Top News

The picturesque UK village with cute cottages, cosy pubs and glorious winter walks
Reach Daily Express | December 5, 2025 8:39 PM CST

Now perfectly discreet and unspoilt, this village lies inconspicuously on the hillsides of Derbyshire, just waiting to be discovered by passersby. Bradwell is the kind of village you stumble upon when you get lost on a drive somewhere, maybe on route to a nearby country house or driving to begin your hike in the Peak District.

But when found, it's beguiling beauty is a sight to behold, as a quintessentially English village, with a few hidden gems nearby. It once stood as a mining village and its history lives on in a popular local caving destination, known as Bagshawe Cavern. It was the early 18th century when it cemented itself as a thriving lead mining community, before the industry died out, and it became a simple town for commuters and retirees.

Although Bradwell boasts a wonderful selection of pubs, as an original "working man's village", it has more places to drink than just about anything else. The White Hart still stands as the oldest Public House in the area, believed to have been built as far back as 1676.

If a visitor finds themselves in one of these pubs, you'll typically be met with a calm atmosphere, a cosy feel and, of course, some traditional pub grub. One recent attendee described it to be "the perfect village pub" on TripAdvisor, thanks to its roaring fires and welcoming bar staff.

Another review reads: "A good pub, serving farmers, looks like it is for the locals, which it is, but don't worry, they are friendly and welcoming. Nice warm fire. Great for a pint and relaxation."

Other traditional and charming pubs in and around the village include The Shoulder of Mutton, offering better views and a wider selection of food and drink. As well as this, you can find the Ye Olde Bowling Green Inn or the Traveller's Rest Inn, perched on the outskirts of the village, all boasting positive reviews.

Not to mention, the village is home to a wholesome café, bakery and tasty fish and chip shop - what more could a local ask for? Throughout the heart of the picture-perfect village lies a babbling brook, making it all the more fairytale-like as it quietly runs through the centre of Bradwell.

Bradwell is not short of history, with a bridge nearby close to the River Noe in Brough, where an ancient Roman settlement lies. Navio Roman Fort draws in plenty of history buffs to the area, keen to explore the remains and learn about the strategic guard point that is thought to have occupied the space for over 200 years.

Others chose to explore the intriguing cavern which lead miners stumbled across in 1806, east of the village. Taking 100 steps down from the surface, adventurers will uncover a whole load of mining paraphernalia explaining the history of the site and etched into the stone are centuries-old pick marks.

In its more modern era, the village has other interesting ties to inventions, being the home of the humble Bradwell's Ice Cream. First created by Grandma Hannah in the 19th century, visitors can still see her former kitchen now standing as a parlour that continues to serve ice cream to locals.

Alongside this, the inventor of the modern umbrella, known as Samuel Fox, was also someone who called Bradwell his home, and a plaque exists to commemorate his life-changing design. Not to mention, the local pub, the Samuel Fox Country Inn was named after the man himself.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK