September in the Peak District

The weather is thankfully warmer, which will hopefully stretch to next month too – so if you’re visiting the Peak District, what’s happening in September?

Chatsworth Country Fair – September 1 – 3, 2023

The Chatsworth Country Fair is one of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor events. Held in Chatsworth Park in the heart of the Peak District, it is a family fun day out for visitors from all over the country. The fair features spectacular grand ring displays in the air and on land, demos from celebrity chefs, and entertainment for all the family. The fair opens on Friday, September 1 at 9:00 am.

Buxton Opera House

Buxton Opera House is a 902-seat opera house set right in the heart of our nearest town Buxton. It was built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, who also designed the London Palladium and the London Coliseum. The Opera House hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, including opera, ballet, drama, comedy, and musicals. It is also home to the annual Buxton Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.

The Opera House is a Grade II* listed building and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Edwardian theatre architecture in the country. It has a beautiful auditorium with a large proscenium arch and a horseshoe-shaped gallery. The interior is decorated in a lavish style with gold leaf, crystal chandeliers, and red velvet curtains.

So, what’s on in September?

14 September – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world’s greatest living explorer, is coming to town! Join him for an evening of stories, adventure, and inspiration. Hear about his record-breaking achievements, his near-death experiences, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. This is a must-see for anyone who loves a good story or is inspired by the human spirit.

18-23 September – The Mousetrap

Don’t just see it. Solve it!

The Mousetrap is the world’s longest-running play, and for good reason. This thrilling West End production is a genre-defining murder mystery from the best-selling novelist of all time.

The play begins with news of a murder in London. A group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover that a killer is in their midst!

Can you solve the mystery before it’s too late?

The Mousetrap is celebrating its 70th anniversary and has kept millions of people on the edge of their seats from every corner of the globe. Could you be next?

Starring Todd Carty (Grange Hill, EastEnders, The Bill) and Catherine Shipton (Casualty, Hollyoaks).

26-30 September – The Full Monty

A Dazzling Tale of Hope and Redemption

In a world where hope is in short supply, a group of down-at-heart men find it in the most unlikely of places: a male strip show.

The Full Monty is a heartwarming and hilarious play about a group of unemployed steelworkers who decide to put on a strip show to make some money. The play is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with moments of laughter, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

The play is set in Sheffield, England, during the 1990s recession. Gaz, the leader of the group, is a newly unemployed steelworker who is struggling to provide for his family. He comes up with the idea of putting on a male strip show to make some quick cash.

The other men in the group are initially hesitant, but they eventually agree to help Gaz. They are all facing their own challenges, including unemployment, divorce, and addiction. But through the process of putting on the show, they learn to support each other and to regain their dignity and pride.

The Buxton Opera House production of The Full Monty stars a cast of hotties, including Danny Hatchard (EastEnders, Ridley Road, Our Girl, SCROOGE) as Gaz, Jake Quickenden (Footloose, Hair, X Factor, Dancing on Ice) as Guy, and Bill Ward (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Gerald. The cast also includes Neil Hurst (Fat Friends the Musical, All Creatures Great and Small, Coronation Street), Ben Onwukwe (The Shawshank Redemption, Professor T, Marcella), and Nicholas Prasad (Around the World in 80 Days, The Comedy of Errors, Doctors).

The perfect base for culture-loving travellers

Wheeldon Trees offers the perfect base for a cultural treat. We have 10 stunning cottages set in 12 acres of Peak District National Park. What’s more, we enjoy some of the best views in the Peaks.

Alongside luxury cottages, our rural retreat offers free EV charging and an honesty shop packed to the brim with goodies. In addition, we have a fantastic games room where you can play pool, air hockey or ping pong. We also have two new electric bikes for you to borrow to explore the local area.

In 2023 five of our cottages were rated 5-Star Gold by VisitEngland. The Farmhouse retained its 5-Star Gold rating from 2020. And now Priestley Cottage, Ollerenshaw Cottage, Nadin Cottage and Mycock Cottage join it with top marks. The remaining five cottages – Sheldon, Walker’s Rest, Critchlow, Elliott and Lomas were all rated 4-Star Gold. In addition, TripAdvisor recently named Wheeldon Trees in the top 10% of places to stay in the world. Thanks to our visitors’ amazing reviews, we were delighted to be awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2022. To complete the hat trick, we were also the runner-up in best self-catering accommodation at this year’s Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.

You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.