more park adventures, head a 20-minute drive north of Bakewell, which will bring you to the Padley Gorge, a mystical woodland where you can chase waterfalls, picnic, and paddle.

Peak District National Park is also home to one of England's most storied estates: Chatsworth House. Chatsworth House was the second most visited historic house in the U.K. in 2025, per Museums and Heritage Advisor, drawing over 679,000 visitors. This is likely due to the fact that it is one of the most romantic filming locations you can visit in England, as the impressive estate served as Pemberley in the 2005 film rendition of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Today, visitors can explore the 17th-century manor's opulent interiors, such as the breathtaking Painted Hall, the tapestry-lined State Drawing Room, and the Old Master Drawings Cabinet, filled with masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Outside, you can wander the over 100-acre gardens, bucolic parklands, and family-friendly farm. After exploring the estate, you can stop for afternoon tea at the estate's The Cavendish restaurant.