Derby

About Derby

Derby can be found on the banks of the river Derwent in the county of Derbyshire. Whilst the city has had a cathedral since 1927, it wasn’t until 1977 that it was granted city status. There has been a settlement in the area dating back as far as the Romans, with the area having a rich history that can be traced through the Anglo-Saxons and then the Vikings. Whilst the original Derby was a market town during the industrial era, it grew in popularity and in the 19^th century, it became a centre of the Rail Industry in Britain.

Derby is famous for being the site of the world’s first factory. The Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site is now a museum with over 50,000 artefacts and a 300-year history.

The city is widely considered to be an economic powerhouse when it comes to manufacturing. It is the biggest rail city anywhere in Europe and home to a number of car manufacturers as well as companies within both the aerospace and rail industries.

There are a staggering seven aerospace companies with bases in Derby, employing around 1,400 people. Major employers in the aerospace sector include Pattonair and Rvl Group. When it comes to the rail industry Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works is the largest manufacturing facility globally in the sector and based right here in Derby. They employ 2,000 people, and a third of their employees are within the UK. Other major employers in Derby include Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Bloor Investments, who specialise in home building, and Boots the pharmacists.

Getting to Derby

As locations go, Derby is very centrally located, which makes it an excellent destination to access from all directions. Getting here by car is easy. The city centre is just a 15-minute drive from junction 24 of the M1, which connects the city to London in the South and Leeds in the North. Derby is also accessible via the A6, A50, A38 and the A52. The bus station in Derby, which is centrally located, is part of a regular National Express route.

East Midlands Airport is the closest airport to Derby and is serviced by flights from other cities within the UK and also some European cities. The journey from the airport to Derby centre is just 19 miles by car, and there are regular buses and trains connecting the two, with journeys taking between 35-45 minutes.

Getting to Derby by train is another good option, with 35 trains per day between London and Derby for a journey that takes around 93 minutes. From Nottingham, Leicestershire and Birmingham, the train journey takes less than 30 minutes.

Where to stay

If your project management course in Derby will be taking place over a couple of days, and most of them will, then you will need to find a hotel that you can use as a base for the duration of your course. There are plenty of good quality hotels available in Derby.

Holiday Inn Riverlights, an IHG Hotel (DE1 2AY)

Right in the heart of Derby is this thoroughly modern hotel with its own onsite fitness centre. 8 miles from East Midlands Airport and just a short walk from the nearest train station, the hotel is well placed in terms of accessibility. Due to its city centre location, it should be noted that there is no parking at this hotel. Therefore,  it may not be the right choice for anyone bringing their own vehicle. The hotel benefits from an excellent onsite restaurant and also offers a comprehensive selection of business facilities for its guests.

The Stuart Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western (DE1 2QR)

This stunning hotel is located on a leafy street just a 5-minute walk from the train station and a 15-minute drive from the airport. The hotel offers private onsite parking, including accessible parking, at an additional daily cost. This is a thoroughly modern hotel offering a good range of facilities for disabled guests. There is a bar and restaurant on site, and special dietary requirements are catered for. The hotel also has a number of meeting rooms which can be hired for use for project management training.

Derby Mickleover Hotel, BW Signature Collection (DE3 0XX)

Just a short drive from the city centre, you will find this level 3+ sustainability hotel, which has access to its own private parking. As you might expect from a hotel on the outskirts of the city, it is a reasonable distance from Derby train station, so perhaps a better option for those looking to get to Derby using their own vehicle. The hotel has free WIFI throughout and also meeting rooms onsite that can be booked for use during your stay. In addition to the restaurant in the hotel, there are also a couple of local restaurants within walking distance of the hotel itself.

Whilst you stay in Derby, you may want to consider exploring the local area, and there are certainly plenty of things for you to consider doing. Visitors to Derby will find there is no shortage of well-known visitors’ attractions including Derby Silk Mill, Derby Cathedral, Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Darley Park. It is also home to Derby Arena, a multi-use arena which has hosted cycling, badminton and boxing events as well as being a 5000-capacity entertainment space.

Restaurants

Derby has a fantastic selection of restaurants offering a good range of different options depending on what sort of food you like.

If you are looking for a fine dining option, then unfortunately, there are no restaurants in Derby that currently hold a Michelin star. However, on the outskirts of Derby, you will find Darley’s (DE22 1DZ),  an award-winning restaurant  (AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence, Traveller’s Choice Award winner – 2022). The restaurant is also mentioned in the Michelin guide and is praised for both its creative and generously proportioned dishes as well as its stylish décor, so may be worthy of consideration.

Voted amongst the most popular places to eat in Derby by locals are a good selection of Asian and Indian-influenced restaurants, including Nicco Restaurant and Bar (DE24 8SQ), which offers a contemporary Indian menu and Ebi Sushi (DE22 3SJ), which is amongst the best Sushi restaurants you will find anywhere in the UK.

Entertainment

Derby has a great nightlife scene that has something for everyone. With bars, clubs and a wide selection of venues offering live music, there is always something musical going on in the city centre. For those who prefer something a little quieter, there are three cinemas and five theatres offering a range of plays from Shakespeare to more modern theatre, musicals and even rock opera.

For something completely out of the box, why not consider taking part in one of the many Derby ghost walks that are organised within the city centre? Taking in a number of the different attractions that the city has to offer, you will be regaled with tales of murder and witchcraft told by expert guides. Perhaps a good way to round off your evening after a ghost walk is with a visit to one of the many pubs you will find in Derby, where you should be able to sample one of the locally brewed beers.