Surroundings, Derby

Kedleston Hall (4.5mi/7km northwest of Derby; near Quarndon), home of the Curzon family, is probably the finest Adam house in England, having been refashioned by Robert and James Adam in about 1760. Its principal feature is the great marble hall, with 20 pink alabaster pillars; there is much fine furniture by Chippendale and other leading cabinetmakers of the day. The north front, with six Corinthian columns, was built by James Paine at the end of the 17th C. Also worth seeing are the "Indian Museum" and the chapel (12th C).

The open-air tram museum at Crich (12.5mi/20km north of Derby, 6mi/10km southeast of Matlock) carries the visitor back to an almost forgotten era. Its collection of more than 40 horse-drawn, steam-powered and electric trams, gathered together from all over the world, provides a unique glimpse into the history of the tram from 1873 to 1953.

Melbourne (6mi/9.6km south of Derby; pop. 3,600), a charming little town, possesses a very beautiful Early Norman church (St Michael and St Mary) with three towers that was completed in 1120.Melbourne has a number of Georgian buildings and Melbourne Market Place with a variety of shops available.

Ripley (pop. 18,691) is a small town in Derbyshire located 10mi/16km northeast of Derby. There are number of fine 19th century buildings in Ripley including Butterley Hall and the Church of All Saints.

Repton (8mi/13km southwest of Derby; pop. 1,850) is noted for its public school, founded in 1557. The School Museum, housed in part of a 12th century Augustinian priory incorporated into the school buildings, contains interesting exhibits relating to the history of the village. St Wystan's Church has a Late Saxon crypt (10th century) with well-preserved Saxon architecture.

Foremark Hall, a Palladian mansion in Foremark (2mi/3km east of Repton), was built in 1760. The 17th century St Savior's Church (Perpendicular exterior) is also noteworthy, having a three-tier pulpit and wrought-iron choir screens by Robert Bakewell.Foremark Reservoir offers a wildlife habitat and abundant outdoor activities such as fishing, birdwatching, sailing and cycling.

Burton-upon-Trent (10mi/16km southwest of Derby; pop. 59,000) the largest town in the National Forest. The town straddles the River Trent and grew around the Burton-upon-Trent Abbey.Michael Bass, who became Lord Burton in the 19th century, gifted the town with many of its fine buildings, including the Town Hall, St. Margaret's Church and St. Paul's.

Subury Hall is a distinctive 17th C brick house in the town of Ashbourne. It is renowned for its Great Staircase, Grinling Gibbons wood carvings, plasterwork and painted murals and ceilings by Laguerre. The gardens of Sudbury Hall now feature environmental and wildlife activities.

Opened in 1981, the Stoke-on-Trent City Museum and adjoining Art Gallery (in Bethesda Street, Hanley) possess what must be one of the finest collections of English pottery and ceramics to be seen anywhere.

The 1,000ft/300m-deep galleries of the Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum offer a fascinating insight into the harsh realities of coal mining. British Coal's national collection of mining artifacts is also housed in the museum. The combined effects of geological problems, declining demand and cheap foreign competition closed the pit in 1977, even though its high grade anthracite was some of the best in Britain.

Alton Towers, an amusement park, has more than 100 attractions, with something for everybody, young and old.Fireworks take place usually in late October or early November.

Biddulph Grange Garden is a haven of peace. This Victorian park was laid out in 1845 and reopened in 1991.The grounds at Biddulph Grange also feature a miniature tour of the world featuring an Egyptian Court, a Chinese Pagoda and other notable world wonders.