Buxton Crescent

The building and its setting are gorgeous, and the town itself is lovely. But for what we paid, the stay was a letdown, especially for our minimoon. The staff didn’t make us feel particularly welcome. They often seemed unhappy or in a hurry, which took away from the special feel we’d hoped for. Breakfast was very basic for the room price and the kind of hotel this is supposed to be. We expected something more memorable and polished. A beautiful place, but the service and value didn’t live up to it.

The spa alone made it easy to spend hours relaxing, even without booking a treatment. There are several pools, including thermal and relaxation pools and a rooftop pool, plus a bio-thermal sauna and an aroma steam room. There’s also a wide choice of treatments. Even if you just use the pools and thermal facilities, it feels like a special part of the stay. At 1789 Restaurant, the room was stylish without feeling stuffy, and the food was thoughtfully put together and well cooked. Service from reception through the spa and restaurant was warm, professional and attentive. The team are a real asset to the Champneys brand. There’s no dedicated car park, but paid on-street spaces are nearby and free street parking is a few minutes’ walk away. The hotel also has secure overnight valet parking for a fee. The hotel, restaurant and spa are each enjoyable on their own, and together they make for a great destination stay. I’ll absolutely visit again. The beautifully restored historic building sets the tone for a proper spa break. The exterior of the crescent is stunning, and inside, elegant shared spaces pair period character with a polished modern finish. When we arrived, staff offered a promotional rate better than the one I’d seen online, so I could upgrade my room. The room felt like a genuine four- or five-star stay, with comfortable furnishings, a thoughtful layout and a bathroom that felt like a feature in its own right. Dining was another highlight. And the room felt like a genuine four- or five-star stay, with comfortable furnishings, a thoughtful layout and a bathroom that felt like a feature in its own right.

We loved our stay for our 10th wedding anniversary and hope to return soon. The spa was clean and excellent, and it wasn’t too busy on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. One pool had a problem on Sunday, but there was plenty of room elsewhere. The rooftop pool was our favourite. We also had delicious cocktails in the bar. We arrived in Buxton before check-in and left our luggage at the hotel while we went out for cocktails. When we came back at 3pm, check-in was quick and our bags were already in the room. The receptionist was friendly, explained the spa and breakfast arrangements, and gave us a handy shortcut to Santiago through the staff exit when we mentioned our dinner plans. There was a lovely surprise in the room too, a Happy Anniversary card and two little macarons.

Buxton has lovely restaurants and bars nearby, so the location works really well. Breakfast was fantastic as always, and booking is no longer needed, though nobody told us the serving times and there was no information in the room. We only found a sign outside the restaurant when we got to breakfast. We’ve stayed here for years because the hotel and spa are beautiful and better priced than other spa hotels. This was our first visit since Champneys took over. Most things seemed the same, though the spa was much busier at check-in, with lots of afternoon visitors as well as hotel guests. The rooms were unchanged apart from a nicer Champneys robe, and Penhaligons toiletries were still in the bathroom. The main hassle was our room, which took several trips up and down stairs to reach. Valet parking is £30 a night, with the car kept nearby and quick to retrieve.