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Buxton is often described as being the gateway to the Peak District and is a fantastic place to base a tour of the area.

There has been a settlement of some sort at Buxton since at least the Roman times although most of the current town dates from the late eighteenth century.

There is always plenty to see and do in the town, either within Buxton itself or in the surrounding National Park. In the summer, you can witness the ancient tradition of well dressing, which nowadays turns the town into a carnival centre with a fun fair and bands playing as well as the well dressing tradition itself, where wells are decorated with designs painstakingly created from flower petals.

Also held during the summer is the annual Buxton Festival, which features a mixture of opera ' performed as you would expect at the Opera House - and other music plus a series of literary events. If you plan to visit the town during the festival, be sure to book your accommodation in plenty of time. As with many other festivals, such as Edinburgh, there is also an active fringe element to the festival, so you can also witness dance, street performers, comedy and puppetry amongst other delights.

Cinema fans should time their visit to coincide with the one of the films being shown each month as part of the Screen Buxton film society's program.

Sports fans can make their way just outside the town to witness Buxton High Edge Hitmen speedway team. Football fans may prefer to take in a game played by Buxton F.C. who play in the Northern League Premier Division.

If you like Tim Brooke-Taylor, who originally rose to fame with "The Goodies", you may want to visit his birthplace in the town.

If you like outdoor pursuits, Buxton provides an excellent base for these. As you would expect in the Peak District, there are numerous hill walking and hiking trails that you can follow. Or you may prefer to use the bridleways either with the traditional method on horseback or on a mountain bike, where you can test your bike's abilities to the full.

Rock climbers will migrate towards either the Roaches, which rise to a spectacular 1,657 feet above sea level and is clearly visible from the nearby road if you just want to admire the view, or Stanage Edge which are almost as high at 1,500 feet. Whatever your level of skill, you should be able to find good rock climbing at one of these two locations.

Your choice of accommodation in Buxton ranges from small, friendly guest houses and bed and breakfasts, where you will be able to talk personally to the owner to get a local's view of what to do, through to larger but still generally family owned and run hotels. The town is popular all year round but especially when festivals and other events are being held, so be sure to book in plenty of time to ensure that you get your first choice of place to stay.