Why visit Derby?

Derby was the site of Lombe's Mill, the first fully mechanised factory in the world, built in 1721. Railway engineering starting in 1840 in Derby, and continued with the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works. The city is now the site of the UK's only remaining locomotive manufacturer. Rolls-Royce opened a car and aircraft factory in the town in 1907; today the aero-engine manufacturer is the largest engineering employer in the area. Car maker Toyota has a manufacturing and assembly plant in Burnaston, just south of Derby. On 8 October 2021 it was announced that Derby was included in the long list of bids to host UK City of Culture 2025.

Visit Derby tourist information

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is 🌍

East Midlands Airport ( EMA IATA ). The Skylink Derby bus runs from the airport to Derby and is operated by Kinchbus . The Skylink service runs every 20 minutes during the daytime and half-hourly at other times (with a 24-hour service), and also serves Leicester.

By train

🌍

Derby Station has good rail links. East Midlands Railways operates express trains from London St Pancras , Leicester and Sheffield . It also runs local services to destinations including Nottingham , Matlock , Stoke-on-Trent and to parts of Lincolnshire . Crosscountry operates services to the North East, Scotland , the South West, the South Coast and the West Midlands . Train times are available from National Rail Enquiries (+44 345 748 4950).

By bus

🌍

Derby Bus Station is served by coaches operated by National Express from around the country. The 'Comet' bus service by Trent Barton connects the city to Chesterfield while the 'Red Arrow' runs to Nottingham at very regular intervals on weekdays and weekends. The 'Transpeak' bus service by High Peak connects Derby with the Peak District and Manchester .

Get around

By bus

Most local bus services are operated by Arriva and Trent Barton . See the Derbyshire County Council public transport website for timetables and information for all buses. Public transport in the city is not particularly good value, especially compared to similar cities.

There are two park and ride services running from Meteor Centre in the north and Pride Park in the east.

On foot

Derby is a compact city making it very approachable for pedestrians.

See

🌍

Derby Market Hall ,

The Market Place, DE1 2FS ,

☏

+44 1332 255653 .

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. ( updated May 2025 )

🌍

Royal Crown Derby ,

194 Osmaston Road ,

☏

+44 1332 712800 .

A factory producing fine china, part of Derby's history. Contact the factory to schedule a tour.

🌍

Museum of Making

( formerly the Silk Mill, and Derby Industrial Museum ),

Silk Mill Lane ,

☏

+44 1332 255308 .

M closed, Tu W Sa 10AM-5PM, Th F 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-4PM .

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.

Entry is free. Visitors do not need to pre-book for general admission, but are advised to pre-book tickets for special exhibitions . ( updated May 2022 )

🌍

Derby Museum and Art Gallery ,

The Strand ,

☏

+44 1332 716659 ,

fax : +44 1332 716670 .

Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM, Bank Holidays closed .

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.

Free . ( updated Oct 2016 )

🌍

Pickford's House ,

41 Friargate ,

☏

+44 1332 255363 .

M 11AM-5PM, Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2-5PM, holidays 2PM-5PM .

Unique museum of Georgian life and historic costume. Well worth visiting.

Free . ( updated Sep 2016 )

🌍

Derby Cathedral ,

Cathedral Centre: 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP ,

☏

+44 1332 341201 .

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).

🌍

St Mary's Chapel ,

Bridge Gate .

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.

🌍

Derby Gaol ,

50-51 Friar Gate ,

toll-free:

+44 800 027 7928 .

🌍

Kedleston Hall ,

near Quarndon, DE22 5JH ,

☏

+44 1332 842191 ,

[email protected] .

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. ( updated Oct 2016 )

🌍

Banks Mill Studios ,

71 Bridge Street, DE1 3LB ,

☏

+44 1332 597866 ,

[email protected] .

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. ( updated Feb 2025 )

🌍

Artcore ,

8 Albert Street, Osnabrück Square, Derby DE1 2DS ,

☏

+44 1332 366623 ,

[email protected] .

M‒F 9:30AM‒5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM .

International centre for contemporary art and creativity. Exhibitions, studios, work spaces, shop and cafe. ( updated May 2022 )

🌍

Electric Daisy ,

1-4 Bold Lane, DE1 3NT ,

☏

+44 1332 366623 ,

[email protected] .

Open garden F-Sa 10AM‒4PM. Other events as posted on the website .

Community garden, with a programme of events, open days and workshops running throughout the season. Run by Down to Earth, Derby .

Open garden free. Other events: prices on the website . ( updated Jul 2023 )

🌍

Dubrek Studios ,

67 Bridge Street Derby DE1 3LB ,

☏

+44 07595 158654 ,

[email protected] .

A recording studio, rehearsal space, performance venue, art gallery, cafe & bar, working with artists from around the world to bring their ideas to life. ( updated Jun 2025 )

Do

Go on a ghost walk in the UK's second 'most haunted' town. For example: Derby ghost walks and Cathedral Quarter

🌍

Darley Park walk .

Take a walk up the Derwent to Darley Park.

🌍

Derby Arboretum .

England's first publicly owned, landscaped, urban, recreational park, deeded to the town of Derby in 1840.

🌍

Elvaston Castle Country Park ,

Borrowash Road, Elvaston .

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. ( updated Apr 2021 )

🌍

Derby County FC ,

Pride Park, Royal Way DE24 8XL ,

☏

+44 1332 667532 .

"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. ( updated May 2024 )

🌍

Derbyshire County Cricket Club ,

Grandstand Road .

Watch a game of cricket.

🌍

Derby LIVE ,

Chapel Street Arts Centre, 19 Chapel Street, Derby, DE1 3GU

( approx five minutes' walk north-west of Market Place. ),

☏

+44 1332 255800 ,

[email protected] .

Sales and information centre for music, touring theatre and other live performances in various city venues. ( updated Jun 2025 )

🌍

QUAD ,

Market Place ,

☏

+44 1332 290606 .

2-screen cinema, gallery, café bar, workshop, BFI Mediatheque. Co-organiser of FORMAT , the UK’s leading festival of international photography. ( updated Jul 2022 )

🌍

Derby Theatre ,

15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter ,

☏

+44 1332 593939 .

In-house and touring productions.

🌍

Markeaton Park .

Public park with children's playground and paddling pool, crazy golf and craft village.

🌍

Derby Riverboat ,

Phoenix Green Boat Station, DE1 2EB ,

[email protected] .

Apr-Oct: W Sa Su and Bank Holiday afternoons, 12:30PM, 1:45PM, 3PM .

Enjoy a passenger boat trip along the UK's most bio-diverse urban river, with commentary recorded by Sir David Suchet. ( updated Sep 2023 )

🌍

Allestree Park

( off A6 approx 3 miles (4.8 km) north of city centre; buses to Belper and beyond pass regularly ).

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 . ( updated Jul 2024 )

🌍

Derby Arena ,

Royal Way, Pride Park, DE24 8JB

( approx 1.5 miles (2.4 km) SE of city centre, off A6, also via A52 ),

☏

+44 1332 640011 ,

[email protected] .

Sport, fitness and performance venue. The Midlands' hub for track cycling. ( updated Aug 2024 )

🌍

Vaillant Live ,

2 Colyear Street, DE1 1LA

( full access details on the website ).

3,500 capacity destination for concerts, family events, sports and conferencing. ( updated May 2025 )

🌍

Chapel Street Arts Centre ,

19 Chapel Street, DE1 3GU ,

☏

+44 01332 370911 .

Performance venue, also sales and information centre for Derby LIVE - see above, under 'Do' ( updated Jun 2025 )

Events

Derby 50:50 : .
A year of celebration marking the fiftieth anniversaries of the twinning association with Osnabrück, Germany, established in 1976, and of Derby being granted city status in 1977. Twelve events so far announced, with more to come. Various venues across the city. (date needs fixing)

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows : 13 June – 1 November 2026.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The first major exhibition dedicated to the British artist’s ‘candlelight’ paintings.

Furthest From The Sea Festival : tba June 2026.
Music, comedy, arts, workshops (date needs fixing)

Derby Book Festival - Summer Festival, aditional event : 19 July 2026.
Steve Farnsworth: Painting Faces: Being a Life of that Capital Artist, Joseph Wright of Derby. 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Derby Caribbean Carnival : 19 July 2026.
A day of music, dance, and cultural celebration.

🌍

Darley Park Weekender : 21–23 August 2026, Darley Park, DE1 3AY , ☏

+44 1332 255800 , [email protected] .

Derby Heritage Beer Festival : tba September 2026.
Bringing together over 130 real ales from the best of Britain’s breweries, alongside a selection of ciders, world beers and craft keg. At the Museum of Making. (date needs fixing)

Derby Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival : tba September 2026.
(date needs fixing)

Derby Festé : 26 September 2026.
A spectacular mix of dance, theatre, circus, parkour, and aerial performance, around the city centre.

Derby Poetry Festival : tba October

[... truncated ...]

How do you get there?

By Plane

The nearest airport is

East Midlands Airport ( EMA IATA ). The Skylink Derby bus runs from the airport to Derby and is operated by Kinchbus . The Skylink service runs every 20 minutes during the daytime and half-hourly at other times (with a 24-hour service), and also serves Leicester.

By Train

Derby Station has good rail links. East Midlands Railways operates express trains from London St Pancras , Leicester and Sheffield . It also runs local services to destinations including Nottingham , Matlock , Stoke-on-Trent and to parts of Lincolnshire . Crosscountry operates services to the North East, Scotland , the South West, the South Coast and the West Midlands . Train times are available from National Rail Enquiries (+44 0).

By Car / Road

runs from the airport to Derby and is operated by Kinchbus . The Skylink service runs every 20 minutes during the daytime and half-hourly at other times (with a 24-hour service), and also serves Leicester.

By train

Derby Station has good rail links. East Midlands Railways operates express trains from London St Pancras , Leicester and Sheffield . It also runs local services to destinations including Nottingham , Matlock , Stoke-on-Trent and to parts of Lincolnshire . Crosscountry operates services to the North East, Scotland , the South West, the South Coast and the West Midlands . Train times are available from National Rail Enquiries (+44 0).

Der Station is served by coaches operated by National Express from around the country. The 'Comet' bus service by Trent Barton connects the city to Chesterfield while the 'Red Arrow' runs to Nottingham at very regular intervals on weekdays and weekends. The 'Transpeak' bus service by High Peak connects Derby with the Peak District and Manchester .

Get around Most local bus services are operated by Arriva and Trent Barton . See the Derbyshire County Council public transport website for timetables and information for all buses. Public transport in the city is not particularly good value, especially compared to similar cities.

There are two park and ride services running from Meteor Centre in the north and Pride Park in the east.

On foot

Derby is a compact city making it very approachable for pedestrians.

See

Derby Market Hall ,

The Market Place, DE1 2FS ,

.

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. (

Royal Crown Derby ,

194 Osmaston Road ,

.

A factory producing fine china, part of Derby's history. Contact the factory to schedule a tour.

Museum of Making

( formerly the Silk Mill, and Derby Industrial Museum ),

Silk Mill Lane ,

.

M closed, Tu W Sa 10AM-5PM, Th F 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-4PM .

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.

Entry is free. Visitors do not need to pre-book for general admission, but are advised to pre-book tickets for special exhibitions . (

Derby Museum and Art Gallery ,

The Strand ,

,

fax : +44 1332 716670 .

Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM, Bank Holidays closed .

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.

Free . (

Pickford's House ,

41 Friargate ,

.

M 11AM-5PM, Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su PM, holidays 2PM-5PM .

Unique museum of Georgian life and historic costume. Well worth visiting.

Free . (

Derby Cathedral ,

Cathedral Centre: Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP ,

.

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).

St Mary's Chapel ,

Bridge Gate .

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.

Derby Gaol ,

Friar Gate ,

+44 8 .

Kedleston Hall ,

near Quarndon, DE22 5JH ,

,

[email protected] .

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. (

Banks Mill Studios ,

71 Bridge Street, DE1 3LB ,

,

[email protected] .

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. (

Artcore ,

8 Albert Street, Osnabrück Square, Derby DE1 2DS ,

,

[email protected] .

M‒F 9:30AM‒5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM .

International centre for contemporary art and creativity. Exhibitions, studios, work spaces, shop and cafe. (

Electric Daisy ,

Bold Lane, DE1 3NT ,

,

[email protected] .

Open garden F-Sa 10AM‒4PM. Other events as posted on the website .

Community garden, with a programme of events, open days and workshops running throughout the season. Run by Down to Earth, Derby .

Open garden free. Other events: prices on the website . (

Dubrek Studios ,

67 Bridge Street Derby DE1 3LB ,

,

[email protected] .

A recording studio, rehearsal space, performance venue, art gallery, cafe & bar, working with artists from around the world to bring their ideas to life. (

Do

Go on a ghost walk in the UK's second 'most haunted' town. For example: Derby ghost walks and Cathedral Quarter

Darley Park walk .

Take a walk up the Derwent to Darley Park.

Derby Arboretum .

England's first publicly owned, landscaped, urban, recreational park, deeded to the town of Derby in 1840.

Elvaston Castle Country Park ,

Borrowash Road, Elvaston .

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. (

Derby County FC ,

Pride Park, Royal Way DE24 8XL ,

.

"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. (

Derbyshire County Cricket Club ,

Grandstand Road .

Watch a game of cricket.

Derby LIVE ,

Chapel Street Arts Centre, 19 Chapel Street, Derby, DE1 3GU

( approx five minutes' walk north-west of Market Place. ),

,

[email protected] .

Sales and information centre for music, touring theatre and other live performances in various city venues. (

QUAD ,

Market Place ,

.

2-screen cinema, gallery, café bar, workshop, BFI Mediatheque. Co-organiser of FORMAT , the UK’s leading festival of international photography. (

Derby Theatre ,

15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter ,

.

In-house and touring productions.

Markeaton Park .

Public park with children's playground and paddling pool, crazy golf and craft village.

Derby Riverboat ,

Phoenix Green Boat Station, DE1 2EB ,

[email protected] .

Apr-Oct: W Sa Su and Bank Holiday afternoons, 12:30PM, 1:45PM, 3PM .

Enjoy a passenger boat trip along the UK's most bio-diverse urban river, with commentary recorded by Sir David Suchet. (

Allestree Park

( off A6 approx 3 miles (4.8 km) north of city centre; buses to Belper and beyond pass regularly ).

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 . (

Derby Arena ,

Royal Way, Pride Park, DE24 8JB

( approx 1.5 miles (2.4 km) SE of city centre, off A6, also via A52 ),

,

[email protected] .

Sport, fitness and performance venue. The Midlands' hub for track cycling. (

Vaillant Live ,

2 Colyear Street, DE1 1LA

( full access details on the website ).

3,500 capacity destination for concerts, family events, sports and conferencing. (

Chapel Street Arts Centre ,

19 Chapel Street, DE1 3GU ,

.

Performance venue, also sales and information centre for Derby LIVE - see above, under 'Do' (

Events

Derby 50:50 : .
A year of celebration marking the fiftieth anniversaries of the twinning association with Osnabrück, Germany, established in 1976, and of Derby being granted city status in 1977. Twelve events so far announced, with more to come. Various venues across the city. (date needs fixing)

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows : 13 June – 1 November 2026.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The first major exhibition dedicated to the British artist’s ‘candlelight’ paintings.

Furthest From The Sea Festival : tba June 2026.
Music, comedy, arts, workshops (date needs fixing)

Derby Book Festival - Summer Festival, aditional event : 19 July 2026.
Steve Farnsworth: Painting Faces: Being a Life of that Capital Artist, Joseph Wright of Derby. 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Derby Caribbean Carnival : 19 July 2026.
A day of music, dance, and cultural celebration.

Darley Park Weekender : 21–23 August 2026, Darley Park, DE1 3AY , , [email protected] .