Car Hire Derby - Mini guide to Derby
The thriving city of Derby, situated in the centre of England, is not only a great place for heritage and culture lovers, but also an ideal base for exploring the stunning, unspoilt scenery of the Peak District National Park.
Derby’s skyline is dominated by the medieval tower of Derby Cathedral. The tower is the second highest church tower in the country and sits above an elegant 18th C nave. Also of note is the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Opened in 1879, the museum is home to a variety of fascinating exhibits as well as a renowned collection of paintings.
The centre of the city is quite compact and surrounds Market Place, with the major shopping streets of Cornmarket and Irongate connecting the cathedral to the trendy area of Saddler Gate. Here you can enjoy the best of the UK’s high street retail outlets, as well as a number of specialist shops. In addition, Market Place and Saddler Gate house plenty of bars and cafes, as well as some of Derby’s oldest pubs.
Derby offers a wide range of entertainment options. Situated in Market Place, the Assembly Rooms is the city’s largest entertainment venue, featuring film, exhibitions, concerts and dances. Also in Market Place is Derby Guildhall which hosts plays, concerts and club nights, as well as exhibiting works of local artists. The city also has two multiplex cinemas, plenty of fine restaurants and bars, and one of the liveliest clubbing scenes in the UK.
No visit to Derby would be complete without a trip to the Peak District National Park, just a short drive to the west of the city. This area of pristine natural beauty is ideal for hiking, picnicking, or simply driving around and exploring the quaint market towns that hide in the valleys between the peaks.
Derby is only 15 minutes from East Midlands Airport, which offers connections to a number of major European cities. Alternatively, the international airports of Manchester and London are less than two hours away.
The major suburbs in Derby are: Allestree, Alvaston, Borrowash, Chaddesden, Chellaston, Darley Abbey, Littleover, Normanton, Oakwood and Spondon.
