Cathedral of the Peak

Peak District

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Dominating the former lead-mining village of Tideswell, the massive parish church of St John the Baptist – aka the Cathedral of the Peak – has stood here virtually unchanged since the 14th century. Look out for the wooden panels inscribed with the Ten Commandments and the grand 14th-century tomb of local landowner Thurston de Bower, depicted in full medieval armour. It's 8 miles east of Buxton, linked by bus 66 (£4, 25 minutes, every two hours Monday to Saturday).

Bus 173 links Tideswell with Bakewell (£3.10, 30 minutes, every two hours daily).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Yorkshire Sculpture Park, open air museum

    Yorkshire Sculpture Park

    24.53 MILES

    One of England's most impressive collections of sculpture is scattered across the formidable 18th-century estate of Bretton Park, 200-odd hectares of…

  • Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England.

    Science and Industry Museum

    24.16 MILES

    Manchester's rich industrial legacy is explored in this excellent museum set within the enormous grounds of the old Liverpool St station, the oldest rail…

  • MARCH 15, 2016: Chatsworth House reflected in a lake in Derbyshire.

    Chatsworth House

    7.55 MILES

    Known as the 'Palace of the Peak', this vast edifice 3 miles northeast of Bakewell has been occupied by the earls and dukes of Devonshire for centuries…

  • People s history museum in Manchester - MANCHESTER / ENGLAND - JANUARY 1, 2019 People's History Museum

    People's History Museum

    24.3 MILES

    The story of Britain's 200-year march to democracy is told in all its pain and pathos at this superb museum, housed in a refurbished Edwardian pumping…

  • The Whitworth Art Gallery is an art gallery in Manchester, England, containing about 55,000 items in its collection.

    Whitworth Art Gallery

    22.67 MILES

    Manchester's second most important art gallery is arguably its most beautiful, following a restoration that saw the doubling of its exhibition space…

  • Sheffield, England, UK - November 10, 2019: Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield. Kelham Island Museum opened in 1982 to house the objects, pictures and archive material representing Sheffield`s industrial story.

    Kelham Island Museum

    14.59 MILES

    Sheffield's prodigious industrial heritage is the subject of this excellent museum, set on a human-made island in the city's oldest industrial district…

  • MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 23: A general view of Manchester Art Gallery in the City of Manchester, on June 23, 2014 in Manchester, England. Chancellor George Osborne announced today the possibility of HS3 high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds that would help build a "northern global powerhouse" linking cities in the North of England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

    Manchester Art Gallery

    23.82 MILES

    A superb collection of British art and a hefty number of European masters are the highlights at the city's top art gallery. It's home to the best…

  • Chetham’s Library Manchester England. 18 April 2018. It is the oldest public library in the English speaking world opened to the public in 1653. It is still open to the public. .; Shutterstock ID 1388606738; your: Brian Healy; gl: 65050; netsuite: Lonely Planet Online Editorial; full: Free things to do in Manchester

    Chetham's Library & School of Music

    24.17 MILES

    Founded in 1653 in a building that dates from 1421, Chetham's is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, a trove of dark shelves lined…

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Nearby Peak District attractions

1. Eyam Hall

3.99 MILES

Surrounded by a traditional English walled garden, this solid-looking 17th-century manor house with stone windows and door frames has a craft centre, a…

2. Eyam Museum

3.99 MILES

Vivid displays on the Eyam plague are the centrepiece of the engaging town museum, alongside exhibits on the village's history of lead mining and silk…

3. Eyam Parish Church

4.08 MILES

Many victims of the village's 1665 Black Death plague outbreak were buried at Eyam's church, whose history dates back to Saxon times. You can view stained…

4. Peveril Castle

4.24 MILES

Topping the ridge to the south of Castleton, a 350m walk from the town centre, this evocative castle has been so ravaged by the centuries that it almost…

5. Peak Cavern

4.31 MILES

Castleton's most convenient cave is easily reached by a pretty streamside 250m walk south of the village centre. It has the largest natural cave entrance…

6. Speedwell Cavern

4.4 MILES

Just over half a mile west of Castleton at the mouth of Winnats Pass, this claustrophobe's nightmare is reached by descending 106 steps for an eerie boat…

7. Castleton Museum

4.48 MILES

Attached to the tourist office, the cute town museum has displays on everything from mining and geology to rock climbing, hang-gliding and the curious…

8. Treak Cliff Cavern

4.66 MILES

Captivating Treak Cliff has a forest of stalactites and exposed seams of colourful Blue John stone, which is still mined to supply the jewellery trade…

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