A charming UK village with tasty food options on its doorstep and a heated outdoor pool is well worth having on your radar for your next staycation.

Hathersage is a seemingly traditional English village nestled within the Hope Valley, offering plenty to keep visitors and adventurers occupied, thanks to the fact it’s nestled amongst the rolling hills of Derbyshire surround it, with the Peak District on its doorstep.

It draws in plenty of people looking to use the place as a hub for their Peak District explorations, and they’re impressed to stumble upon its many ‘gems’, yet many may pass through without realising this charming village’s full potential.

In fact, it’s not just your modern-day travellers that the village has caught the eye of, as it has a famous literary connection of its own. It’s believed that Charlotte Brontë’s love for Hathersage after her visit there in 1845 helped to inspire the settings and characters in her world-renowned novel Jane Eyre.

Nowadays, it’s expanded its offering to entertain the campers and hikers that pass through its winding roads, with a well-looked-after outdoor pool and a couple of cosy pubs and cafes to fill you up.

Outdoor swimming pool

Unlike most other charming and traditional villages, Hathersage has a unique attraction, perfect for sunny days in the Peak District, and that’s its outdoor heated swimming pool.

Hathersage swimming pool is set back within a lawned enclosure that also has an idyllic covered veranda to one side for those who want to escape the sun. Its well-kept water offers the perfect opportunity to swim in the sun, in temperatures that can reach 28 degrees during the summer months, in a safe and controlled environment.

While the national park has a range of wild swimming spots on offer, it can prove to be dangerous and sometimes unhygienic, especially for young children, whereas Hathersage offers a safer alternative fit for families of all ages.

One visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “Super fun day out! Lots of local families who appear to be regulars are adding to the feel-good atmosphere in the cafe, as well as the pool.”

Another wrote: “Fabulous facility, staff are friendly, the water is a treat to swim in – especially in the mornings with steam above the water. I simply love it, I drive over the hills to get there as my Friday mornong pre work treat. Everthing there is carried out to the best level.”

Entry fees currently begin at £8.48 for an adult, £7.42 for concessions and £4.24 for children up to 17 years old. Alternatively, a family ticket costs £23.32.

Cosy cafe

After taking a dip in the local lido, people often indulge in a quick visit to Coleman’s deli, a quaint cafe tucked within the village, serving all kinds of fresh foods and coffee.

Whether it’s fuelling up ahead of a day of hiking or biking or taking it slow on a day spent exploring the Peak District, it makes for the perfect pit stop. While the area surrounding it is full of traditional pubs and a handful of handy shops selling outdoor gear, this spot feels like a slice of modernity with its trendy food options and warm setting within the village.

One customer shared on TripAdvisor: “I always visit Colemans after a swim at Hathersage Lido and I’m never disappointed. Today I enjoyed a Coleman’s toast with smashed avocado, red onion, sun-dried tomatoes and seeds.

“It was piled with topping, salad leaves and generous amounts of dill and parsley. Absolutely delicious. And the coffee is good too! Service with a smile too – welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable too.”

Another happy visitor wrote: “A delicious deli. Delightful home baking and a splendid selection of breads, also colourful interesting salads. We simply enjoyed tea and cakes in the outdoor sunshine. All the staff were very friendly and attentive. We shall definitely return! A true gem.”

One pretty market town in Hampshire doesn’t make you choose between countryside, seaside or city. Here, you get access to all three, with a colourful dose of independent shops thrown in.

Set on the edge of the South Downs National Park, you can meander the rolling Hampshire hills in the morning before an afternoon swim at the chilled beachtown of Southsea, just 20 miles away, and head to London for a night in the city, an hour away by train. But enough of the exploring. Back in the centre of Petersfield, there is plenty to keep you busy for a weekend escape. At its heart is a traditional market square, still used for trading twice a week, surrounded by more than 80 independent shops, cafes and restaurants.

For Peony, 85, Petersfield is defined by its history, location and community. Sitting on a bench in the sun, she rightly describes it as “a lovely place”.

“It was voted one of the best towns to live in the south,” she points out, smiling. Gesturing to the town square, which is circled by restaurants, she explains: “Up there, originally it was a cattle market, now they have a market twice a week. Oh it’s a lovely place. It’s an ancient town.”

Her hometown featured in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide for 2026, thanks to its shops, location and array of things to do, like hiking and biking.

She also appreciates the transport and commuting links, so her family can visit. “If you work in London there’s a very good train service,” she tells us.

Lynda, who has lived in Petersfield for around nine years, appreciates the bustling high street, which has managed to survive despite widespread closures across the UK.

“It’s very nice,” she says. “You’ve got a train station, you’re close to the sea, there’s nice shops. We don’t see empty shops for very long,” she says. “That is one good thing. We don’t seem to have that emptiness that other places get.”

Ron Albuery, who lives about three miles from the town and has lived in the area for decades, told us simply “I love it”.

But he admits there is less for younger people within Petersfield itself, similarly to Lynda. When asked about youth provision, he adds: “I don’t think there is, to be honest. We used to have a nightclub. I haven’t got a nightclub anymore.”

However, 28-year-old James Crush moved to Petersfield with his family recently and is happy with what’s on offer, including a mountain bike course nearby.

“We moved from Waterlooville, Portsmouth way. We much prefer it. A bit more space and a it’s bit more quiet.”

At Petersfield Museum, staff say the town’s identity is closely tied to its historic centre. The market square, they note, has operated on the same site since the 12th century and remains one of the defining features.

“It’s one of the few ones that still exists in the south of England,” says Louise Weller, head of collections. “It makes it much more of a communal space.”

She says Petersfield also has a strong creative and independent streak, reflected in community groups and workshops, alongside a steady presence of unique shops.

“There’s a wide range of people who live here. We’ve got under-fives groups, people interested in international art contexts. It’s a very creative town,” she says. “We’ve got a lot of independent shops with a nice mix of bigger shops.”

It also also sustains four bookstores, with Waterstones and Oxfam chains alongside the much-loved Petersfield Bookshop and One Tree Books.

Volunteer Frances Press, who has recently moved to the centre, describes them as a “labrynth”, adding that visitors also love the charity shops on offer. “I’m so excited to be in the town centre,” she says enthusiastically.

All the more importantly, there are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants, many with chairs spilling onto the street to lap up the early spring sun. One of which is the local-hero chain Josie’s, serving up brunch and hearty lunches.

If that isn’t enough to tempt you, Frances earnestly points out: “We’ve got a very nice Wetherspoons.”