//
City in Derbyshire, England
Photo: The original uploader was Chris Harris at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Derby (pronounced DAR-bee) is a city in Derbyshire, England. Purportedly the UK's most 'central' city and promoted as a base for exploring the Peak District, this city of 260,000 people (2021) also boasts modern shopping facilities and a number of visitor attractions in and around the surrounding area.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
This Grade-II listed building is the work of Melbourne (Derbyshire) engineer Rowland Mason Ordish, and was completed in 1866. It re-opened in 2025 after extensive renovation.
A factory producing fine china, part of Derby's history. Contact the factory to schedule a tour.
formerly the Silk Mill, and Derby Industrial Museum
Celebrating the area’s rich history of innovation, telling Derby’s 300-year history of making to inspire new creativity on what is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first factory.
Features collections of porcelain created in Derby since 1750. Other displays include archaeology, military history, geology and natural history. The art gallery has a large collection of paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby.
Unique museum of Georgian life and historic costume. Well worth visiting.
Though not one of the most spectacular of English cathedrals (it was a "mere" parish church until 1927), the cathedral has an impressive 16th-century tower (which is occasionally open for some spectacular views across Derby); most of the rest is early Georgian, with an east-end extension in matching style completed in 1972. Highlights include a painted wrought-iron screen by the renowned local smith Robert Bakewell (1682–1751) and memorials to Bess of Hardwick, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and Florence Nightingale. Peregrine Falcons have nested on the tower for several years and volunteers are on hand with telescopes for viewing during spring and early summer (go to http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/ for current dates).
14th-century bridge chapel, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Derby and one of the few surviving bridge chapels in England. A picturesque little building next to the River Derwent, still hosting regular services but with limited opening times otherwise.
The home of the Curzon family which was constructed in 1759. This neoclassical hall had particular controversy as the Curzon's forced the village of Kedleston to relocate several miles away with the exception of the All Saints' church which stayed put.
An innovation space for creative and digital industries, with a rolling programme of exhibitions and open studio events featuring residents and members. Monthly makers market, first Saturday of each month, 10 am - 4 pm.
International centre for contemporary art and creativity. Exhibitions, studios, work spaces, shop and cafe.
Derby city’s first fully equipped ceramic studio space open to the public. Next-door to Artcore
Community garden, with a programme of events, open days and workshops running throughout the season. Run by Down to Earth, Derby.
A recording studio, rehearsal space, performance venue, art gallery, cafe & bar, working with artists from around the world to bring their ideas to life.
Take a walk up the Derwent to Darley Park.
England's first publicly owned, landscaped, urban, recreational park, deeded to the town of Derby in 1840.
321 acres (130 hectares) of open parkland, woodland and more formal historical gardens surrounding a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle. Has in the last few years been lacking attention and investment.
"The Rams" were promoted in 2024 and now play football (soccer) in the Championship, the second tier. Pride Park Stadium, capacity 33,000, is off A6 at the southeast edge of town.
Watch a game of cricket.
Sales and information centre for music, touring theatre and other live performances in various city venues.
2-screen cinema, gallery, café bar, workshop, BFI Mediatheque. Co-organiser of FORMAT, the UK’s leading festival of international photography.
In-house and touring productions.
Public park with children's playground and paddling pool, crazy golf and craft village.
Enjoy a passenger boat trip along the UK's most bio-diverse urban river, with commentary recorded by Sir David Suchet.
The wildest and most scenic of Derby’s parks, a mixture of woodland, open parkland, a lake and a Grade II*-listed hall. Site of the largest urban rewilding project in the UK, in progress.
Sport, fitness and performance venue. The Midlands' hub for track cycling.
3,500 capacity destination for concerts, family events, sports and conferencing.
Performance venue, also sales and information centre for Derby LIVE - see above, under 'Do'
Breakfast and lunch menus.
Real ale pub that serves real English food. Need to book a table to get a proper Sunday roast dinner.
Voted one of the UK's Top 10 Indian restaurants by The Times.
Spanish tapas and wine.
Modern Japanese cuisine in a stylish, contemporary setting.
Eat in or take away.
Mexican restaurant.
Derby's oldest pub, with lots of character. The pub has several small rooms and an outside, partially-covered seating area which houses the pub's beer festivals at various intervals throughout the year. Food at reasonable prices is served throughout the day and the evening and there is also an à la carte restaurant upstairs, although not open every night. There is always a good range of well-kept beers. General knowledge quiz on Sundays, music quiz on Tuesdays. Ghost walks can also be booked here.
Derby's last surviving coaching inn, built 1650.
Popular pub with a good selection of ales.
This is a lively and atmospheric pub on the northern edge of the city centre that serves a wide range of real ales, including some of its own microbrewery ales.
The original microbrewery pub in Derby, near the train station in a characterful old railway building. The choice of beer on tap here has to be seen to be believed; a place not to be missed!
Located on Irongate in a former bank, this pub has a truly impressive interior as well as a good selection of real ale. The Standing Order is a Wetherspoons pub.
Traditional pub with real ales in a timber-framed building of around 1680.
Traditional pub in remaining building of an Augustinian Abbey.
Traditional pub interior.
Excellent country pub with food, dog-friendly. Also has 12 rooms, B&B double £130.
Tours available.
Macklin Street. Standard and en-suite rooms available. Rates include breakfast and parking.
This Grade II listed hotel is home to 38 luxury bedrooms with state-of-the-art technology, a mini spa and treatment rooms, conference rooms, residents' bar, private dining leading from the 80-cover fine dining restaurant in the grandeur of a ballroom, and the exclusive Chef's table experience, the first of its kind in the area.
formerly Jurys Inn
Menzies Hotel.
Single and double rooms, executive double rooms and junior suites.
Comfy welcoming B&B in former mill village.
Gastropub with rooms on the village green.
formerly intu Derby
Derby's main shopping centre is the £340m Derbion, which opened as 'Westfield Derby' in 2007 and offers a wide range of shops selling merchandise at competitive prices . As well as a state-of-the-art, 12-screen Cinema De Lux, Derbion has a spacious food court which offers a wide diversity of international cuisine as well as the usual fast food outlets.
Those spending time in the city should also visit the quaint streets, with their specialist shops, lush green spaces and some really comfortable bars and restaurants.
On the outskirts of the town, includes Sainsbury's, Boots, Homecare, Clark's and a number of fast food chains.
Retail park includes Morrisons supermarket and PC World.
The world's oldest department store, established in 1734, although this shop only opened in 2021 after two years of only trading online.
By train
Derby Station has good rail links. East Midlands Railways operates express trains from London St Pancras, Leicester and Sheffield.
By bus
Derby Bus Station is served by coaches operated by National Express from around the country.
On foot
Derby is a compact city making it very approachable for pedestrians.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Nottingham, Leicestershire · International · EMA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Derby and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsA complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.