24th July 2009 - by David Panks
Derby Tourist Information & Travel Guide
Derby is the 18th largest city in all of England and is located
in the East Midlands. The city is primarily known as the
starting point of the Industrial Revolution. In Present day it
stands as a modern and vibrant place yet at the same time it
enraptures a more traditional landscape of the warm countryside
in its surrounding areas.
Derby has a variety of shopping facilities available ranging
from boutique shopping to busy markets. The main shopping
centre is Westfield Derby which took a £340 million development
plan to achieve and opened in late 2007. The new shopping
centre has four themed malls and flagship stores on two retail
levels consisting of Marks & Spencer’s and Debenhams.
Here you can find over 100 top end retail stores that
incorporate local and national trends with regards to fashion
and lifestyle. Some of these brands include Zara, Topshop,
Monsoon, River Island and Bershka. Westfield Derby also has a
12 screen cinema (Showcase Cinema Delux), which became
operational in May 2008.
It does not end there, directly neighbouring Showcase Cinema
Delux is the entertainment headquarters, providing 800 seats
for dining. This is where visitors can enjoy the food of local
cuisine alongside international stylish restaurants.
There are many attractions to be seen in Derby, the city’s own
heritage is imprinted almost everywhere you turn. The Cathedral
of All Saints is worth a visit even though its huge tower can
be spotted from a fair distance. It is in fact the smallest
Anglican Cathedral nationwide and was first built in the 15th
Century in a traditionally gothic styled manner, however was
rebuilt in the 17th century and became a cathedral in 1927.
For a more cultural experience of the city you can visit the
Derby Museum and Art Gallery which showcases the work of Joseph
Wright and holds the largest collection of his artwork in the
world. The museum focuses on a diverse range of collections,
one of them being The Archaeology Gallery, which looks at the
Stone Age to the Middle Ages and Ancient Egyptian history,
referring back to the mummification.
Geology and wildlife is also categorically illustrated and take
spotlight in the museums current display area. This section
makes reference to wildlife often found in Derby and gives the
visitor a feel for the time period mentioned providing time
tunnels, discovery areas and walk in caves, to make this a more
exciting yet educational trip for all.
Derby also has a magnificent arboretum which was classified as
the country’s first public park. Recently it is going under
drastic redevelopment in a multi million pound restoration
programme to save two old lodges and creating safe areas for
children to play in. There is also set to be a community
building located in the centre of the arboretum, creating
general public facilities such as toilets, cafes, offices and
much more. For safety reasons two routes will be constructed
with lighting.
Many of the trees have to be removed from the arboretum due to
inadequate growth or overshadowing however many new species of
trees will emerge. The work has already began and will resume
for three years as this £5million restoration process is aimed
to help increase education on nature reserves as
intended.
Source: http://articlesabroad.com
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