What To Do In Derby & Derbyshire | Free-City-Guides.com

Derby is a green city with a rich industrial heritage to explore, but it’s also a great base to visit the surrounding county of Derbyshire and make the most of its stately homes, tourist attractions and superb countryside. Here are our recommendations of what to see….

WHAT TO DO IN DERBY

Museum of Making – Derbyshire’s historic mills in the Derwent valley have been granted World Heritage status. One of them – the Silk Mill – is now the home to Derby’s Museum of Making. Basically, inside this restored mill you’ll find interactive displays about Derby’s role in manufacturing across the years from cotton through to Toyota cars. Derby was also a significant hub in the Victorian railway network. This museum is exactly what a modern museum should be – hands on and packed with interactivity. Best of all, it’s free!

Markeaton Park – As municipal parks go, this is a great one with loads to do. It’s set in the grounds of a former stately home which was demolished after WW2. The stables and Orangery survive and they now house a café and maker’s workshops. The thing that makes this park special though is the children’s play facilities. There are several play areas, 2 crazy golf courses, a huge paddling pool, a pitch and putt golf course, a skate park and a high-ropes facility. There’s also boating available on the creek and a huge model railway shed. Some of the facilities are free and some cost extra, but on a decent sunny day, you can easily spend hours here.

Derby Cathedral – Wander into this large church at the top of Irongate to soak up its history. There are several notable features inside, but we actually liked just sitting in a pew and enjoying the sense of peace and calm in the building.

Around Derby: More Things To Do, Pictures & Map…

WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE DERBY

Derby is a great base to explore attractions outside the city. There’s so much to enjoy in Derbyshire and neighbouring East Staffordshire. Here are our recommendations of what to see…

Dovedale & The Peak District – The Peak District National Park is withing easy reach of Derby and if rolling hills and beautiful villages are your thing, you won’t be disappointed. One of the nearest places to get to is Dovedale. A limestone valley carved by the winding River Dove. The highlight of a visit here is crossing the historic ‘Stepping Stones’ and climbing Thorpe Cloud for superb views all around. Much of this area is now managed by the National Trust and there are dedicated car parks you can use.
Dovedale & The Peak District: Read More, Pictures, Parking & Location…

Chatsworth House – Derbyshire’s most visited paid attraction is one of the country’s most beautiful and significant stately homes. Chatsworth House is exquisite and the state rooms are like something you’d find in a palace. The gardens are impressive too, with a beautiful water cascade, modern art and a huge water jet powered by gravity. The farmyard has animals and a large adventure playground and the former stables now house a restaurant and shops. This is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, who was so rich that he paid for the entire estate village of Endsor outside his windows to be moved to improve his view from the house. Even if you’ve never been before, you’ll recognise Chatsworth from countless films and TV shows.
Chatsworth House: What To See, Tickets Prices, Hours & Map… (coming soon)

Crich Tramway Village – A former quarry railway high up in the Derbyshire countryside is now home to the National Tramway Museum. Here you’ll find restored trams from across the country serving passengers once more. At the lower part of the track is a ‘village’ created from historic buildings, some of which were moved stone-by-stone from their original locations. The are three further stops on the line – a Victorian Park, a mining exhibition and the final stop is near to Crich Stand memorial with stunning views all around. There’s a woodland walk with carved figures and animals to enjoy too. We love this place and have enjoyed many visits here over the years to ride the heritage trams.
Crich Tramway Village: Read More, Ticket Prices, Hours & Map… (coming soon)

The Heights of Abraham – Sitting on top of a hill overlooking Matlock Bath is a truly different heritage attraction. This place has been drawing visitors for hundreds of years who came for the views from the attractive park that was created here. The whole place was given a new lease of life by the current owners when they installed a cable car system to get you to the park. The centrepiece is the Victorian Prospect Tower with stunning views all around, but we particularly enjoyed the guided tours of the two cavern complexes on the site. You’ll learn about Derbyshire’s mining history as you travel through time in the caverns. There are also interactive exhibitions, a range of walks, impressive play areas and a café/restaurant with lovely views from the terraces. This is not like any attraction we’ve visited before and we loved the peace and tranquillity on the site – it’s a real escape and we’d thoroughly recommend it.
The Heights Of Abraham: Read More, Ticket Prices, Hours, Pictures & Map…

Calke Abbey – Derbyshire is home to several National Trust properties and this one is not like any stately home you’ve visited before. The family who lived here became more and more reclusive and as the money started to run out, the house deteriorated around them. It’s been preserved in this ‘decaying’ state for visitors today. You’ll find rooms packed with possessions, crammed in to every space. Children’s beds became storage areas once they’d left home and the historic wallpaper is peeling in many rooms. There’s still so much to see and do here though with a huge walled garden, secret tunnels, an estate church and a large stable complex. There’s also a rustic play area in the woods at ‘Calke Explore’. The estate is near the pretty village of Melbourne.
Calke Abbey: Read More, Hours, Ticket Prices, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

Kedleston Hall – The seat of the Lord Scarsdale sits just outside Derby and is another National Trust property with lots to see and do. The marble hall is the centrepiece of the house along with the impressive domed ceiling. We particularly likes the museum downstairs where historic and cultural items from travels abroad are displayed. Our little boy was fascinated with the spears! Outside, there’s a stable complex, a pretty garden and a 7 mile circular walk around the estate.
Kedleston Hall: Read More, What To See, Hours, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

Hardwick Hall – Another of Derbyshire’s National Trust jewels is Hardwick Hall, home to the formidable Bess of Hardwick. You’ll learn about her life on a visit here, but you’ll also marvel at the size of the windows in this house! The tapestries on the walls mean that some rooms are a bit gloomy, but don’t let that put you off. The house is incredible and once you’ve explored it and the attached gardens, you can walk across the road and see the ruins of Hardwick Old Hall.
Hardwick Hall: Read More, Opening Times, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

Haddon Hall – This impressive medieval home near Bakewell is packed with history and the estate includes walks and a small church. The hall is still privately owned and hasn’t really changed in centuries with 900 years of history to discover. Its authenticity means that the hall’s exterior and interior have been used in many films and TV series like Billions, 3 adaptations of Jayne Ayre, the Princess Bride, Pride & Prejudice and the Other Boleyn Girl.
Haddon Hall: Ticket Prices, Hours, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

Sudbury Hall – This National Trust property near Derby was a bustling family home in its heyday which is why it’s now been re-branded as ‘the children’s stately home’. There’s loads to see and do for kids here including a museum dedicated to children’s toys and experiences. Our son loved the chimney climbing experience where you crawl into one fireplace and come out at another. The house itself has a stunning staircase and an attractive wooden library. The Long Gallery contains many children’s games and toys.
Sudbury Hall: Read More, Opening Times, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

St George’s Park – The England football team’s training centre is located just over the Derbyshire border in East Staffordshire. You can visit the site when England are not on a training camp there. Tours include the dressing room and an introduction to the facilities including a full size indoor pitch. There are hotels here too if you just fancy popping in for a drink or meal.
St George’s Park: Visiting Information, Pictures & Map… (coming soon)

The National Memorial Arboretum – What do you do with a barren former gravel works bordering two rivers? One man’s vision eventually turned this location in East Staffordshire into a beautiful park of remembrance packed with over 400 memorials. The centrepiece, is the huge British Forces Memorial standing on the highest point. This memorial has the names carved in it of all service personnel who have died on duty since the second world war. It’s a sobering experience to visit, but it’s also uplifting and the park is a really beautiful place wander around. There’s a welcome centre, chapel and café at the entrance after which you can explore the whole park. Admission is free, although there is a parking charge.
The National Memorial Arboretum: Read More, Pictures, Hours & Map… (coming soon)

OUR TOP TIP IN DERBYSHIRE

Derbyshire Heritage Railways – There are a number of heritage railways in Derbyshire to enjoy. Our favourite is the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, which operates a range of diesel and occasional steam services on a long line between Duffield and Wirksworth. Peak Rail operates mainly steam services from Rowlsey to Matlock and the Midland Railway Centre has great facilities at Butterley. There’s also the Steeple Grange light railway operating on an 18 inch gauge line from Wirksworth to Middleton through limestone cuttings.
Derbyshire’s Heritage Railways: Read More, Ticket Prices, Locations & Pictures… (coming soon)

RECOMMENDED HOTEL

We recommend the Cathedral Quarter Hotel in Derby. It’s located in a quiet part of the city centre but still gives easy of access to the shops and restaurants. The rooms are luxurious and attractive and the food is good too. If you’d prefer to stay out of the city, then we’d go for the Marriot Breadsall Priory hotel which is set in gorgeous countryside just a few miles out of the centre. It also has its own golf course!

GETTING AROUND DERBY & DERBYSHIRE

For ease, travelling around Derbyshire is best done by car. Having said that though, Derby is a railway city and has good rail connections. You can use these to get to Derby and also to a certain extent to travel around Derbyshire. Significant locations like Matlock and Matlock Bath have their own stations. Bus services operate from Matlock to Bakewell and Chatsworth House. Derby is just a few miles away from East Midlands Airport which has a regular bus service into the city. Derby city centre is compact enough to be easily explored on foot.