Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England
Our Budget Travelers’ Itinerary for Museums and More in Derby, England
Nestled in the heart of the English countryside, Derby is a charming city that often flies under the radar for travelers. During the four years we lived in England we never got around to visiting Derby. We only discovered it when we hit a glitch in our travel plans and needed to find a budget friendly place to stay in England for a 29 day gap in our travel itinerary. We visited the city of Derby for almost a month in April/May 2024 and found that Derby has plenty to offer for those willing to explore . During our visit we went to several of the local museums. All were free admission with a donation requested.
👋 New Here? We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expats, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment. Sometimes that means checking out local activities and visiting museums and historical sites; other times, it means finding out which local restaurant has the best pizza or empanadas and which grocery store sells peanut butter.
This life isn’t always glamorous; but it’s ours—and we’re here to share with you what we learn.
Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Derby
1. Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill
One of the absolute highlights of our time in Derby was visiting the Museum of Making, housed in the historic Derby Silk Mill. This building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and is celebrated as the world’s first ‘modern’ factory. Part of the building date back to the early 1700s, and you can even walk through the original gates where the factory workers once went through to get to work.
This Museum of Making inside this historic mill is jam-packed with interesting exhibits that take you through the 300 year history of making all sorts of stuff and the people who were involved in these industries.
2. Pickford’s House
The Pickford house, a Georgian era home has been open as a museum since 1988 and offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of a prominent 18th century citizen.
Admission is free, though donations are welcome. We spent just about an hour exploring, which felt like the perfect amount of time to soak it all in.
3. The Derby Museum & Art Gallery
The Derby Museum and Art Gallery offers a little something for everyone, with exhibits spanning a wide range of topics. Specialty displays highlight Bonnie Prince Charlie, Derbyshire’s rich military history, and the region’s renowned porcelain heritage.
It’s the kind of place that appeals to general interest and curiosity. Admission is free (donations welcome), and we spent nearly two hours here without even stopping by the café—which, interestingly, doubles as a large gallery itself.
The art gallery, however, is where the museum truly shines. The collection includes stunning works, but what sets it apart are two things: the incredibly knowledgeable docent on duty and a large guidebook filled with detailed information about each painting. If the display cards don’t satisfy your curiosity, you’ll find plenty of extra context right there in the room.
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Bonus Stops for Budget Travelers
1. Derby Arboretum
Britain’s first specially designed urban public park, Derby Arboretum opened in 1840.
Interesting buildings and occasional statues break up the feeling of being in a forest. Arboretum Park is about a mile from the city center and very near the Nightingale Quarter where we stayed.
There are multiple pathways through and around the park so it’s a great place to have a nice walk. There are quite a few benches scattered around the park as well for when you want a moment of quiet reflection
Other Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Derby
- Shortlist of other free or affordable attractions:
- Derby Cathedral
- Markeaton Park for picnics or light hiking. Lots of activities to choose from including canoe rides, tennis, basketball, bouncing castles, kids climbing, crafting and so much more! Good wheelchair and toilet access.
- Computer Museum – We missed out on the computer museum because it is an all volunteer deal, appears to only be open on some Saturdays and we didn’t know about it early enough in our stay to make arrangements.
- Darley Park for its landscaped gardens and peaceful vibe.
How much time do you need to visit Derby?
Derby is not a ‘tourist-centric’ city. There are a few sightseeing or touristy activities in Derby and most people can probably do with just a couple of days here – unless you like us and really like the idea of hanging out in a relaxing city. We found Derby to have a very laid back vibe which was perfect for us. We visited each of these places on separate days because it suited us but a motivated person could probably knock out all 4 in a single day.
Final Thoughts: Why Derby is Perfect for Budget Travelers
In a nutshell: Traveling slowly and sticking to a budget often go hand in hand, and Derby didn’t disappoint. Free museums, affordable eats (hello, lunchtime pub specials), and parks that are practically begging you to bring a picnic made it easy to stretch our pounds. Plus, the longer we stayed, the more we got into the rhythm of life here—like timing our visits to avoid crowds and finding the quiet spots locals seem to keep secret. Slow, quiet, and budget-friendly? That’s the trifecta we’ll take any day.
