Derby holds a great appeal for those visitors in search of unspoilt tradition and character. In the shadow of the ornate Cathedral tower lies a great multi-cultural city bursting with a wealth of entertainment venues, attractions, parks and shops. Derby is perfect for those in search of a short break, whatever their needs.
Places of interest:
Derby is a busy industrial city, home of the famous Royal Crown Derby Porcelain. Derby sits on the west bank of the River Derwent, close to its meeting with the River Trent. Located in the beautiful rolling countryside of Derbyshire, it is an ideal base for touring the area, exploring the Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District National Park.
Derby Cathedral - The Medieval Tower is the second highest in England at 212 feet; its bells are rung regularly and are the oldest ring of ten bells in the world. James Gibbs designed the superb early 18th century classical gold and white nave. Features include the wrought iron screen by Robert Bakewell, Bess of Hardwick's elaborate memorial and St. Katherine's Chapel.
Derby Museum and Art Gallery - The Museum, which has a gallery dedicated to the craft of ceramics, also features on Natural History, Egyptian Mummies and Military history. In the town's history section you will see the Bonny Prince Charlie Room, with wood panelling taken from Exeter House where the Prince stayed in 1745. The Art Gallery has a collection on the work of the local artist Joseph Wright.
Pickford's House - This is one of Derby's fine Georgian Town Houses, built in 1770 by local designer Joseph Pickford. In the beautifully decorated rooms, you will find scenes of Georgian domestic life and historic costume displays.
Derby Heritage Centre - This quaint timber-framed building is home to a wealth of historical local information, including photographic displays and books.
Derby Industrial Museum - Situated in the first factory building in England, an 18th century Silk Mill. Here you can learn about the history of railways, coal mines and Rolls-Royce aero engines. There is also a variety of changing exhibitions.
Things to do:
Derby not only offers all the activities associated with a large city but those associated with living in rural England. You can shop till you drop, or enjoy the local countryside and historic monuments. Tourist routes are available to enable you to make the most of any walk or cycle tour you wish to take.
Shop in a traditional department store established in 1864, or one of the well known High Street names in the modern indoor shopping centre, explore the Victorian Market hall, and the colourful crafters market.
Eat in one of the speciality restaurants, coffee or tea shops Derby has to offer. Evening entertainment in the city can vary from a visit to one of the cinemas or theatres, to live music in one of the many wine bars and clubs.
Take the Kedleston Lanes cycle route that starts and finishes in the Riverside Gardens by the Council House in Derby. The route takes you through the lanes north-west of Derby and visits the villages of Kirk Langley, Weston Underwood and Quarndon. Unfortunately this route is not suitable for young families or inexperienced riders.
Discover the beauty and heritage of Derbyshire's River Derwent by following the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. The total distance is 55 miles but it can be taken as a long distance walk or as a series of shorter walks. The Derwent Valley Heritage Way has been way-marked using small yellow and purple disks.
Allestree Park dates from the end of the 18th Century when the present Hall was built. The park is preserved as a Local Nature Reserve because of its wide range of wildlife habitats. A Nature Trail follows an easy, reasonably flat route around the lower part of the Park and the lake shore. The trail is just over 1.5 miles long and should take about an hour and a half to complete.
Food and Drink:
Derby offers an excellent choice of restaurants where you can savour traditional and worldwide cuisine to suit any palate and wallet. There is also a multitude of modern cafes and bars, many hosting live evening entertainment.
Famous for being the 'real ale' capital of the UK as the city is home to a great selection of traditional pubs, together with the annual summer and winter Beer Festivals at the Assembly Rooms.
White Derby occupies a prime position in Old Blacksmiths Yard. White has revolutionised Derby's restaurant scene overnight with its unique mix of exquisite food and drink, sumptuous interior design and exemplary service. White is a truly unique experience.
Lamp and Seam is located in the New Bath Hotel is popular with local business men and women and tourists alike. The Lamp and Seam offers French/English traditional cuisine in a charming setting. Service is friendly and efficient.
The Paddock is a friendly pub located on the outskirts of Derby, where you can find good food, drink and conversation. Traditional pub food is served from a main menu, and special boards offer homemade and favourite dishes.
Bennetts Ltd is a traditional style coffee shop in an elegant setting, with large tables and comfortable padded armchairs. A varied menu is available including toast, teacakes, scones, cakes, sandwiches, salads, hot and cold meals and snacks. Freshly ground coffee and specialty teas are available all day.
Mediterranea occupies part of an older building on Friar Gate and offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in modern casual surroundings. The food is based on the cuisines of the Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern.
Hotels and Accommodation:
The city of Derby has a wide range of hotels and quality assured guest houses. As Derby is a base for tourists and business people accommodation is available all the year round. Prices can be found that are suitable for any kind of budget suitable.
International Hotel Express by Holiday Inn Derby Menzies Mickleover Court Hotel Derby East Premier Travel Inn The Priest House on the River Kegworth Whitehouse Hotel East Midlands Airport Yew Lodge Hotel - Best Western Express by Holiday Inn Nottingham East Midlands Ai European Inn The Stuart Hotel Days Hotel Derby Best Western Midland Hotel DAYS INN HOTEL DONINGTON(Derby South) Swallow Hotel Derby
Entertainment
The Assembly Rooms is Derby's leading entertainment venue, located on the Market Place in the centre of Derby. A programme of Arts and Entertainment, including an orchestral season, comedy, rock and pop events and family entertainment can be found there.
The Guildhall Theatre, also located on the Market Place, provides a blend of professional touring theatre and music events. It also offers a venue for many amateur productions and is perfect for small meetings and exhibitions.
The whole city of Derby has something to offer whatever style of break you prefer. Entertainment, historic homes, parks and good food is on offer. There is something and everything for every visitor regardless of age or budget.
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Known as the “gateway to the Highlands," Stirling is Scotland’s youngest city, yet also steeped in some of the country’s most colourful and glorious history. Situated on the River Forth, 40 minutes from Glasgow and 50 minutes from Edinburgh, the city enjoys breathtaking views of the Highlands, Loch Katrine, the inspiration for William Blake’s The Lady of the Lake, Campsie Fells, and the Highlands’ largest loch, Loch Lomond. Stirling offers a wide range of places of historical interest, activities, and great shopping and dining, which attracts over one million visitors a year.
Places of interest:
Stirling is home to the magnificent Stirling Castle, where ruling Scottish monarchs resided for over three centuries. King Kenneth McAlpine battled and conquered the tribe of the Picts in 843 to form the Kingdom of Scotland within sight of the Castle, and over one thousand years later, William Wallace triumphed over King Edward’s army at Stirling Bridge in order to gain freedom from the tyrannous English for the Kingdom. The battlefield of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314 to be crowned King of Scotland is nearby, and the creative, optimistic, and possibly occasionally foolhardy, nature of the Scottish people is captured in John Damian’s 1507 attempt to fly from the battlements of Stirling Castle, with wings made from hen’s feathers!
Open year round, the National Wallace Monument stands 220 feet above Abbey Craig, as testament to and in honour of the life and achievements of one of Scotland’s greatest heros, William Wallace. The monument offers a living history introduction to Wallace’s life, bloody and glorious campaign for Scottish freedom, betrayal, trial, and gory death.
Since 1874, the Smith Art Gallery and Museum has housed history, archaeological and fine art collections that celebrate Scottish history and achievements.
Bannockburn Heritage Centre is the site of one of the most important events in Scottish history. The Centre presents a vivid retelling of the 1314 battle in which King Robert Bruce defeated the army of King Edward II, securing freedom for the Scots.
No visit to Stirling would be complete without experiencing Stirling Castle. Built on volcanic rock, the site of the castle had been inhabited by Picts, Romans and Scottish monarch among others, for over eight thousand years. The prehistoric castle has been rumoured to be the setting of the legend of King Arthu’s Camelot, and features tours, exhibitions and living history performances that offer fascinating insight into the lively history of the castle and grounds.
The Church of the Holy Rude is said to be the only church still in use that has witnessed a coronation.
Things to do:
There are loads of things to do while in Stirling. From fantastic shopping centres to fun amusement parks, Sterling provides entertainment for everyone.
The Thistle Centre is one of Scotland’s premier shopping centres, home to a plethora of high street names, including Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, Next and the Virgin Megastore.
There are a number of popular bike rentals, mapped cycle routes and guide led cycle tours for all ages and abilities, taking in the historic town and beautiful surrounding areas.
The Safari and Adventure Park in Blair Drummond, near Stirling, is great for kids’ entertainment and home to elephants, rhinos, giraffes, tigers, bears, camels to name a few species of wild fauna, and with an Adventure Park, Pets Farm and performing sea lions shows on offer for all round amusement.
For some fantastical and supernatural entertainment, the Doon Hill Fairy Walk is a must for a guide led walk exploring local legends of Fae folk, or for the brave, the Ghostwalk with Jock Rankine's Spirit Guide meets at the Stirling Town Hall.
Food & Drink:
Dining in Stirling is an unforgettable experience. No matter what pleases the palate, Stirling’s fine dining sites can satiate anyone’s appetite.
With traditional, home cooked food on offer, local mother and daughter run Victoria’s Coffee Shop is a great bet for lunch on the go and casual family dining.
Recommended by EatScotland.com, The Birds and the Bees offers a lively atmosphere, national and international dining in an authentic farm steading conversion.
For a refined dining experience, the four star Jekyll’s Restaurant at the Queen’s Hotel is recommended for traditional dishes in luxurious surroundings.
Hermann’s Brasserie is recommended as a staple of Stirling’s dining experience. Featuring a unique fusion of Scottish and Austrian cuisine, it is also famed for its warm and hospitable atmosphere.
Reservations are recommended to experience the sophistication and world class cuisine of The Heritage in the sophisticated Park Lodge Hotel.
Stirling Hotels & Accommodation:
There is a wide range of Hotels and Accommodation available to suit all requirements and budgets in Stirling, from traditional, family run bed and breakfasts to dependable national chains to lavish high end hotels.
Express By Holiday Inn Stirling
The Stirling Highland Hotel
Entertainment
Stirling offers all sorts of entertainment and nightlife, from cinema such as Carlton Cinemas, presenting the latest UK releases, to clubs and bars to family friendly activities including ice skating a the Stirling Ice Rink and ten pin bowling at AMF Bowling or the Stirling Indoor Bowling Centre. Traditional entertainment, including Highland Games and Celtic folk nights of music and dancing, known as celidhs, are in abundance. Stirling enjoys a varied nightlife, with dance clubs including Fubar and Enigma, and traditional pubs such as All that Jazz and O’Neills, both frequented by University of Stirling students.
Stirling, and its surrounding areas, is rightly known as Scotland’s birthplace. It cannot be mere coincidence that so many events of great significance to the Kingdom of Scotland occurred within the vicinity of the gateway to the Highlands. Once the area was home or destination to national heroes such William Wallace, Robert Bruce and Mary, Queen of Scots, literary heroes including Rabbie Burns and William Blake, and the villain Rob Roy, and today it is a premier destination for tourists and local visitors alike. Exulting in the breathtaking and unrivalled scenery of the Highlands, proximity to Scotland’s urban centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh and enjoying a range of activities to suit a wide variety of visitors, Stirling is at its heart an essential destination for any enthusiast of Scottish, or wider Celtic history and culture.
Biography
Name: Maria Williams Website: http://www.sleepuk.com Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of hotels in Stirling.
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