Ashbourne

Ashbourne has a population of about 9,000. The town was given a charter to hold markets in 1257. Bottled Ashbourne water was sold in the late twentieth century, but discontinued in 2006.

As with every small town, all you need is your feet.

• 🌍 Pegge's almshouses, Church St. Dating back to 1669, the gable end bears the arms of the Pegge family. 
• 🌍 Owfield Almshouses, Church Street. Dating back to 1640. 
• 🌍 The Mansion House, Church Street. 
• 🌍 The Elizabethan Grammar School, Church Street. 16th century. The original buildings of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, which was founded in 1585, and received a £4 per year maintenance grant from Sir Thomas Cokayne, High Sheriff of Derbyshire. The school moved away to a new site in 1909, and is now a comprehensive secondary school with 1400 pupils. 
• 🌍 Dovedale, approx 3 miles (5 km) north-north-west of Ashbourne (A515 north from Ashbourne/south from Buxton, then through Thorpe village). Popular beauty-spot on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, famous for its stepping-stones across the River Dove, and Thorpe Cloud, a 942-ft (287-m) conical hill, climbable with care, and with great views all the way up! Car park on the Staffordshire side of the river. (updated Jan 2022)
• 🌍 St Oswald's Church, School Lane, DE61DN. Visiting daily 10AM - 5PM; Main service Su 10:30AM. The church was dedicated in 1241, and was restored twice in the nineteenth century, including in the 1870s by George Gilbert Scott, who added the battlements to the chancel. The church has a fine interior, particularly the choir ceiling and the stained glass. (updated Feb 2024)

• Tissington Trail cycle and foot path
• Limestone Way, bridleway

Numerous antique shops along Church Street. Some very pricy, others more reasonable, wide range of antiques right across the board.

Market on Thursday and Saturday.

• 🌍 The Gingerbread Shop, 26 St John St, ☏ +44 1335 346753. 
• 🌍 The Cheddar Gorge, 9 Dig Street, ☏ +44 1335 344528. Cheese shop 
• Suits Men, Springfield House, Rough Lane, Shirley Common, DE6 3AZ, ☏ +44 1335 361287. Great selection of men's suits and clothing accessories. (updated Feb 2016)

Most of the pubs in town provide food, but the following are the specialist food establishments.

Ashbourne has many pubs and bars, quite a high number for such a small town:

• The Bowling Green. A quiet pub at the top of a very steep hill (probably why it is so quiet!) Does fantastic food but booking is essential, not very child-friendly, in fact don't take children under 14 there at all. Bed and Breakfast accommodation 
• 🌍 The Green Man & Blacks Head. An old coaching inn (Grade 2 listed) with a rare & distinctive gallows sign that stretches right over the road (but which is in desperate need of re-painting). Has two bars, one is quiet, the other rowdy. 
• The Bridge Wine Bar. Refurbished with a very cosmopolitan feel, has large outdoor drinking area overlooking the river. 
• The Coach & Horses. Large, modern-ish building, popular most nights. 
• The Living Room Bar. in The Residents Hotel 
• Bramhalls of Ashbourne. More of a restaurant than a bar, but with AA rosette award-winning food, not cheap, but not overly expensive. Recommended. 
• The George and Dragon. Grade 2 listed large town square pub, live music Friday nights. 
• Ye Olde Vaults. Grade 2 listed small town square pub, clientele can look intimidating outside on benches, but very friendly staff and the only Bass house in town. 
• The Swan, Town square pub. 
• Ex-Servicemen's club. A selection of real ales and entertainment. Non-members are most welcome. 
• The Wellington. Now Chimes restaurant/cafe. 
• Smiths Tavern. Very friendly, traditional public house, Ashbourne's finest selection of real ales, homemade pork pies, and fresh rolls daily. nominated for Camra Pub of the Year 2011 
• The Horns. Very old pub (Grade 2 listed) on Victoria Square, is cosy with fires in the winter, in the summer sit on the benches outside to enjoy a pint. 
• The White Hart. Used to be great, lost it a bit now. disco pub. 
• The Wheel. Looks scarier than it actually is, next to police station. 
• The Stepping Stones. Marston's pub/restaurant - new-build on the edge of town - opened 2009. 

• 🌍 Callow Hall Country House Hotel, Mapleton Road, ☏ +44 1335 300900. 
• 🌍 Travelodge Hotel - Ashbourne, Carnation Way, ☏ +44 871 984 6362. 
• Hillside Croft, Moss Lane, Ashbourne DE6 3FH. Hillside Croft are luxury holiday cottages in the heart of the Peak District. Catered or self-catering. 
• 🌍 Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GZ, ☏ +44 1335 324275. Charming restored village pub with rooms across the boundary west into Staffordshire. B&B double £160. (updated Jun 2020)

As of March 2024, Ashbourne and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.

• Alton Towers
• Wirksworth
• Derby