Places to Visit in Derbyshire

Derbyshire is the very heart of England. This landlocked county has prided itself on its importance as a cultural and trading centre for centuries. The result is a county filled with attractions, from locations that celebrate the county’s industrial heritage, to the stately homes and castles dotted throughout the breath-taking countryside. Our exclusive selection of luxury holiday homes in the heart of the Peak District National Park make it easy for you to explore everything this beautiful county has to offer. Here are just a few of the best places to visit in Derbyshire.

Country Houses

Thanks to the wealth of the Industrial Revolution, Derbyshire is full of opulent country houses. The best known of all is, of course, Chatsworth House, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, immortalised in film and one of the biggest visitor attractions in the country. Surrounded by expansive formal gardens filled with water features and giant sculptures, Chatsworth will appeal to all ages. You can also explore the grandeur of Lyme Park, Melbourne Hall and Gardens or the 800-year-old Haddon Hall, which has some of the region’s finest examples of medieval and Tudor architecture.

Parks and Open Countryside

Think Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park immediately comes to mind. One of England’s finest National Parks, it is the most visited park in Europe and offers anyone who loves the outdoors year-round views and plenty of activities such as climbing, hiking and mountain biking. For something a little different try Ilam Park, with its distinctive ‘Swiss’ style houses, or go back to 3000BC and visit the ‘Stonehenge of the Midlands’ at Arbor Low Stone Circle and Gib Hill. 

Museums

Derbyshire is full of museums celebrating everything from classic motorcycles and the history of motorsport at the world-famous Donnington Castle Grand Prix Museum, through to the National Trust’s Museum of Childhood at Ashbourne, and the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Museum in Derby itself.

Unique Attractions

If you want a unique experience (and a unique perspective on the Derbyshire countryside) then the dizzying Heights Of Abraham at Matlock are a must-see. Strung high above the countryside, cable cars whisk you to the summit of Masson Hill. The attraction has been drawing the crowds since 1780, although these days it’s considerably easier to reach the rather good café at the top! Underneath is an entire system of caverns to explore, letting you experience every aspect of the Derwent Valley and uncover some of Derbyshire’s secrets.

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