Known as one of the most picturesque counties in the UK, Derbyshire offers the quintessential green pastures and gamboling lambs of the English countryside, intersected by tumble-down stone walls, large and remote farms, grey stone villages, desolate and beautiful moorland and miles and miles of rolling hills. Perhaps unsurprisingly much of the landscape is part of the Peak District National Park but there is also some breathtaking scenery in other areas of the county. In the north the county overlaps with the Pennines and it also includes part of the National Forest.
Derbyshire borders Cheshire to the West, Staffordshire to the South West, Leicestershire to the South East, Nottinghamshire to the East, Yorkshire in the North East and North, and Greater Manchester to the North West.
It has been inhabited for over 200,000 years and there are numerous Paleolithic, Neolithic and Stone Age sites scattered around the county. In addition there are some wonderful Neolithic burial tombs in Five Wells and Minning Low that date back to about 2500 BC. There are a number of Bronze Age sites in the Peak District and plenty of evidence of the later Roman invasion, especially around the warm springs of Buxton. Indeed Buxton, an elegant spa town, is one of Derbyshire’s historical highlights as are the dramatic town of Matlock Bath, Bolsover Castle, Castleton, Kedleston Hall and the National Trust run properties at Calke Abbey, Hardwick Hall, High Peak Estate and Sudbury Hall.
For outdoor pursuits there is the area around the reservoirs of Ladybower, Derwent and Howden which offers hiking and cycling trails. But for the great outdoors itself nothing beats the Peak District and sites such as Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, as well as hundreds of miles of peatlands, steep sided valleys and rocky crags. Derbyshire truly deserves its title as ‘the backbone of the country.’
Buxton Opera House, BuxtonFresh from The Thick of It, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and his sell-out 2010 tour, Chris Addison, the man who put the 'Chris Addison' into, 'I see Chris Addison is touring again,' is touring again. He's written a brand new show, The Time Is Now, Again, specifically for the venue this website refers to.* (*And about 40 others, but the point still stands.) Top class stand-up from one of the classiest, toppiest stand-ups around. You should come and see him. …
Assembly Rooms, DerbyMulti award winning stand-up, television and movie star, Omid Djalili is back on tour with his brand new comedy show. A firm favourite at the Edinburgh Festival with his legendary performances, Omid’s stand-up awards include Time Out Award for Best Stand Up, the EMMA Award, South Bank Award nominee and Perrier Award nominee.…
Re-live the sights and sounds of sixties as the world’s premier Beatle band returns to Cambridge with their spectacular two hour multi-media stage production featuring all the classic Beatle hits. Using film footage of the period and 'with a little help from' their regular brass and string ensemble the show traces the history of the Fab Four from Liverpool's Cavern Club through Sgt Pepper to The Apple Rooftop in what has now become one of the ‘not to miss’ annual traditions of the seasons calendar. …
Derby Assembly Rooms, DerbyAustralian Pink Floyd is the band to see when it comes to Pink Floyd tributes. More than just an average cover band, Aussie Pink Floyd meticulously strives to recreate the ground-breaking work of the iconic band and put on mind-blowing live stage shows. Lasers, lights, on-screen visuals, and huge inflatables give lucky audience members a chance to really feel like they're at an authentic Pink Floyd concert. In 2011 they became the first band to debut a new stereoscopic 3D element as part of their show and 2012 is sure to bring more jaw-dropping innovations to the delight of their large fan bas…
American stand-up comic Doug Stanhope brings to audiences his hilarious comedy material that ranges from 'true-life graphic perversion to volatile social criticism'. Vulgar, opinionated and brutally honest, his material shocks but entertains, and is certainly not for everybody. Doug was selected by both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter as one of the Top Ten Comics To Watch.…
B2net Stadium, ChesterfieldElton John is one of the top selling musical artists of all time, and this fantastic musician is on his tour which is bound to sell out at all venues across the UK. Definitely one to watch.…
Funny man Jimmy Carr has become known and loved for his deadpan delivery and observational comedy. His humour is often dark yet hugely appealing as his success on TV and the live stand-up stage keeps on growing. In 2006 he became the first big name to perform in the virtual reality world 'Second Life'. He hosts TV's '8 Out of Ten Cats' and has guest presented 'Have I Got News for You'. Carr is an established writer also creating material for the likes of Frank Skinner, Bo Selecta and Lily Savage.…
Assembly Rooms, DerbyDescribed as Britains First Lady of Song, Joan Armatrading has been nominated for a Grammy Award on no less than three occasions. Possessing an extremely unique voice and strong rhythmical acoustic guitar, she is touring again in concerts that will delight audiences with her hits such as Love and Affection, Drop the Pilot and Lovers Speak.…
Winding Wheel, ChesterfieldJason's original twist of intelligent comedy has seen him win several accolades, including a Perrier Award Nomination in 2001 and more recently the 2007 Perrier Newcomer Award Nomiation. The first ever comedian to sell more than 25,000 tickets at the Edinburgh Festival, he is a comedic force to be reckoned with. His brand new live show, Cirque Du Byrne tours the UK in the autumn of 2011.…
Assembly Rooms Guildhall Theatre and Darwin Suite, DerbyAt 24 years of age, Kevin Bridges is one of the most popular up and coming comedians in the country. His big break came at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he won the 'So you think you're Funny' competition. Bridges has since gone on to appear on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Road Show and 'Live at the Apollo'. He is currently touring Scotland and N. Ireland and has released 'Kevin Bridges: The Story so Far ...Live in Glasgow' on DVD this year.…
Ian AndersonTuesday, 24 April 2012Pop And Rock - watch Ian Anderson live at Assembly Rooms Guildhall Theatre and Darwin Suite in Derby, Derbyshire on the Tuesday, 24 April 2012. Compare ticket prices and save on the best seats in the house!
Other concerts, music and gigs in Derbyshire are:
Jethro Tull Ian Anderson24 Apr, DerbyJustin Currie10 May, BuxtonDownload Festival8 Jun, DerbyDownload Festival9 Jun, DerbyDownload Festival10 Jun, DerbyJoan Armatrading20 Oct, Derby
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Sport in Derbyshire
Assembly RoomsOur spotlight theatre/performing arts centre of the week is Assembly Rooms, located in Derby. See what shows and performances are on this week at Assembly Rooms.
Other theatres and performing arts venues in Derbyshire are:
Buxton Opera HouseDerby Assembly RoomsDerby Theatre
Derby MuseumDerby Museum and Art Gallery houses a wide range of important and attractive collections, covering porcelain, paintings, archaeology, history, local regiments, geology and wildlife. Paintings by the celebrated 18th Century Derby artist Joseph Wright, A.R.A. (1734-97) include portraits, landscapes, …Location: Derby
Some other fun family days out in Derbyshire are:
Peak District Mining MuseumPickfords House Museum of Georgian LifeDenby Pottery Visitor CentreConkers Discovery CentreConkers Discovery CentreHardwick Hall Country ParkThe Heights of AbrahamDerby Industrial MuseumSpeedwell CavernEnter the inner world of the underground cave system in the heart of the Peak District National Park and absorb the atmosphere as a watery silence echoes all around you. Set at the foot of the spectacular Winnats Pass, high above the village of Castleton, Speedwell Cavern takes you on an incred…Location: Castleton
Some other notable historic attractions in Derbyshire are:
Eyam HallSudbury HallBuxton Country ParkPickfords House Museum of Georgian LifeHardwick HallDerby Industrial MuseumTreak Cliff CavernBlue John Cavern and MineDerby MuseumBolsover CastlePeak CavernPeak District Mining MuseumKedleston HallChatsworth
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