Access Information: Chesterfield Children's Festival

The main festival area is an open grass field measuring roughly 150m × 150m. The grass is generally firm and well‑maintained, though it may become soft or muddy in wet weather, especially in high‑traffic areas. 

The park slopes gently downwards from the south side, but most activity areas are on level ground. A network of tarmac paths surrounds the field, offering reliable routes for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and buggies however, you will need to go on to the grass to access festival activities. 

All key activity areas are within a short walking distance of each other. These include: 

• Bandstand – performance space near the Boythorpe Avenue entrance 

• Geodome – cyanotype workshops near the Boythorpe Avenue entrance and bandstand, to the south of the field 

• Junction Arts 50 Stories Exhibition – near the cricket pitch to the south east side of the field 

• Junction Arts Gazebo – main information and lost children point, located in the centre of the park with clear signage.  

• Face painting in the centre of the park 

• Kip McGrath Craft Tent – in the south-west corner of the field 

• Early Years Stretch Tent – in the south-east corner of the field 

• The Delights performance area – by the trees near the Early Years Stretch Tent 

• Three charity information stalls – near the bandstand 

• First Aid – located near the bandstand 

• Mobile Changing Place – fully accessible changing facility to the south of the bandstand 

• Food trucks – positioned centrally at the bottom of the field 

• Access Information Point – at the Junction Arts Gazebo 
• Lost Child Point – at the Junction Arts Gazebo

• Tarmac paths – provide routes around the site 

• Distance from South Car Park to the bandstand: approx. 65m 

• Distance from South Car Park to the furthest activity area: approx. 150m 

• Maximum distance between any two festival points: approx. 150m 

More parking information is available in the ‘How to Get to Chesterfield Children’s Festival’ section. 

The Children’s Festival takes place in a public park and all dogs are welcome; however, we ask that they stay on a lead. We will have a water bowl at the Junction Arts gazebo. 

There will be a roaming BSL interpreter available throughout the day, plus interpreters for specific performances during the festival, please see the programme for details. 
Come to the Junction Arts Gazebo and we will connect you with an interpreter. 

• There will be a Mobile Changing Place on the park throughout the festival, located close to the bandstand. 

• Market Hall, Market Place, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR
  Opening Times: 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday
  Contains a hoist, bench and extra space for children and adults who need help using toilet facilities

• The park’s public toilets are located next to the Café, they include an accessible toilet, no radar key is needed. 

• Queen’s Park Sports Centre (very close to the park) has three toilets with adaptions. 

• Market Hall, Market Place, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR 

• Pavements Shopping Centre, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, S40 1PA – Radar Key required 

• Queen’s Park 
• Queen’s Park Café 
• Queen’s Park Sports Centre
• Pavements Shopping Centre, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, S40 1PA – key required from attendant 
• The Portland Hotel, West Bars, S40 1AY 
• Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell St, S40 1QN 
• Market Café, Market Hall, Market Place, S40 1AR 
• Sorbo Lounge, Market Place, S40 1TW 
• McDonalds, Low Pavement, S40 1PB 
• Woodheads Café & Woody’s Café, Low Pavement, S40 1PF 
• Vintage Tea Rooms, 12 Steeplegate, S40 1SA 
• Costa Coffee, Ravenside Retail Park, S40 1TB 
• Chesterfield Salvation Army Community Church, Foljambe Rd, S40 1NJ 

For those that would like access to a quiet space and a break from the crowds: 

For an indoor quiet space – there should be quiet spaces within the Sports Centre and if you take a short walk into the town centre, you will find Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell St, Chesterfield S40 1QN 

For an outdoor quiet space: 

The lake area at the far side of the park has a path with several benches. 

There is a woodland path behind the miniature railway that could offer a quieter space, close to the festival. This is on the south side of the park. 

Throughout the day there will be periods when the Early Years stretch tent will not have programmed activity and can offer a calmer space to sit and relax.

Chesterfield is just 10 minutes from Junction 29 of the M1 via the A617. From all routes, follow signs for Chesterfield Town Centre, then follow signs for Queen’s Park. 

The best car park is Queen’s Park North Car Park (Boythorpe Road, S40 2NF) which has flat, level access into the park and 3 disabled parking spaces. 

Alternatively, there is Queen’s Park South Car Park (S40 2NH) which has 2 disabled parking spaces and Queen’s Park Annexe Car Park (Park Road, Chesterfield S40 2QE), which also has dedicated disabled spaces. From the Queen’s Park Annexe Car Park, turn onto Boythorpe Avenue and walk for approximately 5 minutes until you find the south entrance to the park. 

There is more parking in the town centre which is a 5 – 10 minute walk away. One of the closest is New Beetwell Street Multi Storey Car Park which has dedicated Blue Badge spaces and lift access to all levels. 

An accessible pedestrian route from New Beetwell Street Multi Storey Car Park to Queen’s Park
Distance: approx. 0.4 miles Time: 6–8 minutes Route: Step‑free, wide pavements, one controlled crossing 

1. Leave New Beetwell Street Car Park using the New Beetwell Street exit, turn right. 
2. Walk towards the Coach Station, follow the path to the right to Beckingham Way down the hill and past the Coach Station. 
3. Cross over at the pedestrian crossing and head towards the traffic lights crossing on Markham Road (A619). 
4. Cross over at the pelican crossing, head right on Markham Road.
5. Follow the pavement round the corner, with Ravenside Retail Park on the left side.
6. Use the pelican crossing to cross on Park Road at the entrance road into the retail park.
7. Cross over Park Road at the pelican crossing.
8. Turn left and then right through the gates into Queens Park. 

Chesterfield Coach Station is approximately 0.4 miles from Queen’s Park or if possible alight at Park Road Bus Stop which is 2-3 minutes walk from the Park Road entrance. 

An accessible pedestrian route from the Coach Station to Queen’s Park: 

Distance: approx. 0.4 miles Time: 6–8 minutes Gradient: Mostly level, gentle downhill towards the park  

1. Exit the Coach Station onto Beetwell Street.
2. Walk towards the Coach Station, follow the path to the right to Beckingham Way down the hill and past the Coach Station. 
3. Cross over at the pedestrian crossing and head towards the traffic lights crossing on Markham Road (A619). 
4. Cross over at the pelican crossing, head right on Markham Road.
5. Follow the pavement round the corner, with Ravenside Retail Park on the left side.
6. Use the pelican crossing to cross on Park Road at the entrance road into the retail park.
7. Cross over Park Road at the pelican crossing.
8. Turn left and then right through the gates into Queens Park.

Queen’s Park is approximately 0.7 miles from Chesterfield Train Station and will take approximately 12-15 minutes to walk.  

An accessible pedestrian route from the Train Station to Queen’s Park: 

1. Leave the train station heading towards Crow Lane.  
2. Turn left on Crow Lane and cross the walk‑over bridge.  
3. On the other side of the bridge, walk straight on following Station Road.  
4. Turn right onto Spa Lane, walk towards Saint Mary’s Gate.  
5. Walk down Saint Mary’s Gate, cross over at the pelican crossing outside Chandler’s Bar.  
6. Turn right onto Beetwell Street and head towards the coach station.  
7. At the coach station, follow the road, Beckingham Way, down the hill and past the coach station.  
8. Cross over at the pedestrian crossing and head towards the traffic lights crossing on Markham Road.  
9. Cross over at the pelican crossing, head right on Markham Road.  
10. Follow the pavement round the corner, with Ravenside Retail Park on the left side. Use the pelican crossing to cross on Park Road at the entrance road into the retail park.  
11. Cross over Park Road at the pelican crossing. 
12. Turn left and then right through the gates into Queens Park. 

The best places for a taxi to drop off is the entrance to the park on Boythorpe Road or Boythorpe Avenue ; both give you easy access to the main festival area and are close to the bandstand.