Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a hugely diverse county where the elements of town, city and countryside combine for a wonderful visitor experience.
The county's premier city Derby is a great place for group visits with chance to enjoy great value attractions, tours, history and heritage. It is a city steeped in history yet is one of Britain's youngest cities being awarded its Charter by Her Majesty the Queen in 1977. A pedestrianised city centre makes shopping a joy, plus there are host of and group friendly places to eat and drink.
As the UK's most central city, it is a great place for a cultural break and has many unique characteristics with a rich mixture of arts, tourism and cultural venues. The Derby Silk Mill museum of industry lies in the Derwent Valley. West of the River Derwent are the Derby Museum and Art Gallery, home to Joseph Wright paintings, and fabulous Gothic Derby Cathedral. The Royal Crown Derby Visitor Centre is where visitors can get an insight into the history and the skills that go into making the internationally collected and renowned Royal Crown Derby china.
Heading out of the city there is a choice of vibrant market towns such as Ashbourne, Chesterfield and Bakewell. Another popular destination is the beautiful Georgian Spa town of Buxton, situated in the heart of the Peak District and boasting the highest market place in the country.
Derby is a great base to explore the nearby delights of the Peak District, the first National Park to be set up in Britain. Lying at the southern end of the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester, it covers over 500 square miles, three quarters of which lie within Derbyshire with boundaries also spreading into several other counties.
Haddon Hall, a majestic English country house set on the River Wye near Bakewell in the heart of the beautiful Peak District National Park and home to the Manners Family and one of the seats of Duke of Rutland, it is revered as one of England's finest examples of a medieval manor with parts of the house dating from the 12th Century.
Haddon Hall is one of England's most elegant and timeless stately homes, and a magnificent example of a fortified manor house. Throughout the seasons, the Hall hosts a number of events and exhibitions that bring the stories of the past to life, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in 900 years of history, art and craftsmanship, along with the opportunity to stroll around the magnificent cascading Tudor gardens, enjoying uninterrupted views of the Peak District.
From the exquisite Long Gallery, to the magnificent Great Hall and the medieval Chapel, with its beautifully carved alabaster retablo, Haddon Hall has been the choice of many film directors, with three productions of Jane Eyre and The Princess Bride filmed on site, among many others.
The 2019 season at Haddon Hall promises something for everyone, including guided tours of the Hall and gardens, a lively programme of musical recitals, artisan markets, archery and plenty of family friendly activity.
Also in the Peak District you will find the Heights of Abraham, a country park with famous show caverns set in 60 acres of woodland which can be reached by cable car over a deep limestone gorge. An overnight stay or short break can capture everything Derbyshire has to offer and there are many group friendly accommodation options, including with Hallmark Hotels who have a number of hotels which are perfectly located for exploring the region.
As for getting to Derby and Derbyshire, the motorway network envelopes the region with the M1 to the east, the M6 to the west and the M62 running across the north of the county. And in keeping with Derby's heritage and connections as being a railway city the region enjoys good rail links from all parts of the UK.
