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- Regional Map Courtesy of Multimap
Quality of Life - Leisure
Retail Therapy
Derby is one of the few cities, which benefits from a wide variety of retail destinations located across a compact pedestrianised commercial area making it an attractive, traffic-free zone in which to browse or shop.
Besides the superb indoor Eagle Centre, with national retail names and specialist outlets, there is a modern indoor market and the beautifully restored Victorian Market Hall where bargain hunters can enjoy finding an array of traditional market goods.
Take time to explore the architectural detail of the 18th century buildings with unique historical character in Sadler Gate and Iron Gate. Stylish and exclusive, this area is renowned as the city’s high fashion centre with designer labels from home and abroad and many other specialist independent stores.
The Eagle Shopping Centre is currently undergoing a major extension due to be completed by early 2008. This will provide 100 additional retail outlets, two more high quality department store retailers and a major fresh food court area.
Dining and Dancing
Derby can lift your spirits with its amazing selection of restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars. There’s no limit to the variety of Derby’s dining out and socialising experience. From cosy, large traditional feasts to the continental twist of Italian, Spanish, Greek and French cuisine. Derby boasts great eating venues for the popular demand of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Turkish and much more. Whether you are looking for a relaxed evening or an exciting night out, Derby’s endless amount of clubs and bars in the area will keep you entertained.
Leisure Activities
Derby provides a breath and depth of sport facilities and environments with which few counties can compete for you, your friends and family to enjoy. The city provides the latest in sports amenities and hosts top national leisure companies.
Although you may not support the ‘Rams’ football club immediately, you can enjoy Derby County’s matches in the new 34,000 seater stadium. The Derbyshire County Cricket club is one of the country’s clubs involved in the Academy Network for young people, encouraging and developing the next generation of cricket professionals.
Rock climbing to cave diving, horse riding to walking, trout fishing to hang gliding are the sports of the Peak District, the second most visited national park in the world behind Mount Fuji in Japan. Derbyshire provides a unique variety of activities including cycling on country trails and walking in the limestone dales, all within easy travelling distance from Derby City.
Derby is surrounded by Derbyshire splendour. Within a 10 minute drive of the city centre you are into beautiful open countryside with unspoilt villages, historic houses and adventurous attractions.
Culture
The cultural scene in Derby is changing and growing, with major recognized live venues including The Assembly Rooms and The Guildhall Theatre, which are highly respected venues for comedy, shows and music.
However, these mainstream providers are only part of the story. The City boasts a thriving regional Dance Centre and art house cinema (the Metro) as well as two multi-screen Cinema complexes.
Derby is the home of the world’s best collection of paintings by the 18th century artist Joseph Wright, associate of the Royal Academy (1734 – 97). One of Derby’s three Museums occupies the Silk Mill building, which is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site stretching 15 miles between 
Derby and Matlock Bath. This attraction represents England’s first modern factory and major landmark during the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, a great showcase for Rolls Royce aero-engines and railway industry exhibits.
Pickfords’ House Museum sweeps visitors back to Georgian times with this elegant era beautifully portrayed throughout fully furnished rooms, all complemented with graceful costume displays. Whilst Royal Crown Derby marks the city’s oldest factory, famed the world over for lavishly decorated fine china tableware and gifts. Factory tours can be booked during weekdays and the factory shop offers some great discount bargains.
Further afield, visitors can enjoy the ever-changing Derbyshire landscape and the magnificent stately homes that grace the view including Chatsworth House, one of the top ten most visited attractions in the country, Kedleston Hall and Melbourne Hall.
A new Multi Faith Centre is located at the University of Derby. The main ethos of the centre is to help people to meet in order to build friendship and understanding especially in the areas of faith, philosophy and belief.
Plans for the future include the development of a regional centre for contemporary visual arts and media. Quad, the proposed centre, is the flagship capital project currently being supported by the Arts Council of England, and is due to open early 2008.
For more information on all aspects of leisure please visit:
For detailed information on what Derby has to offer visit the City Council's Tourism site: www.visitderby.com/tourism
Derby Playhouse: www.derbyplayhouse.co.uk
Q Arts: www.q-arts.co.uk
Assembly Rooms: www.assemblyrooms-derby.co.uk
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