Best Independent Shopping in Buxton – Updated for Christmas 2024

Our ultimate guide to the best independent shopping in Buxton offers a wide variety of superb independent shops and boutiques, so think twice before you plan to head out of town for your Christmas shopping this year.

Here’s our pick of 32 shops in Buxton we love, you might be pleasantly surprised what you might find:

Independent Shops Located in Higher Buxton

Higher Buxton is often referred to a ‘village with the town’ and home to the weekly Buxton Market on the Market Place. Sited in the southern part of the town centre with the Market Place at its heart, the area retains a unique character and charm. Now firmly established as Buxton’s creative, bohemian neighbourhood with buzzy cafes and pubs, lively music venues and an alternative shopping fix.

Hot Chocolaterie

‘The treat at the top of the hill’, Hot Chocolaterie serves a unique selection of handmade artisan chocolates. You’ll find favourite classic flavours such as caramel, fudge and peppermint cream as well as other more adventurous flavours like Peanut Butter and Banana, Liquorice and Ruby Passion Fruit and Coconut Bite. Gift boxes of 6, 12 and 18 chocolates available, pre-packed OR choose your own flavours.  They’re also stockists of The Devil’s Mouthwash Hot Sauces, Ground Effect Coffee Roasters and Peak Preserves jams and marmalades.

Opening times: Monday CLOSED, Tuesday 10am – 5pm, Wednesday CLOSED, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Website: hotchocolaterie.com

Book Folk

Located in Higher Buxton, Book Folk is a charming independent bookshop offers a treasure trove of second-hand books and an eclectic collection of comics. Whether you’re a lover of classic literature, hunting for rare finds, or a comic book enthusiast, the shop has something for everyone with a wide variety of topics on offer. Friendly staff are always on hand to help you discover a hidden gem or the perfect read. It’s a haven for book lovers and if there’s a particular book you are after, they’ll try and get it for you.

Opening times: Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday CLOSED.

Website: https://shorturl.at/3PAg4 

Day Zero

High Peak’s first zero waste and plastic free shop, there’s a huge selection of everyday foods such as cereals, pasta, rice, dried fruit, nuts, herbs and spices, infused oils, chocolate coated nuts and raisins, baking ingredients and more. All you need to do is bring your own containers or you can buy them in-store; the system is really easy and owners Mark and Holly will guide you through anything you need. You’ll also find a great range of cosmetics, books, homeware items and loose teas.

Opening times: Check their website and Facebook for the latest opening times.

Website: dayzeroshop.co.uk

Discount Centre

The Discount Centre is another Buxton institution, famous for it’s reduced price confectionary (chocolate and sweets) where a Dime Bar can be found for 25p! There’s also a wide range of greeting cards, DIY supplies, cleaning goods, children’s toys, Christmas decorations, garden ware and more.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 8am – 4.30pm, Sunday CLOSED

Sew Loved Upholstery

Sew Loved restyles and up-cycles antique and vintage furniture and has a lovely selection of unusual accessories for the home. If you own something you love – a tired old chair or a dated chest of drawers, owner Keri takes commissions (on request) offering a full upholstery service and individual bespoke designs for every piece. Skilfully restored, you can breath new life into your treasured pieces, or, trawl the shop for something that might take your fancy. There’s a wide range of exclusive Sew Loved handmade cushions and a lovely range of lamps and handmade lampshades. If you really don’t know where to start with a room or a new house, Keri offers a full interior design service too. And if you’re after something in particular, a vintage piece – Keri can try her best to source it for you.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday CLOSED.

Website: instagram.com/sewlovedupholstery

Scriveners Books

One of Derbyshire’s largest second hand bookshops with over 40,000 volumes across five floors, Scriveners is a Buxton institution and an Aladdin’s cave where you can lose a couple of hours amongst the huge selection of books, old and new. From pulp to antiquarian, with hundreds of children’s books and collectables, they also offer a book binding service and restoration work  – completed in-house. They also offer free advice / valuations on books. Self service tea & coffee is available as well as a small Victorian museum located in the cellar.

Opening times: 10am – 5pm Monday – Saturday, Sunday CLOSED

Website: scrivenersbooks.co.uk

Awaken

A gorgeous little shop that sells high grade crystals at ‘affordable prices. There’s no where else like it in Buxton, so if you’re looking for a gift with a difference, you might find it here. There’s a live Instagram every Thursday 7.30pm – 9pm.

Opening times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Website: awakentoday.co.uk

High Peak Book Store & Café

As well as being a great café that serves tasty homemade food, the shop has a vast array of books from every topic you can think of; it’s a book lovers paradise here! The bookstore is one of the country’s largest independent bookshops, offering incredible breadth and depth of titles and subject areas, for both general and specialist book lovers. Located on the outskirts of Buxton, it’s well worth the run over.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10.30am – 5pm

Website: highpeakbookstore.co.uk

Independent Shops Lower Buxton / Town Centre

Lower Buxton is home to a mixture of high street chains and independent, smaller businesses with Spring Gardens as the main high street. Cavendish Shopping Arcade traditionally is home to independent and interesting upmarket shops and there’s also Hair Art hairdressers there but also a really good Pizza Express. Spring Shopping Centre tends to have chain stores including Next store (men’s, women’s and children’s wear), New Look, Superdrug, Waitrose, Ryman’s, WH Smith and more.

Everything’s Rosy Interiors

Everythings Rosy Interiors is a treasure trove of pretty things for the home with a wide range of soft furnishings, furniture and home accessories. There’s a definite rustic country feel to much of the range in-store with stylish cushions, picture frames, clocks and loads more. There’s also lots of little trinkets such as pretty fragrant hearts to hang, tea light holders, cute cosmetic bags, handmade silver jewellery and more. New for 2024 – Downstairs is now home to a brand new range of ladies clothing, including dresses, jeans, tops, and blouses. Visit Aquae Arnemetiae Vintage Tearooms and Wine Bar, (formerly Vintage Tea Rooms) next to Everythings Rosy Interiors offering a cosy retreat for shoppers, lunch-breaks, and gathering of friends.

Opening times: 9am – 5pm Monday – Sunday

Website: everythingsrosybuxton.myshopify.com

Peak Flowers

Peak Flowers, nestled in the heart of Buxton, Derbyshire, is a blossoming premier online flower delivery service using the highest quality flowers. Specialising in exquisite bouquets for all occasions as well as bespoke wedding florals, corporate arrangements and compassionate funeral tributes. Peak Flowers transforms moments into memories with their artful designs.

Opening times: Monday 12 – 5pm, Tuesday – Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 4pm, Sunday CLOSED.

From its beginnings in The Square, Buxton Pudding Emporium in its now larger premises on Hardwick Street means the the glorious range of high quality foodie treats and gifts has just expanded which is great. The cafe in their ‘lounge’ area is super cosy and they have a simple menu of sandwiches, soups, cakes and sweet treats. For those seeking the perfect gift, look no further than their bespoke hampers – they deliver these across the UK.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm

Website: thebuxtonpuddingemporium.co.uk

Beer District sell a huge range of over 400 craft ales as well as artisan, small batch whiskeys, gins, rums and vodkas. Forest Gin, for example, is an award winning spirit, distilled in small batches at the their distillery next to Macclesfield Forest and Elements of Islay is a range of single malt whiskies made as single casks or as individual batches from the island of Islay in Scotland – just a few of the specialities you’ll find in store. The gift boxes holding 6 bottles of ale are ideal for Dad or brother as a pressie, or, if you’re not sure what to get, they sell gift vouchers.

Opening times: Monday –  Saturday 10.30am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm

Website: facebook.com/BeerBuxton

Isla Fine Art, Gifts & Cards

Isla in the Cavendish Shopping Arcade, has a lovely selection of unusual and design-led gifts and homewares (some of which are made locally). There’s a wide range of greeting cards featuring designs you won’t really see in the chain store cards shops. The shop also specialises in selling original art works – again many of which feature local artists and the display changes regularly. The shop is a lovely array of pretty things and ideal if you’re looking for a gift with a difference or something unusual for the wall at home. We particularly love the lampshades!

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Website: isladirect.co.uk

Buxton Brewery Shop & Bar @ Pavilion Gardens

The Buxton Brewery shop and bar situated inside the Pavilion Gardens is just a stone’s throw away from the micro brewery’s flagship bar the Tap House and Cellar Bar. Offering a plethora of Buxton Brewery merchandise, including beers, beer gift boxes, clothing and glassware – an ideal gift for any craft beer lover. The shop also has a great range of products such as honey, bespoke spirits, soaps and coffee from independent suppliers and producers from Buxton and across Derbyshire such as Buxton Coffee Roasters and White Peak Distillery.

Opening times: Pavilion Gardens opening times apply.

Website: buxtonbrewery.co.uk/visit-us

Potters

Potters of Buxton is an independent, family run, lifestyle outfitters established in 1860, specialising in quality men’s and women’s clothing and footwear. Stylisg clothing and footwear ranges which can be found both in-store and online, are expertly edited regularly for each season. Men’s and women’s clothing include popular, quality brands such as Barbour, Seasalt, Soya Concept, Barbour, Meyer, Olymp, Fynch Hatton, Bugatti, Claudio Lugli and Wrangler.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday CLOSED.

Website: pottersofbuxton.co.uk

Gallery in the Gardens

Gallery in the Gardens is located inside the Pavilion Gardens, and a beacon for art lovers and gift seekers alike. This unique gallery, home to the High Peak Artists group, features an exclusive selection of artwork from 40+ resident artists from the Peak District and Derbyshire area. The standard of work is exceptionally high, and artists are carefully selected to join the group and exhibit here. That said there are items for all price points and lots of affordable gifts.

Opening Times: Pavilion Gardens opening times apply all year-round.

Website: galleryinthegardens.co.uk

Peak Ascent Cycles

Peak Ascent Cycles – a Super friendly and professional bike shop offering a wide range of bikes to suit a range of budgets selling popular brands such as Forme – featuring bikes tested on the High Peak Trail, Lapierre and Raleigh. There is also a wide range of great electric bikes. You can also get your bike serviced – full service packages include bolt torque check, Brake pad check, Drivetrain wear check, Tyre check, Rim check, Wheels trued, Gear indexing, Brake adjustment and Headset check.

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday CLOSED

Website: peakascentcycles.co.uk

Buxton Visitor Centre Gift Shop

Buxton Visitor Centre gift shop offers a wide range of quality locally sourced gifts and bespoke and exclusive souvenirs as well as a range of greeting cards and postcards, maps and a range of local interest books. Many of the items in the shop reflect the spa heritage of Buxton as well as the Georgian and Victorian elegance of the town. From stationery, room diffusers, tea towels, local food and drink brands and more.

Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Website: buxtoncrescentexperience.com

The Green Man Gallery Gift Shop

The Green Man Gallery gift shop offers a gorgeous array of unusual, hand made and hand crafted gifts from resident artists at the gallery. From quirky ceramics and jewellery to striking original paintings and prints, as well as a huge range of cards and more, if you’re looking for a gift with a difference, you need to check this out. Over the Christmas period, artists showcase more of their work in the The Winter Emporium which can solve a gift or two!

Opening times: Monday CLOSED, Tuesday & Wednesday 10.30am – 2pm, Thursday CLOSED, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10.30am – 4.30pm.

Website: thegreenmangallery.com

Decor Boutique

A gorgeous shop selling stylish furniture which regularly features unique pieces painted by the team with Chalk Paint. There’s also lots of pretty accessories for the home as well as a lovely selection of gifts. Official stockists of Chalk Paint™ Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan. Also stockists of Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton.  They also hold workshops on chalk painting if you’re not sure where to start with your furniture project. Definitely worth a visit.

Opening times: Monday – Friday 10.30am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm.

Website: decor-boutique.co.uk

Appleyard’s Tobacconist 

Another legendary business in Buxton, family run Appleyard’s has been open for more than 100 years. A traditional tobacconist, they sell loose leaf tobacco as well as a selection of Cuban and New World cigars. There’s a plethora of toys, gifts, souvenirs, games and Airfix model kits. If you’re looking for a toy, look no further, their selection here is brilliant and staff are only too pleased to help. The souvenirs are ideal if you’re visitor looking for a memento of your trip to Buxton!

Opening times: Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm.

Website: facebook.com/appleyardstobacconistbuxton

Atticus Boo

A small space but a huge emporium of lovely quality gifts featuring some favourite brands such as Jellycat, Moleskin and Orla Kiely to name just a few. Posh note books, beautiful teddies and toys, cosmetic cases, jewellery, ceramics and so much more. You’re hard pressed not to buy something when visiting here. Oh and there’s a great range of greeting cards if you’re after something a little special and a little different than the high street chain offerings. Superb choice for pressies of all ages inc. some great blokey gifts too.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 4.30pm.

Website: atticusboo.com

Jantar

An emporium of jewellery of every kind, Jantar are specialists in Baltic Amber and other gemstones, silver and Derbyshire Blue John, alongside a plethora of worldwide designers. When you enter the shop, it’s hard to know where to turn, there’s no denying it, the selection on offer is stunning. If you love silver jewellery, this is the place to go. From necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and more, a must visit if you’re looking for a special gift too.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 4.30pm.

Website: jantar.co.uk

Divine Trash

Offering a range of exclusive branded clothing for a modern day fashion conscious crowd, selling brands such as Religion, French Connection, Vera Moda, Postcard, Pieces and more. A lovely range of men’s and women’s clothing as well as accessories such as belts, jewellery, shoes and bags. Who needs Manchester when you can get your hands on these brands right here in Buxton?!

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11.30am – 4pm.

Website: divinetrash.co.uk

Wild Olive

Wild Olive produce their own range of bath melts, soaps, cosmetics and candles right here in the Peak District. Their flagship store in Buxton has a huge range of gifts (and a small range for boys) and there’s lots of lovely accessories for the home as well things to truly pamper yourself with.  There’s also wrapping paper and a good selection of greeting cards and tags. The large range of candles and bath bombs Wild Olive made its name on smell divine when you walk in and they also have a large range of room diffusers which smell amazing.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday CLOSED

Website: wildolivestore.com

Chic

A gorgeous shop packed full of stylish and pretty clothing, handbags, printed scarfs, jewellery and accessories inside the Cavendish Shopping Arcade. You can also find some cute girly gifts here too.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday CLOSED

Website: chiconline.co.uk

Clowes Chemist

C.R Clowes is no ordinary chemist. Established in 1875 as a druggist & pharmacy, the building is listed with English Heritage, both outside and the interior and the building was originally designed by Robert Rippon Duke – famed for helping transform Buxton and creating some of its finest buildings. The interior original cabinets are quite something but more to the point so is the gift selection, with some high quality cosmetic brands including Crabtree and Evelyn, Yardley London, Bronnley, Vichy, Mason Pearson (maker of the finest hair brushes dating back to the 1860’s). There are gifts both for men and women and also a lovely selection of cosmetic mirrors as well as make up and accessories. Clowes also has a superb selection of Channel fragrances, including favourites ‘Chance’ and ‘Co Coco Mademoiselle’.

Website: facebook.com/p/CRClowes-and-Son-Ltd

Queenie’s Tea Room and Gift Shop

Hargreaves & Sons

Hargreaves has been established in Buxton since 1865 and offer an absolute emporium of gifts and cookware. The cookware range is huge so if you’re after a gift for a domestic goddess, then start here. From utensils and jars to a wide range tools for the kitchen as well as a large selection of crockery, you’ll also find a stylish range of gifts, cushions, coasters, vases and other pretty accessories for the home. Perfect hunting ground for Christmas gifts, from granny and your mum to your boyfriend.

Website: hargreavesofbuxton.com

Maggie Mays

Maggie Mays is an established antique shop offering an eclectic mix of vintage, antique and unusual curios including taxidermy, jewellery, garden wares, glassware, furniture, lighting and more. Great to have a rake round on an afternoon!

Website: instagram.com/maggiemaysbuxton

The Village Saver

Certainly established as a local institution, The Village Saver is a family run hardware shop and sells a great range of cleaning goods, kitchenwares, DIY items, stationary, small toys, batteries and more. There’s also brilliant selection of small, affordable toys for kids stocking fillers.

Website: facebook.com/thevillagesaver