Cultural

Derby - the very heart of Britain and the heart of our history and culture.

Businesses and Individuals relocating to Derby are welcomed by a wealth of culture and things to see and do.

A city that literally changed the world, Derby was the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Today Derby shares the best of both worlds, a vibrant, contemporary yet traditional city scene, complimented by the glorious surrounding countryside of Derbyshire and the Peak District.

Great Shopping

Derbyhas a wide range of retail experiences including bustling markets and boutique shopping. The city is home to Westfield Derby which has over 190 stores.

The Showcase Cinema de Lux, located in Westfield Derby is a £30 million 12-screen Cinema. This provides a first-class customer entertainment experience adjacent to the 800-seat Eat Central, an innovative mix of international, national and local cuisine. More information is available at the Westfield Derby website.

If you want a unique, quality cultural and shopping experience then we have the Derby Cathedral Quarter. The 16th century tower of Derby Cathedral is believed to be the second tallest in England and houses the oldest ring of ten bells in the world.

The area also boasts one of Derby's oldest surviving pubs, Ye Olde Dolphin Inne. Frequented by highwayman, Dick Turpin this is a favorite 'haunt' for a number of ghosts and is a key stop on the City's Ghost Tour.

This historical streets and arcades has many specialist stores, galleries and independent retailers including Bang and Olufsen, Apple, Bennetts Department Stores and high end fashion retailer Cruise.

Derby's Cathedral Quarter has spectacular historical architecture from the Guild Hall in the Market Place to the Victorian, Georgian and Tudor buildings in Iron Gate, Sadler Gate and The Strand. More information is available at the Cathedral Quarter website. 

Great days and Nights out

The city has a thriving social scene with stylish restaurants, award-winning cafes and a vibrant nightlife with bars and clubs to suit all tastes. Free museums complement Derby's parks including Derby Arboretum, England's first designated public park.

For the very best in music, comedy, pantomime, contemporary and classic dramas visit Derby Assembly Rooms and the Guildhall Theatre.

The Assembly Rooms has set the stage to a variety of performances including Steve Coogan, Darren Brown and the Derby based, national orchestra Sinfonia Viva. The Guildhall Theatre also stages an excellent repertoire of performances throughout the year.

Open air performances are staged at Cathedral Green, a contemporary, high quality, vibrant and safe public space that provides a setting for people to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

More information is available at the Assembly Rooms website.

Derby has a thriving independent music scene with a number of venues in the city including The Royal, the Flowerpot and the Rockhouse. These and others provide the stage for both up and coming and established bands.

A Wealth of Activities

If sports are your passion, Derby has the lot. For football fanatics there is the magnificent Pride Park Stadium, the home of Derby County Football Club - 'The Rams'. There is also cricket, golf, swimming and cycling - with the city being a hub for the Sustrans national cycle route.

Derbyshire and the Peak District is also on our doorstep. With 30 million visitors per year it is the worlds second most visited attraction. The Peak district, offers a haven for hikers, cyclists, paragliders, clay pigeon shooters and even sailors! More information is available at the Visit Peak District website.

The City of Derby is at the start of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site stretching 15 miles down the river Derwent from Derby to Matlock Bath. The World Heritage Site has much to offer with walks and nature trails, shopping and high quality eating establishments.

On the banks of the Derwent, Darley Park hosts an annual free open air classical music concert, one of the biggest in the UK. Visitors enjoy picnics, the spectacular music and the end of night firework display.

A Cultural City

Derby is home to QUAD, the stunning new centre for art and film that is set to reinforce Derby's growing reputation on the national cultural scene. QUAD is a focal point for the arts in Derby, providing a large, state-of-the-art gallery (with category 'A' status), two independent cinemas, education spaces, artists' studios, multi-media facilities and a café/bar.

QUAD's programme builds on the work of Q Arts and Metro Cinema - two Derby organisations with national reputations for their progressive programmes and groundbreaking participatory work. Further information is available at the QUAD website. 

September sees the spectacular Derby Festé, a three day festival of the arts that transforms the city into a performance space and canvas, an explosion of culture and arts activity. Local and international artists bring a variety of performances, installations and visual arts to the city.

Derby also hosts one of the country's top jazz scenes and celebrates this with a week long festival. The status of the festival is well recognised nationally, no less by national magazine Jazzwise which has included the film from the festival in the magazine.

Derby is reaching international audiences for its real ale scene. The Summer Beer Festival, one of the largest in the country, takes place every July attracting approximately 12,000 visitors each year who are offered 100 different cask beers, ciders and continental beers and a whole host of entertainment.

Déda is a unique venue located in Derby city centre offering a dance-focused arts programme. The building houses two performance spaces, two dance studios, conferencing facilities and the CUBE café bar. With over 40 classes a week and an extensive community development programme Déda is one of the key cultural organisations in the city.

More information relating to Derby's culture and things to see, do and experience is available at the Visit Derby website.