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