Buxton is considered as the 'Bath of the North', with warm springs enjoyed by the Romans who called the town 'Aquae Arnemetiae'. It was the 5th Duke of Devonshire who put Buxton on the map with development in 1780s, the centrepiece being the Georgian Crescent. The Victorian masterpieces include: the single span domed Devonshire Royal Hospital, now the Buxton campus for the University of Derby; the Pavilion Gardens with 23 acres of gardens and lakes and the Internationally renowned Opera House.
Thermal springs have risen since records began. The flow has been fairly consistent in both quantity (250,000 gallons per day) and temperature (82oF both winter and summer) and Buxton water and new international Spa development - due to open April 2009 - take advantage of this natural gift.
Buxton remains one of most popular tourist destinations in the High Peak, hosting over one million visitors each year, providing over 64% of Peak District bed spaces and drawing in high percentage of the £73m tourist income spent in the High Peak each year. An effective town centre partnership is established to improve the town by promoting a multi-million pound enhancement programme.
Buxton Opera House was built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, one of Britain's finest theatre architects and was fully restored in 2001. Each summer the Opera House is home to the Buxton Festival, which has developed into one of Britain's largest opera-based festivals, and the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. The Opera House also presents its own annual live music festival Four-Four Time featuring a mixture of jazz, blues, folk and world music attracting world-class artists including Elvis Costello, Courtney Pine, and Jools Holland.
Buxton is a thriving market town of 24,000 people, which is attracting new investment in both its retail and knowledge based industries. Buxton residents are highly qualified - with over 21% having University degrees or equivalents - a percentage 4% above the regional average.
A significant Knowledge and Cultural Industries Cluster has developed over the last few years with the proportion of working population involved in creative industries more than double the regional average (10%). Key employers such as the National Health and Safety Laboratories mean that the knowledge-based economy is of national importance, while retaining strong links to Manchester, Sheffield and Derby Universities. A new Science Park development is currently proposed, linked to the Health & Safety Labs, to incubate and support innovation.
Tourism in the heart of the world's second most visited national park (after Mount Fuji, Japan) is a major asset and, is set to expand with the re-development of the Georgian Crescent including a 5 star hotel and Spa complex.