If you’re looking for fun things to do in Bakewell, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I share 9 Bakewell attractions you can’t miss when visiting this quaint village in the Peak District.
There are many amazing things to do in the Peak District, and visiting its charming little villages is up there with the best of them. Bakewell is usually the first on everybody’s bucket list, and after our recent visit, it’s easy to see why.
Bakewell is famous for its traditional English pudding, ‘the Bakewell tart’, but there’s so much more to it than that. You could easily spend an entire day or afternoon here, wandering around and admiring its picture-perfect views.
In this guide, I’m excited to share 9 fun things to do in Bakewell. We were able to fit all of these in within a day, so you can use this as an itinerary for your upcoming trip. I’ll also include any other information that might be helpful for your visit.
Jump to...
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase a product through these links, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. And we can continue bringing you free tips and advice. If you found the content helpful and are kind enough to use our affiliates – you are awesome, and we thank you!Â
Top Tips for Visiting Bakewell
Before I jump into our list of things to do in Bakewell, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your visit.
Best Time to Visit
Considered one of the best villages in the Peak District, Bakewell is known to get extremely busy. To give you a comparison, we visited once on a Thursday when it was fairly busy but still enjoyable. We returned the next day, on a Friday afternoon, and it was absolutely heaving.
So, with this in mind, aim to visit on a weekday and, if possible, avoid the school holidays. I don’t know about you, but it’s no fun when I’m shoulder-to-shoulder with people. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a place is; crowds can ruin the experience.
Parking in Bakewell
There are three main car parks in Bakewell: New Street Car Park, Granby Road Car Park, and Market Place Car Park. I’ve linked each one to its Google Maps location to help you find them.
Since we walked into Bakewell via the Monsal Trail, I can’t speak from experience about these car parks. However, I imagine they get rather busy, especially on weekends, market days, and during school holidays. You’ll also have to pay to park.
I would try to get into Bakewell on foot, bike, or public transport. Or, if that isn’t an option, aim to arrive as early as possible to secure a spot.
Where to Stay
Again, we didn’t stay in Bakewell, so I can’t give any recommendations. However, the area has various hotels, B&Bs, and campsites. We use Pitch Up for locating campsites and booking.com for anything else.
Things to do in Bakewell
Okay, let’s jump into what you came here for. We ticked off everything on this list in one day and assure you that these are the best things to do in Bakewell.
From traditional puddings and medieval churches to romantic walks along the river, I hope you enjoy these 9 Bakewell attractions.
1. Try a Traditional Bakewell Dessert
Okay, I know I said there’s more to Bakewell than its puddings, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the quintessential experiences of visiting here.
There are actually two types of Bakewell desserts that you need to try: The Bakewell Tart and The Bakewell Pudding.
The Bakewell tart consists of a shortcrust pastry shell beneath layers of jam and frangipane and then topped with flaked almonds. Whereas The Bakewell Pudding has a flaky pastry base with a layer of sieved jam and a filling made of egg and almond paste.
Personally, I’m not a fan of either; however, Natalie loves them, so she had no qualms about indulging in both. We got ours from The Bakewell Tart shop, but naturally, there are plenty of places to get them.
2. Check Out Hebden Court
One of our favourite things to do in Bakewell was wander around its photogenic streets, admiring its quaint buildings and charming local stores. Everywhere in Bakewell looks fit for a postcard, which is especially true with Hebden Court.
Hebden Court is a beautiful hidden courtyard. It would be easy to miss if you didn’t know it was there, so keep a close eye for it next to The Bakewell Tart shop on Matlock Street. There are some gorgeous local shops within the courtyard and a Tea Room with outdoor seating.
Bakewell is one of the most popular villages in the Peak District, so on a busy day, this might be the ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle.
3. Visit All Saints Church
One of the most recognisable attractions in Bakewell is the stunning All Saints Church. A medieval structure overlooking the town, I’d go as far as to say that this is one of England’s most beautiful parish churches.
Not only that, All Saints Church has a rich and fascinating history dating back to the Saxon period. There are numerous reminders of its Saxon heritage, including a pair of beautifully carved crosses in the churchyard and a collection of Saxon carvings.
Other notable features of the church include a memorial to Ann Graves, said to be the inventor of the Bakewell pudding.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a church person, this is undoubtedly one of the most interesting things to do in Bakewell.
4. Visit the Love Lock Bridge
One of the Bakewell attractions that took me by surprise was the Love Lock Bridge.
On the edge of the pretty village snakes the River Wye – the fourth-longest river in the UK. The bridge forms part of it and seems a natural fit for the overall charming theme of Bakewell.
If you’re travelling as a couple, bring a lock to sit alongside the hundreds that already adorn the bridge. You can buy them in Bakewell with an engraving, but you can bet that they will charge a premium.
The tradition goes that once you’ve sealed the lock on the bridge, you’re to chuck the key into the river. That way, your love will last forever unless somebody locates the key and removes the lock.
However, discarding the key elsewhere is best since this isn’t great for the environment.
5. Walk Along the River Wye
Taking a stroll along the river is one of the most romantic things to do in Bakewell.
It’s such a beautiful and serene part of town; the pathways are well-kept, and there are plenty of ducks to keep you company along the way.
Whether you’re feeding the ducks, having a picnic, or simply enjoying a moment of peace away from the hustle and bustle, I recommend taking some time for this while visiting Bakewell.
6. Visit One of the Many Pubs
I don’t know about you, but exploration days leave me incredibly thirsty. I love to reward myself at the end of the day with a nice cold pint from one of the local pubs.
You’ll see that there’s no shortage of options in Bakewell, and they all look incredibly inviting!
Whether you’re into craft beers, speciality gins, or your standard beverages, you won’t go thirsty in this town. Several also have beer gardens, which are fantastic on hot summer days.
7. Buy a Local Souvenir
There are so many unique shops in Bakewell, making it impossible to walk away without some kind of souvenir.
Whether it be as simple as a Bakewell pudding for the family or something more extravagant for your home or wardrobe, you won’t want to leave empty-handed.
One of our favourite purchases in Bakewell was from The Gifts & Crafts store. We bought a plaque as a gift for my in-laws reading “Nobody leaves sober”, which gives you a good idea of the party-loving family I’m marrying into!
8. Walk or Cycle the Monsal Trail
I couldn’t write a list of things to do in Bakewell without including The Monsal Trail.
This iconic 8.5-mile Peak District walking route, which runs between Chee Dale and Bakewell, was once a railway line. Now, it’s a flat, accessible trail suitable for cyclists, horse riders, prams and wheelchair users.
Evidence of the old railway line exists throughout the trail, leading you through long stretches of dimly lit tunnels and traversing some of the Peak District’s best views.
Then, at Monsal Head, you have the striking Headstone Viaduct, which is an unmissable Peak District landmark.
9. Admire Bakewell from Above
I will round off my list of things to do in Bakewell with something we stumbled upon by accident.
Whilst walking back to our campervan, we followed a walking trail north of Bakewell, which led us high into the hills, allowing us a stunning view over the village.
It was a lovely surprise to get this unique perspective of the town, and if you are okay with the strenuous climb to get there, I highly recommend it.
I’ve mapped out the route we followed to get there, and you can find it here.
Things to do in Bakewell Map
Enjoy These Fun Things to do in Bakewell
Visiting Bakewell is one of the best things to do in the Peak District. I hope you have as much fun as we did exploring the beautiful village and ticking off all these fun attractions. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comment section below.
If you’re visiting the area soon, you might find some of these Peak District articles interesting. They include the best Peak District Walks, the Best Viewpoints in the Peak District, and the Best Peak District Villages.
Stay adventurous and Happy travels.
Planning a trip around the Peak District? Check out our England series for more travel tips and advice.Â
PIN IT FOR LATER
