Buxton

The Georgian architecture catches you off guard first. Buxton's honey-coloured crescents and terraces wouldn't look out of place in Bath, yet here they sit at 1,000 feet above sea level in the heart of the Peak District. This spa town has proper character - part elegant resort, part outdoor adventure base.

Pavilion Gardens forms the town's green heart, where ornate Victorian conservatories house tropical plants while families picnic on the lawns. The restored Opera House hosts everything from touring musicals to comedy nights, and the weekly market still draws locals from the surrounding valleys. Wednesday afternoons can feel almost sleepy, but weekends buzz with visitors heading to the thermal pools or catching the latest exhibition at The Gallery in the Gardens.

Outdoor enthusiasts have cracking options right on the doorstep. Go Ape Buxton gets the adrenaline flowing with its treetop adventure course, while the more sedate can explore Buxton And Poole's Cavern Country Park - the limestone caves here are genuinely impressive. For walkers, the surrounding peaks beckon: Shining Tor offers panoramic views across Cheshire, while Axe Edge Moor provides wilder, more remote terrain.

Getting here is straightforward - the A6 runs straight through town, and Manchester is about an hour's drive away. The railway station connects to Manchester and Sheffield, though services can be a bit patchy at weekends.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes brilliant sense. You're close enough to nip into town for dinner at the Dome Restaurant or catch an evening show, but wake up surrounded by Peak District countryside. Several sites like Lime Tree Holiday Park offer touring pitches, while Kiss wood cabins provide something more luxurious for those who prefer four walls and proper heating after a day on the moors.