The border of the Peak District National Park runs through the village west of the River Wye and immediately to the north of Chatsworth Road.

[4] Notable features are the bridge over the River Derwent, St Katherine's Church, Rowsley and the Grade-II*-listed[5] Peacock hotel, originally built in 1652 as a manor house by John Stevenson, agent to Lady Manners, whose family crest bearing a peacock gives it its name.

Nearby is Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

It was the site of an extensive motive power depot and marshalling yard, the first being built by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway with a railway station designed by Joseph Paxton in 1849.

It was frequently used by King Edward VII when he visited Chatsworth House.