Derby’s biggest
Allestree Park
Park or garden
129 ha (320 acres)15.6 km of path
3 h 30 minto walk all 15.6 km of path
181 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
3.1 mi northfrom the centre
3 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Malcolm Neal · CC BY-SA 2.0B−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Derby · parks, paths & countryside
82% of Derby’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Footpaths add up to 487 km in the city and the kilometre around it, 3.8 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Derby add up to 2.3 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Derby grades B− for the outdoors: #38 of 59 in Derbyshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.3 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
82%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
487 km
3.8 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Peak District National Park
Character
What kind of outdoors city is Derby?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
A city of footpaths3.8 km of path per km², more than 77% of UK towns. The typical town has 3.0.Historic parks3 registered historic parks and gardens, including Nottingham Road Cemetery.
Derby’s strongest suit is dense footpaths, followed by its historic parks.
Outdoors grade
Derby grades B− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Derby, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B−
Better than 51% of UK towns#38 of 59 in Derbyshire · 34th of 45 UK cities its size
Public green space2.3 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
55out of
100
100
A park within a walk82%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
52out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · None within 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths3.8 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
77out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Cities its size
Derby is 34th of 45 UK cities its size for the outdoors
The 45 UK towns and cities of 193,000 to 372,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Derby3.8
Cities its size4.9
Derbyshire towns3.6
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Derby2.3
Cities its size1.9
Derbyshire towns2.2
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Derby82%
Cities its size84%
Derbyshire towns86%
All UK towns83%
Against cities its size, Derby stands out most for park space per resident: only 17 of the other 44 have more. It falls furthest behind on path per km², where 36 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth Devon | A+ | 1.7 | 87% | 4.9 | 35% |
| 2 | Bexley London | A+ | 2.8 | 84% | 5.2 | 0% |
| 3 | Southampton Hampshire | A | 2.3 | 80% | 5.6 | 13% |
| 4 | Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire | A | 8 | 99% | 6.3 | 0% |
| 5 | Brighton and Hove East Sussex | A | 1 | 77% | 5.2 | 51% |
| 6 | Hillingdon London | A | 2.9 | 86% | 4.9 | 2% |
| 7 | Bromley London | A− | 3.1 | 81% | 4.1 | 18% |
| 8 | Cardiff South Glamorgan | A− | 2.2 | 88% | 4 | 0% |
| 9 | Bournemouth Dorset | A− | 1.9 | 81% | 3.2 | 1% |
| 10 | Westminster London | A− | 2.6 | 98% | 8.2 | 0% |
| 11 | Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire | A− | 5.5 | 95% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 12 | Merton London | A− | 3.3 | 89% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 13 | Sutton London | A− | 2.9 | 85% | 3.8 | 1% |
| 14 | Greenwich London | A− | 2.7 | 90% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 15 | Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear | A− | 2.9 | 91% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 16 | Luton Bedfordshire | A− | 1.9 | 78% | 4.9 | 26% |
| 17 | Portsmouth Hampshire | A− | 1.2 | 82% | 3.5 | 2% |
| 18 | Hounslow London | B+ | 3 | 83% | 5.7 | 0% |
| 19 | Nottingham Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.4 | 87% | 7 | 0% |
| 20 | Norwich Norfolk | B+ | 1.9 | 77% | 5.4 | 4% |
| 21 | Camden London | B+ | 2 | 90% | 7.9 | 0% |
| 22 | Reading Berkshire | B+ | 1.7 | 73% | 4.6 | 26% |
| 23 | Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire | B+ | 1.7 | 82% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 24 | Hackney London | B | 1.4 | 97% | 8.6 | 0% |
| 25 | Northampton Northamptonshire | B | 2.6 | 85% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 26 | Southwark London | B | 1.3 | 96% | 7.8 | 0% |
| 27 | Redbridge London | B | 3 | 76% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 28 | Wandsworth London | B | 2.4 | 77% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 29 | Lewisham London | B | 1.6 | 88% | 5.8 | 0% |
| 30 | Tower Hamlets London | B− | 0.8 | 98% | 10.5 | 0% |
| 31 | Ealing London | B− | 1.8 | 87% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 32 | Haringey London | B− | 1.5 | 87% | 5.9 | 0% |
| 33 | Coventry West Midlands | B− | 1.9 | 84% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 34 | Derby Derbyshire | B− | 2.3 | 82% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 35 | Islington London | B− | 0.6 | 98% | 7.7 | 0% |
| 36 | Enfield London | B− | 2 | 82% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 37 | Lambeth London | B− | 1.2 | 87% | 6.4 | 0% |
| 38 | Bradford West Yorkshire | C+ | 1.4 | 88% | 4 | 0% |
| 39 | Havering London | C+ | 2.6 | 72% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 40 | Newham London | C+ | 1 | 83% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 41 | Harrow London | C+ | 1.6 | 81% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 42 | Barking and Dagenham London | C+ | 2.4 | 82% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 43 | Waltham Forest London | C+ | 1 | 80% | 6.1 | 0% |
| 44 | Brent London | C | 1.5 | 82% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 45 | Wolverhampton West Midlands | C | 1.8 | 76% | 2.8 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Derby’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Derby
The biggest is Allestree Park, 129 ha (320 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 30 named parks by size: 524 ha (1,294 acres) and 65 km of path
Parks & gardens 430 haPlaying fields 94 ha
The two biggest, Allestree Park and Elvaston Castle Country Park, are 43% of the named green space and carry 28 km of path between them. 4 of the 30 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Elvaston Castle Country Park
Park or garden · 70 m outside town
97 ha (239 acres)12.4 km of path
2 h 45 minto walk all 12.4 km of path
135 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
3.3 mi eastfrom the centre
Bedford DriveElvaston Lane
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Markeaton Park
Park or garden
80 ha (197 acres)10.9 km of path
2 h 25 minto walk all 10.9 km of path
112 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.8 mi north-westfrom the centre
Playground Campsite 3 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Darley Abbey Park
Park or garden
26 ha (64 acres)6.1 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 6.1 km of path
36 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi northfrom the centre
St Marys Bridge Chapel Grade I +9 listedDarley Grove
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Alvaston Park
Park or garden
33 ha (81 acres)2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
46 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.2 mi eastfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Chaddesden Park
Park or garden
24 ha (58 acres)2.5 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.5 km of path
33 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.8 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Nature reserve Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Sunnydale Park
Park or garden
13 ha (33 acres)2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
19 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.3 mi south-westfrom the centre
Nature reserve
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Osmaston Park
Park or garden
13 ha (32 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
18 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.2 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Allestree ParkPark or garden · 129 ha · 15.6 km of path
DirectionsElvaston Castle Country ParkPark or garden · 97 ha · 12.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMarkeaton ParkPark or garden · 80 ha · 10.9 km of path
DirectionsDarley Abbey ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 6.1 km of path
DirectionsAlvaston ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsChaddesden ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 2.5 km of path
DirectionsSunnydale ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 2.9 km of path
DirectionsOsmaston ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsDarley Playing FieldsPlaying field · 21 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsNormanton ParkPlaying field · 9.2 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsDerwent ParkPark or garden · 6.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsKing George V Playing FieldPlaying field · 9.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsField EndPlaying field · 6.7 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsRykneld Recreation GroundPlaying field · 6.8 ha · 1.0 km of path
DirectionsChellaston ParkPlaying field · 5.2 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsBarnes GreenPark or garden · 4.0 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsClemson's ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsPit Close Lane Recreation GroundPlaying field · 4.6 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsMarkeaton Recreation GroundPlaying field · 2.9 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsRadfords PleasancePlaying field · 3.8 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsChester GreenPlaying field · 4.9 ha
DirectionsRoe Farm Recreational GroundPlaying field · 4.6 ha
DirectionsMundy Pleasure GroundPlaying field · 1.8 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsShaftesbury CentrePlaying field · 2.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsRowditch Recreation GroundPlaying field · 2.0 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsRiverside GardensPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsBass's Recreation GroundPlaying field · 2.7 ha
DirectionsSherwood Recreation GroundPlaying field · 1.4 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsBendall GreenPlaying field · 2.0 ha
DirectionsAnderson Electrical ArenaPlaying field · 2.1 ha
DirectionsClose to home
How close Derby’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (82%)Further (18%)
Derby82%
Cities its size84%
Derbyshire towns86%
All UK towns83%
About 48,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 163 playgrounds are mapped in and around the city, about one for every 1,691 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Peak District National Park is 11 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
Peak District National Park covers 1,438 km² and has been a National Park since 1951.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
20 waymarked walks pass through or near Derby
487 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Derby and the kilometre around it, 3.8 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the city.
RegionalLocalOther waymarked
Derby Nomad Way21.7 km
Derwent Valley Heritage Way17.8 km
Midshires Way5.6 km
Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk5.1 km
Long Walk, Kedleston Hall2.9 km
Circular Walk 192.8 km
Amber Valley Routeway Walk 172.2 km
Erewash Circular Walk 51.7 km
Wilderness walk1.6 km
Amber Valley Routeway Walk 101.2 km
Erewash Circular Walk 210.9 km
Erewash Circular Route 130.8 km
Little Eaton Circular Walk 120.8 km
Trent Valley Way0.8 km
Circular Walk 30.7 km
Erewash Circular Walk 130.7 km
Plus 4 more waymarked walks on the map.
Close to home, the Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk has 5 km of local walk within 2 km of the city. 4 regional routes pass through, including the Derby Nomad Way, Derwent Valley Heritage Way, Midshires Way and Trent Valley Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
3 historic parks, and what stands in them
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Derby’s named parks.
Park with listed buildings
Darley Abbey Park
26 ha. 10 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge, including St Marys Bridge Chapel (Grade I).
ISt Marys Bridge ChapelIIDeans Field (Mill House)IIHandyside Arch Bridge (Over River Derwent)IINos 1 and 2 Abbey YardIISt Marys Bridge HouseIIStables and Service Wing to Former Darley HallIIThe HolliesIIThe White House
Registered · Grade II*Derby Arboretum8.6 ha
Registered · Grade IINottingham Road Cemetery19 ha
Registered · Grade IIThe Old Cemetery1.7 ha
Listed buildings insideDarley Playing FieldsLittlechester Roman site and Derwent House
Listed buildings insideAllestree ParkOld School House, Yew Tree Cottage and 8, Cornhill
Listed buildings insideMarkeaton ParkConservatory in Markeaton Park, Former Toll House and Home Farmhouse
Heritage walks
Derwent Valley Heritage Way 17.8 km
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Derby: May and July to September
The city’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.1 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 16.9 | 16.4 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 7.6 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 57 | 48 | 47 | 44 | 48 | 69 | 63 | 63 | 57 | 67 | 63 | 67 |
April is the driest month (44 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 69 mm of rain falls in June, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 38 nights a year. The climate in Derby →
Things to do
163 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the city in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK city its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
1Viewpoints3Hills and peaksabout the same as cities its size21Nature reserves1.6× cities its size23Picnic sites2.8× cities its size163Playgrounds0.7× cities its size2Dog parks2Campsites1Slipways
The nearest beaches
Derby is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the city.
The Beach21 mi from Derby’s edge
Directionslibrary23 mi from Derby’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. Chellaston Hill, at 78 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Derby.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Quarndon Topograph0.6 mi from town
DirectionsHills and peaks 3
Chellaston Hill78 m (256 ft) · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsAston Hill73 m (240 ft) · 0.9 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 21
Chaddesden Park Nature Area2.8 ha · in town
DirectionsDuesbury Nature Reserve1.4 ha · in town
DirectionsElm Wood2.1 ha · in town
DirectionsMickleover Meadows9.3 ha · in town
DirectionsSunnydale Park Local Nature Reserve13 ha · in town
DirectionsSinfin Moor Nature Reserve22 ha · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsAlvaston Community Nature Area3.5 ha · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsWest Park Meadow Nature Reserve4.9 ha · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 13 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 23
Plus 23 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 163
Arboretum Playgroundin town
DirectionsChurch Street Play Areain town
DirectionsCollege Green Walk Play Areain town
DirectionsCompton Close Play Areain town
DirectionsHomerton Vale Play Areain town
DirectionsMundy Play Centrein town
DirectionsOlympic Gymin town
DirectionsThe Penin town
DirectionsPlus 155 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
The Orchard Campsitein town
DirectionsLittle Stryne Fishing, Caravan, and Camping0.5 mi from town
DirectionsSlipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
FindernBorrowashLittle EatonAston-on-TrentMakeneyWillingtonDerby
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby | B− | 2.3 | 82% | 0% |
| Findern 3.9 mi | D | 1.8 | 40% | 0% |
| Borrowash 4.2 mi | B− | 2.8 | 85% | 0% |
| Little Eaton 4.2 mi | B | 4.6 | 85% | 0% |
| Aston-on-Trent 5.0 mi | D | 1.5 | 44% | 0% |
| Makeney 5.3 mi | C | 2.1 | 56% | 0% |
| Willington 5.4 mi | D | 1.8 | 67% | 0% |
Little Eaton, 4.2 miles away, grades B, the best next door: 85% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Derby
What is the biggest park in Derby?
Allestree Park, 129 ha (320 acres), with 15.6 km of path. Elvaston Castle Country Park (97 ha) is second. 30 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the city or within 400 m of it.
Is Derby near a National Park?
Yes. Peak District National Park begins 11 mi north-west of the city’s edge. It covers 1,438 km² and has been a National Park since 1951.
What are the best walks near Derby?
20 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the city, including the Derby Nomad Way, Derwent Valley Heritage Way and Midshires Way. Allestree Park alone has 15.6 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Derby?
The Beach, 21 mi from the edge of the city, then library (23 mi). Derby itself is inland.
How many people in Derby live near a park?
82% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Derby?
May and July to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Derby are historic?
Nottingham Road Cemetery (Grade II), The Old Cemetery (Grade II) and Derby Arboretum (Grade II*) are on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Derby good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.8 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 77% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 55% (2.3 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Derby’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Derby’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.