Palace Hotel Buxton & Spa
Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
Designed in the style of a French chateau using local millstone grit, the impressive Palace Hotel has sat proudly on its hill overlooking the rest of Buxton for over 150 years. Back in the day, it played a central part in the town’s development as a fashionable Victorian spa resort, providing guests with every splendour they might imagine, from an internationally renowned ballroom to running hot and cold water in each room. A number of famous names have passed through its revolving oak doors over the decades, including Bernard Shaw, and the silent film stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, who apparently used the hotel as a meeting place during their secret love affair. Though not quite what it once was today, a sense of glamour still hangs thick in the air, with many of the building’s original features in place and the Victorians’ love of palms, chandeliers and statuettes duly reflected. The five surrounding acres of landscaped lawn and gardens remain pristinely maintained.
Located right by the train station and within easy walking distance of all Buxton’s best bars, restaurants and places to visit, The Palace Hotel provides both a convenient and memorable place for a weekend stay. Plus, guests also have access to the spa’s pool, sauna, steam room and range of beauty treatments.
