As a wonderful old historic market town, there are several up-to-date attractions in Ashbourne but also lots of wonderful architecture and history which can be explored at your leisure. With the fantastic scenery of Dovedale, 'The Gateway To The Peak' just a few minutes car ride away, the wonderful geography of the place makes it an attraction in itself.

 

It is a wonderfully elegant town, renowned for its charm and famous cobbled market place and of course it's wonderful antique shops, which attract visitors from miles around. The market today is still a very atmospheric wonderful occasion with traders selling all sorts of produce and products.

 

St Oswald's Parish Church is arguably one of the most prominent of features as soon as you enter the town. With its 212 foot spire dominating the skyline, looming protectively over the streets, it is a wonderful church to discover lots of history and peace. George Eliot famously described it as the 'finest single spire in England.'

 

With so many wonderful shops both old and new, one of the delicious delights of Ashbourne is the making of gingerbread from times gone by, and the original Gingerbread Shop is still there in St John Street. It is now run by Birds the Bakers. The building has a mock fronted Elizabethan facade, in a very striking white and black beamed design, but look out for the famous wattle and daub walls , which were once covered over, but have now been put proudly on show. The shop has its own cafe where you can try out the delicious gingerbread men, as well as having hot and cold snacks and home-made cream cakes.

 

Ashbourne is a wonderful place to do some shopping. It has a spectacular twice weekly market on Thursdays and Saturdays in the old cobbled market place, with lots of diverse stalls to suit all tastes. Home-made local produce and farmer's wares always grace the trestle tables and visitors come from miles around to sample the shopping in Ashbourne's markets. Not only that, but it is home to a higgledy-piggledy street complex, which is full to bursting with a wonderful array of different shops. There is a fabulous selection of independent stores and very stylish boutiques, alongside some of the familiar largest stores with high-street brands making shopping affordable for anyone in Ashbourne. The town is very walkable and compact, with shops altogether in one place, and with its impressive Georgian architecture, it is home to lots of antique shops which draw visitors from miles around. Even in the pouring rain there are lots of shops undercover, and they are full to bursting with fantastic food and lovely clothing.