| Welcome to the Travel Guide & | | | | local McDonald's. Despite all this |
| Tourist Information for Chesterfield. | | | | development, Chesterfield has retained |
| Chesterfield is a historic market town | | | | its character and much of its town |
| and is situated north of Derby near the | | | | centre from the pre-war era. |
| rivers Rother and Hipper. Traveling to | | | | Chesterfield has lots to offer in the |
| Chesterfield whether by road or rail is | | | | Leisure and Entertainment Industry. The |
| fairly straight forward. Chesterfield is | | | | Queens Park is located within the town |
| Derbyshire's largest town and is located | | | | centre and on the outskirts of the park |
| just off the A617 which is Junction 29 | | | | is the Queens Park Leisure Center which |
| of the M1.There are train main land | | | | has a good size swimming pool and gym. |
| train services to London, Sheffield, | | | | There are also several indoor courts |
| Newcastle, Birmingham, Bournemouth and | | | | (for a variety of sports) and outdoor |
| Edinburgh ,Liverpool, Nottingham and | | | | tennis courts too. There are plenty of |
| Norwich. | | | | Gymnasium Clubs for those wishing to |
| Chesterfield is best known for its | | | | keep fit. All of this plus Bowling, Golf |
| "Crooked Spire" at the Church of Saint | | | | and even Ice Skating, in Sheffield, |
| Mary and All Saints. The leaning | | | | which is only about 20 minute's drive |
| characteristic is believed to be the | | | | from Chesterfield. |
| result of the absence of skilled | | | | Travel time to Sherwood Forest is only |
| craftsmen, possibly due to the Black | | | | 30 minutes by car. There are several |
| Death as this happened only 12 years | | | | night clubs located around the town, |
| previous. There have been other reasons | | | | predominantly towards "Holywell Cross |
| given however. One is that the spire was | | | | Car Park" and there are many bars |
| so shocked to learn of the marriage of a | | | | scattered around the town including the |
| virgin in the church that it bent down | | | | infamous "Brampton Mile" which has 13 |
| to get a closer look. It is said that if | | | | pubs on a one mile section of Chatsworth |
| this were to happen again, the spire | | | | Road. It is traditional that anyone |
| will straighten and return to its true | | | | "doing the mile" has at least one drink |
| position. Another saying is that a | | | | in each pub. |
| Blacksmith from Bolsover mis-shod the | | | | The Winding Wheel is a multi-purpose |
| Devil, who then leaped over the spire in | | | | venue, hosting concerts, exhibitions, |
| pain, knocking it out of shape. | | | | conferences, dinners, family parties, |
| Chesterfield received its market charter | | | | dances, banquets, wedding receptions, |
| in 1204 from King John and now has one | | | | meetings, product launches and lectures. |
| of the largest open air markets in | | | | Famous acts to appear recently include |
| Britain and the stalls are either side | | | | The Manfreds, Patrick McGuiness and even |
| of the Market Hall, which in its own | | | | The Sooty Show |
| right, is a historical building. In the | | | | "The Pomegranate" theatre is a listed |
| middle of town there is a collection of | | | | Victorian building, with a small |
| old and narrow streets that make up "The | | | | auditorium, seating around 500 people. A |
| Shambles", which houses one of Britain's | | | | variety of shows are performed |
| oldest pubs. | | | | throughout the year. |
| There are plenty of shopping | | | | Both venues are owned by Chesterfield |
| opportunities in Chesterfield. Vicar | | | | Borough Council, and the box office for |
| Lane was redeveloped in 2000 and was | | | | both is located in the entrance area of |
| made into a pedestrianised, open-air | | | | the theatre. |
| shopping area. This resulted in most of | | | | The Chesterfield Museum and Revolution |
| the existing buildings being demolished. | | | | House are also both run by the local |
| In the process two new streets were | | | | Authority and both hold regular free |
| created in their place and there are now | | | | events throughout the year. |
| plenty of major brands, such as | | | | If you're feeling hungry there's plenty |
| Woolworths, Marks and Spencers, Co-Op | | | | to choose from. This includes Chinese, |
| and Argos to choose from. | | | | Indian and Thai restaurants and plenty |
| Other developments include a large area, | | | | of takeaways not forgetting of course |
| between the Low Pavements and New | | | | good old Fish and Chips. |
| Beetwell Street being completely | | | | With all of these different events, the |
| flattened in the 1980's to build "The | | | | wide range of market stalls and shops as |
| Pavements" shopping centre, better known | | | | well as the activities at the local |
| by local residents as "The Precinct". | | | | Football ground Chesterfield has lots |
| This is where you will find the larger | | | | going for it and is a perfect |
| shops including Somerfield, Boots and WH | | | | destination point for tourists. |
| Smiths. It has entrances opposite | | | | For tourists arriving for the first |
| Chesterfield Market and also escalators | | | | time, there is a lot to see and do. In |
| lead down to New Beetwell Street. | | | | this travel guide (tourist information |
| There is also a multi-storey car park | | | | part 1) I have provided some basic |
| which was built at the same time. | | | | information and a brief guide to |
| Chesterfield Library's main entrance is | | | | Chesterfield. My travel guide part 2 |
| also located just outside the Pavements | | | | will look at the tourist attractions in |
| and at another exit you will find the | | | | a lot more detail. |