High in the hills of the Peak District, Buxton is a spa town with real grandeur. Elegant Georgian crescents, a glittering Edwardian opera house and Victorian gardens sit surrounded by moorland, creating a town that feels quite unlike anywhere else in Derbyshire.
The Buxton colouring book from Britain in Lines captures that elegance in calm, considered line work.
About Buxton
Buxton's warm mineral springs have drawn visitors since Roman times, when the town was known as Aquae Arnemetiae. Its golden age came in the 18th century, when the Dukes of Devonshire set out to turn it into a spa to rival Bath.
The result is a town of handsome stone buildings and landscaped spaces, many of which have been lovingly restored in recent years. Buxton water still flows freely from St Ann's Well, and the town's festivals and theatre bring it to life all year round.
Buxton landmarks to colour
The Crescent
Built in the 1780s for the 5th Duke of Devonshire and designed by John Carr, the Crescent was inspired by Bath's famous Royal Crescent. After years of restoration, it has returned to life as a spa hotel, and its sweeping curve of arches and columns is a centrepiece of the book.
Buxton Opera House
Designed by the great theatre architect Frank Matcham and opened in 1903, the Opera House is a jewel of Edwardian design, with domes, ornate detailing and plenty of character to colour.
Pavilion Gardens
Victorian gardens with a lake, bandstand and ironwork conservatories. Pavilion Gardens are where Buxton comes to stroll, and they make some of the most relaxing pages in the book.
The Old Hall Hotel
Said to be one of the oldest hotels in England, the Old Hall has a famous past: Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here when she visited to take the waters.
The historic baths
Buxton's old bath buildings, with their arcades and decorative glass, are a reminder of the springs that made the town.
Why Buxton is perfect for colouring
Spa towns are made for architectural colouring. Repeating arches, columns, ironwork and symmetrical facades create a satisfying rhythm, and the honey-coloured stone gives you a warm base to build on. If you enjoyed our Harrogate book, Buxton is a natural next step.
Inside the Buxton colouring book
The book contains 20 hand-drawn illustrations of Buxton's stone buildings, elegant terraces and landmark spa-town architecture, all with open, uncluttered line work. It's printed in the UK on thick 160gsm paper, wire-bound to lie flat, with a soft-touch cover, for £16.99.
It's also part of the Derbyshire Collection alongside our Belper colouring book, for £24.99.
A thoughtful Buxton gift
For Peak District walkers, festival regulars, locals and anyone who has moved away from Derbyshire, this book is a lovely way to bring Buxton home. 10% of every sale goes to Martin House Children's Hospice.
