New homes in Derbyshire

Schools & Universities in Derbyshire

Derbyshire is replete with good schools, nurseries, and further education opportunities for students. These are evenly spread out across the county, with sought-after catchment areas across towns such as Glossop, Mickleover, Pinxton, and Chesterfield, alongside various rural villages.  

Some of the most highly rated nurseries in the Derbyshire countryside include the Alfreton Nursery School in Alfreton, the Charlotte Nursery and Infant School in Ilkeston, and the Flagg Nursery School in Buxton. Older children can attend sought-after primary schools at the John King Infant Academy in Pinxton, the Lea Primary School in Matlock, or Redhill Primary School in Ockbrook. There are many more highly regarded nurseries and primary schools across Derbyshire, all of which are conveniently located to spread out the catchment demand.  

Two of the most notable in-demand secondary schools in Derbyshire are St Mary’s Catholic High School in Chesterfield and the Heanor Gate Spencer Academy in Heanor. St Mary’s is known for its highly achieving students, with pupils outperforming the national averages from their year groups. Meanwhile, Heanor Gate shines for its focus on extracurricular education and activities, operating a diverse range of after-school clubs for hobbies such as Warhammer, badminton, and chess.  

The DCG, or Derby College, has several campuses spread out between Derby and Nottingham. Known for its impressive range of courses and technical educational programs, it provides a plethora of unique education opportunities such as arboriculture, automotive technologies, agriculture, travel and tourism, and game design. It remains the largest college group in Derbyshire, and is well rated among teachers and students.  

The University of Derby is available for higher education in Derbyshire. The university is made up of a single campus spanning several sites across the city, providing engineering and art workshops at Markeaton Street, dance studios and textile facilities at Britannia Mill, and a criminology lab at One Friar Gate Square. The university also has strong industry links, and is well regarded for its post-graduation employment rate.

Public transport in Derbyshire

The M1 motorway cuts straight through Derbyshire, providing an easy through-route in and out of the county from the north and south. The motorway can be used to reach Sheffield or Leicester from Derby in just under an hour, while Leeds is 1 hour and 20 minutes away. You can also access a robust network of A-roads crossing Derbyshire, including the A6 to Manchester and the A50 to Stoke-on-Trent.  

The majority of local road networks connect Chesterfield to Derby along the eastern edge of the county, helping to reduce commuter traffic with plenty of relief roads running into the city.  

Derbyshire benefits from a well-funded railway network across the East Midlands and the North West, providing residents with a choice of 35 train stations within the county. The largest of these is located in Derby, with six platforms operating services along the Midland Main Line. Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, and London are examples of popular destinations with a direct route from Derby. Trains take just over two hours to reach London, while Sheffield, Birmingham, and Nottingham can all be reached in a little over 30 minutes.  

The Derby bus station is a 15-minute walk away from the train station. There, you can catch several popular buses leading to destinations such as Nottingham, Leicester, and Burton. The Skylink bus service is also available to take residents to the East Midlands Airport within 35 minutes of the bus station.

Popular things to do in Derbyshire

You’ll find plenty of activities to keep the family busy while you’re living in Derbyshire. These range from parkland hikes to live football matches in the city of Derby, and include family-friendly venues for ziplining, kayaking, and more. During poor weather, you can also find entertainment opportunities indoors in Derby and the towns of Chesterfield and Buxton. 

Our new builds in Derbyshire boast quick access to the Peak District, where a wealth of outdoor activities await adventurous residents. These include multiple caves designed for supervised tours, including the Blue John Cavern, where you can buy some of the only samples of Blue John mined in the UK. Other show caves include the Peak Cavern, a gorge located under Peveril Castle in Castleton, and Treak Cliff Cavern, another fantastic example of Blue John stone. Remember never to cave alone or in unsupervised caverns.  

The Peak District is also famous for its hiking routes, one of which – the Peak Way Walk – is an impressive 155 miles long. The majority of the route falls in Derbyshire, with the trail passing through Chapel-en-le-Frith, Buxton, Ashbourne, Hathersage, and Bamford. Access points are available throughout the route, and residents are free to join and leave it at will. Popular hills to hike include Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, both well known for their challenging routes.  

Our new homes in Derbyshire are located close to plenty of enclosed parkland areas for more family-friendly walks. These include Hardwick Hall in Chesterfield, where you can explore a cultivated herb garden and orchards, as well as the imposing Renishaw Hall in Eckington. You can also visit the Pavilion Gardens, Carsington Water, or Dovedale valley.  

There are plenty of activities in the Peak District that don’t involve hiking, including a Go Ape zipline course in Buxton and several canoe providers along the River Derwent and the Cromford Canal. Cycling routes are also available, with popular tracks along the Tissington Trail and the High Peak. You can climb various limestone faces across the Peaks in areas such as Stanage Edge and the Roaches.  

Derbyshire has a strong fishing community, with opportunities to put out for a catch at one of its many reservoirs, or alongside the River Derwent. Derbyshire is popular for its wealth of trout and grayling, alongside standard catches such as carp and pike. You will need a rod license to fish in Derbyshire, alongside a license from a landowner or organisation depending on where you pitch.  

Urban entertainment is available in Derby. The Pride Park Stadium is the home pitch for the Derby County Football Club, and the team plays home matches regularly which residents can watch for a ticket fee. Events are also hosted regularly at the Derby Arena, Derby’s leisure centre-cum-stage. Examples include musical tributes to famous bands such as Pink Floyd and Bon Jovi, as well as live pantomimes.