Chesterfield: Market History, Queen’s Park and the Crooked Spire

Chesterfield offers a variety of ways to make the most of a stay: the market hall and general market, the history of Queen’s Park, Chesterfield Canal, and views and stargazing. If you’re looking for a hotel in Chesterfield, you can plan your trip around whether you’re most interested in market life, a walking route, a canal cruise or views through telescopes.

Market Hall and General Market

Chesterfield is home to one of England’s oldest open-air markets. The Market Hall was built in 1857 and reopened in 2013 after a renovation costing several million pounds. You’ll find local produce and meat there. The Market Hall is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The general market, by contrast, takes place on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The two markets have different opening hours: on days when the general market takes place, the Market Hall opens half an hour earlier and stays open later. If you’d like to include both in your travel plans, follow their respective opening hours and check the market schedule before your visit. This lets you plan your visit around the market offering you want, rather than treating both schedules as the same.

Queen’s Park and Its History

Queen’s Park was officially opened to the public on 2 August 1893. The first exhibition of the Chesterfield Floral and Horticultural Society was held in the park. This opening and flower show give the park a tangible historical connection. Puffin Billy is a miniature railway in Queen’s Park and adds a named attraction.

The park’s history can also be placed in context alongside that of the Market Hall: the hall, built in 1857, predates the park’s official opening in 1893. These are two distinct chapters in Chesterfield’s history. In the park, the story of its opening and the first exhibition sits alongside the miniature railway as another point of interest for your visit.

Walking and Boating on Chesterfield Canal

The Cuckoo Way is the towpath along Chesterfield Canal and also a 46-mile walking route from Chesterfield to West Stockwith on the River Trent. This makes it a long-distance walking option, clearly distinct from taking a boat trip on the water. Boat trips on Chesterfield Canal are offered on the John Varley II and Madeline excursion boats. If you’re planning a trip, check the current timetable in advance.

The canal’s surrounding landscape offers something different, too: there are opportunities for wildlife watching in the surrounding countryside. The Cuckoo Way is a route to walk, while the excursion boats offer a trip along the canal. This lets you choose between a named walking route and an outing on the water without planning both as the same experience.

Views and Stargazing

At the Crooked Spire, visitors can climb the 152 steps and enjoy views across Chesterfield. At Chesterfield Observatory, visitors can explore the sky through telescopes. These activities offer two clearly different perspectives: looking out over the town from the Crooked Spire or observing the sky through telescopes at the Observatory. When choosing, you can consider which kind of view or observation you’d like to include in your stay.

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