A new city experience
Attractions
With 3 free museums, a World Heritage Site, the world's sole supplier/factory of Royal Crown Derby fine bone china, a brand new arts and media centre and a cathedral housing the oldest ring of 10 bells in the world - as well as a nest full of peregrine falcons - Derby has something for everyone.
- Download the Derby Essential Guide here.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
The Strand, Derby DE1 1BS. T: 01332 641901. E: museums@derby.gov.uk
Derby Museum and Art Gallery houses a wide range of important and attractive collections, covering porcelain, paintings, archaeology, history, local regiments, geology and wildlife. Paintings by the celebrated 18th Century Derby artist Joseph Wright, Associate of the Royal Accademy (1734-97) include portraits, landscapes, subjects from literature and scenes of industry and scientific equipment that represent this exciting period of pioneering discovery. This is the largest collection of the artist's work in any public gallery in the world.
Now you are also invited to come along to the Joseph Wright Gallery and park your bottom on an original piece of art!
The Museum's collection of fine Derby porcelain, produced in the city since about 1750, is of international importance.
The Derby porcelain gallery will be closed all day on Friday 18th September.
The Archaeology Gallery contains local material from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, with several fine Anglo-Saxon crosses and a splendid sarcophagus. There are also two Egyptian mummies.
The Military Gallery (now totally refurbished) tells the stories of local regiments such as the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, the Derbyshire Yeomanry and the Sherwood Foresters, with information available on a touch-screen computer.
The reconstructed Bonnie Prince Charlie Room commemorates Derby's role in the 1745 Jacobite uprising complete with a figure of the Prince himself telling the tale of his doomed attempt to seize the throne.
Derbyshire geology and wildlife feature in the Museum's latest displays, with a Time Tunnel, walk-in cave, hands-on exhibits, discovery area and a stunning series of reconstructed natural settings with typical Derbyshire wildlife.
The Museum's exciting and varied temporary exhibitions programme provides about 20 regularly changing shows a year. There is also a schools service, holiday activities for all ages, and a museum shop selling an attractive range of souvenirs, slides, postcards and books on local topics.
Derby Museums and Galleries website
Pickford's House Museum
41 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1DA. T: 01332 255363. E: museums@derby.gov.uk
This fine Georgian townhouse built by Derby architect, Joseph Pickford, is a charming museum which relives the elegant lifestyle of Georgian times. Rooms are decorated and furnished in fine style and a costume display shows how fashions have changed over the centuries.
At the rear of the building, a herb garden has been cultivated to service the impressive kitchen where an array of crockery and utensils are on display.
Ghostly Derby
Derby is officially the most haunted city in the UK and has appeared on Living TV's Most Haunted on numerous occasions. The streets are literally steeped in historical haunted happenings and the ghost walks will have you hanging on every word!
Choose from Ghost Walks, overnight vigils, short breaks and halloween events, guaranteed to scare you to death!!!
Book ghost walks directly 0800 277928 or get more information from Derby Tourist Information Centre 01332 255802.
Derby Cathedral
Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP. T: 01332 341201
Derby Cathedral's tower dominates the city skyline and offers breathtaking views from the top (tours need to be booked in advance). A family of Peregrine Falcons have nested there since 2006 and their progress can be monitored on www.derbyperegrines.blogspot.com
The light and airy interior takes many visitors by surprise and offers an inviting environment to discover a wealth of treasures including Bess of Hardwick's ornate tomb.
Derby Cathedral is connected to a medieval chapel, St. Mary's on the Bridge. This dates from the 14th Century, and is one of the very few surviving bridge chapels in England.
Quad
Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby DE1 3AS. T: 01332 285444
QUAD is a gallery, cinema, cafe bar and arts workshop. Housed in an iconic new building, QUAD is the first venue outside London to host a British Film Institute's National Archive. Two dedicated cinema screens show the best in international, independent and Hollywood cinema.
Royal Crown Derby
194 Osmaston Road, Derby DE23 8JZ. T: 01332 712800
The oldest surviving manufacturer of English fine bone china - unique in that it continues to manufacture exclusively in England. Tour the working factory, and buy best quality, second quality bargains and hunt for retired and discontinued gems.
Green Spaces
With more than 300 green spaces, Derby has been described as a City in the Countryside.
Derby Arboretum is the first and oldest surviving public park in England. Darley Park sits in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and Markeaton Park offers vast, open parkland and a children's wonderland. The new Cathedral Green is another lovely area for relaxation in the city centre.
Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
Derby is one of only five UK cities to have a UNESCO World Heritage Site confirming the outstanding importance of the area. The stunningly beautiful valley starts in Derby and follows the Derwent River, through Darley Abbey up into Matlock.
The Silk Mill - Derby's Museum of Industry & History
Silk Mill Lane, off Full Street, Derby, DE1 3AF. T: 01332 255308
Part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, The Silk Mill is situated at the location of the world's first ever factory. Now home to the city's collection of industrial memorabilia and extensive range of Rolls Royce aero engines - including the RB211 - this is a popular museum for tracing Derby's industrial past.
Alter Rock Climbing Centre
St James Church, Malcolm Street, Derby DE23 8LU. T: 01332 367200.
W: www.alter-rock.co.uk E: questions@alter-rock.co.uk
An enjoyable climbing experience that is also challenging and fun.
Inside the converted church there is an extensive bouldering wall and three main wall sections. There is also a purpose built area for those wishing to try their hand at abseiling.
The reception area stocks a range of soft drinks, sweets, freshly made pies along with a selection of sandwiches.
Alter Rock welcome visits from all groups and can make arrangments for school groups, parties and groups.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 12pm-10pm
Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 12pm-6pm.
Admission charges:
Annual membership £1
Adult climb £7
Junior climb (16 years and younger) £3.50
Courses are held for beginners and juniors, there is also a youth climbing club.
National Sikh Heritage Centre & Holocaust Museum
Princes Street, Pear Tree, Derby DE23 8NT. T: 0845 643 5513. E: contact@nationalsikhmuseum.com
A modern, packed, multi-channel museum with real artefacts that allow the visitor to appreciate the rich and complex heritage of the Sikhs in a story of courage, sacrifice and genocide.
Bluebells at Brunswood Farm
Brunswood Farm, Locko Road, Spondon, Derby DE21 7BU. T: 01332 673924. W: www.bluebelldairy.co.uk
Bluebells have created this green tourist attraction to extend their cafe and farm shop area; ensuring that the cafe area is large enough to comfortably accommodate regular customers and families during the busy Summer holiday period.
For the summer of 2010 the star attraction will be a Maize Megamaze. The Maize Megamaze has been developed with a circus theme. Children and adults are invited to work their way through the Maize Megamaze and try to find the crafty clowns who were mistakenly (or perhaps not!) left behind by the circus. The Brown family have asked for help to rescue the farm from the clowns and send them back to the circus! Quiz sheets are given to every person entering the maze.
Visitors to Brunswood Farm are invited to enjoy space hopper racing, outdoor games, swings, climbing frames and the play area. The residents at the animal patch, including Miss Molly the pony and Twinkle the donkey will also be welcoming guests.
As ever, local produced and delicious homemade food will be available in the cafe and farm shop. Oliver Brown has also created several Summer flavours of Bluebells Real Dairy Ice Cream for customers to enjoy, including a refreshing Strawberry and Proseccio flavour.