Derby Tourist Information & Travel Guide

Derby is the 18th largest city in all of England and is located in the East Midlands. The city is primarily known as the starting point of the Industrial Revolution. In Present day it stands as a modern and vibrant place yet at the same time it enraptures a more traditional landscape of the warm countryside in its surrounding areas.

Derby has a variety of shopping facilities available ranging from boutique shopping to busy markets. The main shopping centre is Westfield Derby which took a £340 million development plan to achieve and opened in late 2007. The new shopping centre has four themed malls and flagship stores on two retail levels consisting of Marks & Spencer’s and Debenhams.

Here you can find over 100 top end retail stores that incorporate local and national trends with regards to fashion and lifestyle. Some of these brands include Zara, Topshop, Monsoon, River Island and Bershka. Westfield Derby also has a 12 screen cinema (Showcase Cinema Delux), which became operational in May 2008.

It does not end there, directly neighbouring Showcase Cinema Delux is the entertainment headquarters, providing 800 seats for dining. This is where visitors can enjoy the food of local cuisine alongside international stylish restaurants.

There are many attractions to be seen in Derby, the city’s own heritage is imprinted almost everywhere you turn. The Cathedral of All Saints is worth a visit even though its huge tower can be spotted from a fair distance. It is in fact the smallest Anglican Cathedral nationwide and was first built in the 15th Century in a traditionally gothic styled manner, however was rebuilt in the 17th century and became a cathedral in 1927.

For a more cultural experience of the city you can visit the Derby Museum and Art Gallery which showcases the work of Joseph Wright and holds the largest collection of his artwork in the world. The museum focuses on a diverse range of collections, one of them being The Archaeology Gallery, which looks at the Stone Age to the Middle Ages and Ancient Egyptian history, referring back to the mummification.

Geology and wildlife is also categorically illustrated and take spotlight in the museums current display area. This section makes reference to wildlife often found in Derby and gives the visitor a feel for the time period mentioned providing time tunnels, discovery areas and walk in caves, to make this a more exciting yet educational trip for all.

Derby also has a magnificent arboretum which was classified as the country’s first public park. Recently it is going under drastic redevelopment in a multi million pound restoration programme to save two old lodges and creating safe areas for children to play in. There is also set to be a community building located in the centre of the arboretum, creating general public facilities such as toilets, cafes, offices and much more. For safety reasons two routes will be constructed with lighting.

Many of the trees have to be removed from the arboretum due to inadequate growth or overshadowing however many new species of trees will emerge. The work has already began and will resume for three years as this £5million restoration process is aimed to help increase education on nature reserves as intended.

David Panks - CityLocal Derby
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