Special places to stay, things to do and see in Derbyshire, England.

The county of Derbyshire, England

Haddon Hall, Bakewell Derbyshire

The county of Derbyshire lies just north of the Midlands and is officially a part of ‘The Heart of England’. Travel north and you will enter Yorkshire - England’s largest county or to the east historic Nottinghamshire. The county is also handily placed for visiting Englands second and third Cities, Birmingham and Manchester respectively. With the Peak District (reputedly England’s last wilderness) Derbyshire has been called the backbone of the country. Steep sided valleys, rocky crags and peatlands adorn the landscape here and a provide a fabulous backdrop to the many grand historic houses across the county. This is a county of contrasts with the elegant Spa town of Buxton to the beautifully set market town of Bakewell and the dramatic and picturesque town of Matlock Bath. There are many magnificent historic houses, castles and gardens worth visiting most of which you will find within this county section including Haddon Hall, Chatsworth, Kedleston Hall and Elvaston castle to mention just a few. There are also a plethora of country house and town house hotels all brimming with character where you can rest your weary legs after a tiring day's exploration.

Where to stay and things to do in Derbyshire

Selected Derbyshire hotels - Please Refresh for another random Hotel list

Fischer's Baslow Hall, Baslow

Santo's Higham Farm Hotel, Alfreton
The Bear Inn & Hotel, Belper
Biggin Hall Country House Hotel, Buxton
Fischer's Baslow Hall, Baslow
The Peacock At Rowsley, Matlock
Risley Hall Hotel & Spa, Derby
Hardinge Arms, Derby
SACO Derby, Derby
Cromwell Hotel, Matlock
Wye-House, Buxton

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Explore Derbyshire Towns

Derbyshire Tourist Information Centres

Ashbourne Tourist Information Centre
13 Market Place,
Ashbourne, Derbyshire,
DE6 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1335 343666

Bakewell Tourist Information Centre
Old Market Hall,
Bridge Street
Bakewell, Derbyshire,
DE45 1DS
Tel: +44 (0) 1629 816558
email: click here

Buxton Tourist Information Centre
The Crescent,
Buxton, Derbyshire,
SK17 6BQ
Tel: +44 (0) 1298 25106

Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre
Low Pavement,
Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
S40 1PB
Tel: +44 (0) 1246 345777

Derby Tourist Information Centre
Assembly Rooms,
Market Place,
Derby, Derbyshire
DE1 3AH
Tel: +44 (0) 1332 255802
email: click here
Website: click here

Glossop Tourist Information Centre
The Gatehouse,
Victoria Street
Glossop, Derbyshire
SK13 8HT
Tel: +44 (0) 1457 855920
Fax 01427 855920

Matlock Tourist Information Centre
Crown Square,
Matlock, Derbyshire
DE3 3AT
Tel: +44 (0) 1629 58338
Fax 01629 5841318

Matlock Bath Tourist Information Centre
The Pavillion,
Matlock, Derbyshire
DE4 3NR
Tel: +44 (0) 1629 55082

Ripley Tourist Information Centre
Town Hall,
Market Place,
Ripley, Derbyshire
DE5 3BT
Tel: +44 (0) 1773 841488
email: click here

Famous people born, lived or buried in Derbyshire

Richard Arkwright (1732-17920)
Famous for his contribution to the Industrial Revolution, Arkwright was born in Preston in 1732. In partnership with Jedediah Strutt, he opened his first mill at Cromford in 1771. He was knighted by King George III.

Bess of Hardwick (1518-1608)
Next to Queen Elizabeth, Bess was the richest and most powerful woman in the world. She had married four times growing richer and more powerful after the funeral of each of her husbands. She had always been a schemer and had amassed a fortune, land and some of the greatest stately homes in the country. She also created a dynasty continued today by the The Dukes of Devonshire, from Chatsworth.

Dr. Erasmus Darwin (1731-1842)
A botanist, scientist, philosopher, poet, medical practitioner, co-founder of the Lunar Society and founder of the Derby Philosophical Society. Born near Newark in 1731 he lived at Lichfield and Radbourne before moving to Derby due to its 'central location'. He became an inventor in his own right and was destined to become the greatest philosopher and physician of his time and turned down the job of personal physician to King George III. He left behind a spark that would be re-kindled in his grandson Charles Darwin, with his Origin of the Species.

John Flamstead FRS (1646 - 1719)
Flamstead was born accidentally in Denby as his family moved out of their home in Queen Street as the plague was raging through Derby. He was educated at Derby Free Grammar School. Flamstead was a gifted mathematician who became the first astronomer royal and was also the inspiration behind the founding of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.

Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Famous for his Dictionary of the English Language, which appeared in 1755, and also many other works. He was married at St. Werburgh's Church in Derby on 9th June 1735 to a woman named Elizabeth Porter. He regularly visited Ashbourne and was known to drink at The Green Man whilst he was there.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1903)
Famous for her life in nursing especially in the field hospitals of the Crimean War. For a period of her life she lived at Lea Hurst, just outside of Cromford, and a statue of her is situated outside the Derby Royal Infirmary on London Road.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
A very famous philosopher. He was born at 12 Exeter Row and later lived at 31 Wilmot Street. He won world-wide fame for his philosophical works which were mainly written in London and Brighton. It was in Brighton that he died in December 1903.

George Stephenson (1781-1848)
In 1835 George Stephenson, the pioneer railway engineer who made railways possible, set out with his secretary from the New Inn, King Street, Derby to survey a route for the North Midland Railway - a line of 72 miles from Leeds terminating at Derby. At a later meeting, also at the New Inn, a recommendation was put forward that there should be a junction at Derby for the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway - giving a through line between Birmingham and Leeds. Joint engineers for both railways were George Stephenson and his son Robert.

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