Ashbourne is an historic market town recorded in the Doomsday Book as Esseburn, and recorded on a 1564 map of England. Ashbourne was fashionable social centre for the wealthy during the Georgian period, with six coaching roads meeting at the town, including the route from London to Carlisle. A stroll down the main street today takes you past historic almshouses, the 16th century Old Grammar School, the Mansion where Dr Johnson visited his friend Dr Taylor and the lovely parish church of St Oswald, with its graceful 212ft spire and the oldest dedication plaque of its kind in Britain, dating back to 1241.

Ashbourne's legacy of more than 200 listed buildings, fine coaching inns and mellow-bricked town houses combine to create the town's unique atmosphere.

Ashbourne has lots of independent shops with high quality food outlets, high end designer boutiques and high street fashion chains for men and women and a wealth of antique shops.