The Makory Bus is coming to Buxton!

The orange Makory arts bus on route to Buxton

Explore The Makory with two special open days this April. Drop in anytime to discover creative works, meet makers, and enjoy a behind‑the‑scenes look at this unique creative space.

The Makory is Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace – a bright, welcoming mobile workshop and mini-gallery that brings creative adventures directly to communities across the county.

In 2026–27, the Makory will hit the road with a brand-new programme inspired by Derbyshire’s innovators, makers and dreamers. From light experiments and circular design to hands-on craft sessions and playful community making, each stop on the tour invites you to explore the themes of:

Experiment & Enlightenment – curiosity, ideas and joyful discovery

Industry & Innovation – invention, making and re-imagining materials

Community & Craft – connection, creativity and stories of place.

The travelling Makory Maker Space arrives in town to celebrate Buxton’s rich craft heritage and the creativity that continues to shape the region today. The Makory Tour brings artists from across Derbyshire to share hands‑on making inspired by the county’s long history of innovation.
 
We are delighted to welcome milliner Claire Brown, who will host drop‑in workshops. 

The Bradda Beaver – School Workshops

On 17 April 2026, local KS2 pupils will step back in time to recreate miniature versions of the Bradda Beaver — a remarkable felt safety helmet developed by Derbyshire lead miners in Bradwell and widely recognised as one of the earliest protective helmets of its kind.

Using traditional wet felting and millinery techniques, pupils will explore materials, safety, and innovation while learning how local industry, wool, and design shaped everyday life in the past.

Ribbon Rebellion – Public Workshops

On Sat 18 and Sun 19 discover the art and politics woven into historic hat‑making. Claire’s work connects directly with Buxton’s long tradition of milliners and haberdashers, a heritage highlighted in the Made in Buxton project, which has been uncovering the town’s fascinating hat‑making history.
 
Visitors will learn how to create Regency‑style cockades, decorative ribbon rosettes worn to show fashionable flair, personal identity, or political allegiance. These symbols were part of the world inhabited by Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, whose influence on style and political persuasion made her an icon of the era, blending elegance with activism in ways that still inspire artists and makers today.
 
The workshops also touch on the wider cultural currents of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including the work of Joseph Wright of Derby, whose paintings captured the spirit of Enlightenment enquiry and the emerging Romantic imagination. His art reflects the same period in which cockades, millinery, industry, and scientific curiosity flourished, all themes woven deeply into Buxton’s own story as an inventive spa town with a vibrant history of craft, trade, and design.
 
Join us to experiment, fold, stitch and create, and to discover how something as small as a ribbon can connect fashion, politics, art, and Buxton’s unique heritage.

The Makory will pop up in towns and villages across Derbyshire with free workshops, school sessions, a small touring exhibition and activities led by brilliant local artists. At every stop, you’ll help shape something new – adding your ideas, your making, and your voice to a growing countywide story.

Everyone is welcome aboard the Makory.
Come get hands-on, be inspired by Derbyshire’s past and future, and celebrate the creativity of the place you call home.

The Makory Tour 2026

28 March – Matlock

18-19 April – Buxton

25 April – Ashbourne

03-04 May -Belper

09 May – Glossop

16 May – Bolsover

17 May – Creswell Crags

23 May – Hardwick Hall

The Makory is supported by Derbyshire Makes and Derbyshire Makes History, with funding from Derbyshire County Council, Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Friends of BCHT enjoy discounts on selected event tickets.

Buxton Crescent is accessible by wheelchair and fitted with accessible lift and toilet facilities.

The Pump Room is one-level Assistance dogs are welcome in Buxton Crescent and the Pump Room.

We also have a hearing loop in The Pump Room. 

Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust welcomes all to our attractions and events. Those that require the assistance of an essential carer to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit may ask for a complimentary essential carers ticket for their companion. These are available to anyone with an Access Card or anyone in receipt of the higher rate of Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Attendance Allowance (AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Essential Carers tickets can be purchased alongside a standard ticket from the Pump Room, on the phone (01298 214577) or on the ticketing section of our website for events and the Buxton Crescent Experience.

The Pump Room is fitted with an accessible toilet.

Buxton Crescent has male, female and accessible toilets.

The Pavilion Gardens have public toilet facilities, just 5 minutes walk away.

Dogs are very welcome in the Pump Room and we always have complimentary dog treats at the Visitor Information desk.

Assistance dogs are allowed in the Buxton Crescent Experience and in the Assembly Rooms.

A variety of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks are usually available during events in the Pump Room.

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Our visitor experience...

tells the stories of Buxton, The Crescent, its famous water and the many people who came to seek its cure. Click here to read more.

Our Premium Guided Tours set off in the morning, where you can dive deep into the rich history of our area aided by our warm and wonderful hosts.

For those who prefer to discover at their own pace, the Experience opens to Self-Guided visitors at 1pm.

Large group? Or a sensory tour during quiet times? Please contact us and we can help get that arranged.