Pavilion Gardens, Buxton | Stunning Gardens & Park with Boating Lake

A Fabulous Fun Day Out!

Pavilion Gardens, in the spa town of Buxton, is the perfect place to enjoy a fun-filled family day out or to simply enjoy a relaxing stroll, taking in everything that this award-winning, landscaped public park has to offer. With 23 acres of gardens, this historic venue, dating back to 1871, has lots of green open spaces for playing and picnicking. It also has beautiful, landscaped Victorian gardens, a boating lake, children’s play areas, a miniature railway, and over 100 different events hosted throughout year, so there’s always something here for everyone!

During your visit, you can enjoy a refreshing drink or bite to eat at one of the eateries at Pavilion Gardens and do a spot of shopping in the Retail Arcade, where you will find Gallery in the Gardens, offering a great selection of stalls from local artists.

The splendour of Pavilion Gardens and the magnificence of the Octagon Hall also provides the most beautiful wedding venue, hosting anything from 35 to 1,200 guests!!

There are over 200 car parking spaces, including disabled spaces, which are chargeable and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Opening times vary and can be checked here.

Award-Winning Victorian Gardens

In 2004 more than £4.5 million was spent on improving Pavilion Gardens, restoring their Victorian heritage and providing the superb facilities and beautiful surroundings that you can enjoy today. The gardens are vibrant with an enviable collection of trees, shrubs and pretty flowers, providing a haven for wildlife, and they’re free for everyone to enjoy. The stunning Pavilion Gardens are complemented by tranquil streams, a fabulous boating lake and a Victorian Bandstand, which takes centre stage, hosting a variety of brass bands and events throughout the year, providing a joyous atmosphere within the park.

Fabulous Children’s Activities

Children of all ages will love a day at Pavilion Gardens! There are great open spaces for children to play, which also provide the perfect place for a lovely picnic in the Derbyshire fresh air. There are also numerous playgrounds and attractions for all ages to enjoy, some of which are open all year round:

The Activity Park is a great space for the older kids, with a 5 piece outdoor gym, swings, slides and a climbing frame, that will keep them entertained for hours! (Open all year round)
For the littler ones, there’s a lovely Toddler Area, providing lots of opportunities for climbing, hiding, crawling, and swinging! (Open all year round)
Within the Pavilion Kitchen restaurant, there is a brilliant Soft Play Area, sure to keep the little ones entertained no matter the weather, whilst you enjoy a refreshing drink or a bite to eat. (Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am)
Both children and grown-ups will love Pavilion Garden’s Boating Lake! The lake itself is a delight just to sit around, taking in the gorgeous surroundings and watching the wildlife. However, for those who want to enjoy the water, there are 6 rowing boats and 4 pedaloes available to hire for 30-45 minutes, each of which can take 4 people, so ideal for families and friends. (Operating times vary, depending on the weather)
The Miniature Railway is a firm favourite for visitors to the park. Central to the beautiful gardens, it’s a fun, relaxing way to explore all that Pavilions Gardens has to offer! (Open at weekends and during school holidays, 10am – 4pm)

Over 100 Events Each Year

If all those fun activities weren’t enough, Pavilion Gardens hosts over 100 events throughout the year! Some are hosted in the gardens themselves, some take centre stage on the Victorian bandstand, and some are housed in the magnificent Octagon Hall.

There’s a huge range of events for everyone to enjoy from outdoor markets, performances from local brass bands, artist & designer fairs, antiques fairs, afternoon dancing, and the most wonderful summer fetes, carnivals, and Christmas bazaars! Admission fees to the events are very reasonably priced, and many of them are free!

No Event Found

To find out more and check out the dates, visit the events page here.

Food and Drink

There are many places to enjoy a refreshing drink or a bite to eat at Pavilion Gardens, ranging from a quick snack to a tasty meal. Each of the eateries offer a variety of dishes to suit all appetites, tastes and diets, including children’s menus, little plates, vegetarian and vegan options, all freshly prepared by expert chefs.

The main eatery is Pavilion Kitchen, which is a fabulous building with lots of English heritage, and Victorian windows allowing light to flood in. This is a popular meeting place, where visitors can enjoy hot and cold drinks, scrumptious pastries, tasty snacks, fresh sandwiches and delicious meals. (Open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm)
The upstairs Tea Rooms has wonderful views over Pavilion Garden’s promenade and picturesque gardens, where you can enjoy hot and cold drinks, light bites, fresh sandwiches, moreish cakes, warm scones and of course the most indulgent afternoon teas! (Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 2pm)
As you would expect from a park of this status, Pavilion Gardens has a wonderful Ice-cream Parlour, with over 24 flavours of mouthwatering ice creams, together with a selection of other refreshments and snacks. The ice cream parlour can seat up to 80 people inside or out on its lovely sunny terrace, the most perfect place to relax on a sunny day!
Next to the Ice-cream Parlour is a handy Coffee Van, serving a great selection of teas and coffees from Buxton Roastery Coffee, where you can relax on the outdoor seating, or simply grab and go. (Open at weekends).
Finally, situated within the main parkland at Pavilion Gardens is The Lakeside Hut. A handy hut where you can stop off for hot or cold drinks and snacks such as crisps, chocolate and – of course – more ice cream!

Retail Arcade

Pavilion Gardens has a fabulous little shopping area – Gallery in the Gardens. Here you’ll find 45 superb stalls with goods from local, talented artisans and makers, including artists, photographers, jewellers, designers, and much more. Seasonal gifts are available throughout the year as well as goods from the Buxton Brewery Shop and Bar.

Weddings & Celebrations

Could you picture a more idyllic wedding or celebration venue? With stunning Victorian gardens, a beautiful bandstand and the magnificent Octagon Hall, Pavilion Gardens makes for the most exceptional wedding venue! Whether you’re looking for small and intimate or grand and spectacular, Pavilion Gardens could be the place for you!

Pavilion Gardens has a Civil Wedding Licence, enabling them to host civil ceremonies and weddings in three fabulous settings:

The Don Redfern Memorial Bandstand, in the centre of Pavilion Gardens, is a unique place to hold your ceremony. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, with the relaxing sound of the River Wye meandering by, or with your own chosen music, this really is the most magical setting. (Can accommodate 60 seated or 90 standing)
The Conservatory at Pavilion Gardens is an oasis of exotic plants, providing the most elegant backdrop to your ceremony. The plants are carefully tended by the onsite horticulturalists, who ensure that everything is looking immaculate for your special day. (Can accommodate 35 seated or 90 standing)
Finally, The Octagon Hall, a Grade II listed building, is one of the largest 8-sided buildings in Europe! This magnificent building has pride of place within Pavilion Gardens, and you will wowed by its grandeur. (Can accommodate 1,000 seated and 1,200 standing)

Pavilion Gardens 12 — Credit: Jessica O’Shaugnessy

There are two venues at Pavilion Gardens to continue your celebrations or to hire for private functions such as birthday parties and christenings, with a wide selection of catering options, from wedding breakfasts and drinks packages to more relaxed afternoon teas and buffets.

The Tea Rooms has plenty of tables, a dance floor and licensed bar, and can accommodate 50 seated guests for a wedding breakfast or sit-down meal, and 100 guests for a more relaxed evening reception.
Celebrations can continue in The Octagon Hall and Lounge, which also has a magnificent dance floor and licensed bar, with seating for 300 people for a wedding breakfast and 1,000 people for a party that you’ll never forget!

The expert team at Pavilion Gardens are on hand from day one to ensure that your day is just as you’d dreamed of, and can provide suggestions such as a ride for the wedding party on the Miniature Railway, and the use of the lovely ice cream cart that guests are sure to enjoy!

Pavilion Gardens in Buxton is a fabulous place, where you’re sure to enjoy a great day out at any time of the year!