Discover Derby
30 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Famous Trains
Famous Trains is an indoor model railway centre showcasing highly detailed layouts, miniature landscapes and animated scenes — ideal for close-up detail, diorama storytelling and low-light interior compositions. Best visited on weekday mornings or early afternoons to avoid school groups; lighting is artificial so bring high-ISO capability or a wide lens. Ask staff permission before using a tripod or flash. On-site parking in central Derby; venue is wheelchair accessible and family-friendly.
Derby Arboretum (Arboretum Park)
Victorian-era public park with mature specimen trees, formal flowerbeds, a reflective pond and historic bandstand—great for seasonal colour, intimate nature frames and architectural details. Best at golden hour or early weekday mornings for soft light and few people; autumn and late spring offer peak foliage and blossoms. Easy access from Derby city centre, free entry, nearby street parking and public transport. Paths are wheelchair-friendly; respect locals and events.
Pickford's House
Georgian merchant’s townhouse with an elegant brick façade, period interiors and decorative plasterwork—excellent for architectural detail shots, street-scene portraits on Friar Gate, and intimate interior studies of Georgian domestic life. Best at golden hour or blue hour when warm light flatters the brick; weekday mornings are quieter. The museum is small—check opening times and photography/tripod policy before visiting. Limited on-street parking; nearby public car parks and good public-rail/b
The Walled Garden
A compact historic walled garden in Markeaton with formal flower beds, clipped hedges, brick walls and seasonal displays — ideal for close-up florals, textured architectural shots and intimate landscape frames. Best at spring–early summer for peak blooms and autumn for colour; golden hour brings warm wall textures. Accessible paths, free entry as part of Markeaton Park, parking at the main park car parks. Weekday mornings are quieter; expect changing light under walls and limited vistas due to w
Markeaton Park
Large municipal park with a boating lake, tree-lined avenues, formal gardens, wooded trails and a historic Markeaton Hall site — offering varied compositions from reflective waterscapes and seasonal color to intimate woodland details. Best light is at sunrise and golden hour; late spring and autumn provide peak foliage and fewer midges. Easy access from Derby, free or low-cost parking near the visitor centre; paths are well maintained for walk-and-shoot work. Weekdays are quieter; watch for band
Pine View Gardens
Pine View Gardens is a compact suburban park offering mixed woodland, seasonal flower beds and manicured lawns — ideal for close-up plant studies, intimate landscapes and quiet pathways. Best at golden hour or soft overcast for even light; weekday mornings avoid families and dog walkers. Accessible from Pastures Hill with small on-street parking nearby; likely free entry. Compact layout makes handheld shooting easy; check local signage for any event closures.
Bird Island
Small riverside reserve on the River Derwent with reedbeds, herons, ducks and passerines — ideal for intimate wildlife and waterscape shots. Best at dawn and dusk for active birds and soft directional light; spring and autumn migration bring more species. Accessible on foot from nearby streets; no entry fee and limited roadside parking on Persian Close. Paths are compacted but bring waterproof shoes; expect some urban noise and mixed backgrounds.
Reform Bill Heads (Friar Gate Heads)
A row of carved 'Reform Bill' heads above Friar Gate—small sculptural portraits that add character to Derby's Georgian streetscape. Shoot close-up textures and wide compositions including the terrace, street lamps and cobbles. Best light: low-angle morning or late afternoon; evenings can yield warm window and lamp glow. Easily accessible from the pavement with no entry required; city-centre parking and trains to Derby station (10–15 min walk). Weekdays are quieter. The heads reference 19th‑cent.
Alvaston Park
Alvaston Park is a mixed urban park with lakes, reedbeds and mature trees that attract waterfowl and seasonal migrants—great for bird and waterscape shots, intimate nature close-ups and tranquil reflections. Paths and boardwalks give varied vantage points; accessible parking off Meadow Ln, no entry fee. Best at golden hour or early mornings (weekdays for fewer people). Winters bring waders; spring offers breeding birds and blossoms.
Mickleover Meadows
A compact riverside meadow and green corridor along the River Derwent offering meadowland, reedbeds and tree lines — good for intimate landscape, waterscape and wildlife shots. Best in spring for wildflowers and nesting birds, autumn for color and low sun. Visit at golden hour or early morning for mist and bird activity; weekday mornings avoid local walkers. Flat, accessible paths and informal parking nearby on local streets; no entry fees.
Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Victorian civic building housing fine art (notably Joseph Wright), local history, archaeology and natural history collections. Interiors offer framed paintings, period rooms and display cases with controlled lighting; the sandstone façade and entrance on The Strand make a strong architectural subject. Visit weekday mornings for quieter galleries; golden hour and blue hour suit exterior shots. Check opening times and any photography restrictions (flash/tripod often prohibited). Accessible by tram
'Signing Hands' Cast Iron Slabs
Cast-iron 'Signing Hands' slabs set into Friar Gate pavement — tactile public art with strong textures, reflective metal and surrounding Victorian architecture. Shoot close-ups of hand motifs and seams, wider frames pairing slabs with Friar Gate's façades, or environmental street scenes. No entry fee; easily accessible on pavement at 44 Friar Gate. Best at golden hour for warm side-light or on overcast days to bring out texture; evenings can add lit shopfronts. Street parking and pay bays nearby
Michael Thomas Bass Statue
Bronze statue of brewer Michael Thomas Bass sits on Cheapside in central Derby—ideal for architectural and street portraits that capture civic history and urban texture. Shoot early morning or late afternoon for soft side lighting; blue hour brings dramatic contrast against wet pavement. Street-level access with no entry fee; short walk from Derby station and public car parks. Weekdays are quieter; watch for traffic and pedestrians to include local life.
Sinfin Moor Park
Sinfin Moor Park is a green urban wetland and meadow space offering grassy paths, reed-lined ditches and scattered trees — good for intimate landscapes, seasonal wildflowers and common wetland birdlife. Best at golden hour and early morning for low light, mist and active birds; spring and autumn provide the strongest colour. Public park with free entry and street parking on Sinfin Lane; mostly flat, partially paved paths suitable for walkers and tripods. Weekdays are quieter. No special permits.
Chaddesden Park
Small urban park with a boating lake, tree-lined avenues, a bandstand/pavilion and sports/play areas — good for reflections, seasonal colour and candid community scenes. Best at golden hour or autumn for warm light and foliage; weekday mornings for emptier paths. Accessible paths and free entry; roadside parking on Maine Dr and nearby residential car parks. Expect local walkers and dog owners; occasional events on weekends.
Clemson’s Park
Small suburban green space with mature trees, open lawns, a duck pond and seasonal flower beds — great for intimate landscape and nature shots, reflections and candid park-life. Free public access, street parking nearby; paths are mostly level and stroller-friendly. Best at golden hour for warm light and reflections, autumn for colour, early spring for blossoms, weekday mornings for fewer people.
Normanton Park
Small public park with mature trees, ponds and winding paths offering seasonal color, reflections and intimate landscape frames. Best at golden hour or autumn for foliage; winter frost and mist add mood. Easily accessible from Warwick Ave with street parking and no entry fee; compact layout suits short shoots. Weekday mornings are quieter. Expect typical UK weather—bring waterproofs.
Mackworth park
Small, accessible park with ponds, mature trees, meadows and winding paths—good for tranquil landscape and nature shots. Best at golden hour or early morning for soft light and reflections; autumn offers colour, spring brings wildflowers. Easy access from Greenwich Dr S with local street parking and a small car park; paths are mostly flat and suitable for handheld or tripod use. No entry fee; weekdays are quieter.
Royal Lancers Island
Small river island in the River Derwent near Derby's Pride Park offering intimate waterscape scenes, tree reflections and seasonal color contrasts against nearby urban backdrops. Easy public access from park paths; parking available at Pride Park. Best at golden hour or overcast for mood; quieter weekdays and early mornings reduce dog-walkers and runners.
The Derby County mural (Steve Bloomer)
A large exterior mural of Derby County legend Steve Bloomer on the Pride Park stadium façade — ideal for portrait-scale street-style shots and context images that pair iconography with stadium architecture. Visit early morning or late afternoon for soft side-light; match days draw crowds and traffic. Easily reached from Derby station; parking available at Pride Park. Publicly visible from walkways but be respectful of events and security.
Mickleover Manor Public Open Space
Small public green space with open lawns, mature trees and a pond — good for tranquil landscapes, reflections, seasonal foliage and informal bird life. Easy access from Mickleover village with roadside parking nearby; no entry fee. Best light at golden hour or soft overcast for reflections. Weekday mornings quieter; paths are wheelchair-friendly but bring close-up lens for details.
Birdcage Walk Public Open Space (POS)
Small riverside open space with lawns, mature trees and views toward Derby's riverside paths and nearby historic buildings. Good for seasonal color, quiet urban landscapes and intimate nature studies. Easily accessible on foot or by car; street parking and nearby car parks. Best light at sunrise or golden hour; weekdays and early mornings are least busy. No entry fee.
Sedgemoor park
Small suburban green space with lawns, mature trees and winding paths—good for intimate landscape, seasonal colours and candid community shots. Visit at golden hour for warm side light or after rain for reflections. Easily accessible from Sedgemoor Way with street parking; no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quieter. Compact size makes it ideal for short visits and handheld shooting.
Bicyle rounds
A small outdoor gym and bike-circuit at Rosehill Rec offering candid action shots of cyclists and exercisers, geometric frames of round bike features and worn concrete textures. Open public park—no entry fee; roadside parking on Reginald St. Best at golden hour or overcast afternoons for even skin tones. Weekday mornings are quieter; expect family use on weekends. Compact site, easy access for gear but be respectful when photographing people.
Unescapable Escape Room Derby
Compact, themed escape-room venue on Derby’s Wardwick — shoot the striking storefront, neon signage and the lively pedestrian streetscape. Interiors offer moody, cinematic scenes of props, puzzles and teams in action (ask permission). Best light: blue hour/evening for neon, daytime for contextual street shots. Central location near Derby station and public car parks; wheelchair access variable — check ahead. Entry typically by booking or with management consent for photo access.
Kipling Drive Green Space
Small suburban green space with mown lawns, mature trees, winding paths and occasional benches — good for intimate landscape and seasonal shots (autumn colour, spring blossoms). Easy access from Mickleover with on-street parking; no entry fee. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm light and long shadows; weekday mornings are quiet. Paths are generally accessible; no facilities or events expected. Drone use requires standard UK rules and consideration for nearby houses.
Woodcote Way park
Small suburban park with ponds, reed beds, mature trees and winding paths—good for intimate landscapes, reflections, birdlife and seasonal colour. Best at golden hour or after rain for reflections; early weekdays reduce dog-walkers. Easy street parking in Heatherton Village; flat, accessible paths and no entry fee.
Radfords Pleasance Recreation Ground
Small community recreation ground with sports pitches, playground equipment, tree lines and winding paths—good for intimate landscape and urban-park shots, seasonal foliage and candid community life. Easy access from Vicarage Rd with street parking; no entry fee. Best at golden hour or overcast for even light; weekdays mornings are quieter. Wheelchair-friendly paths and open sightlines make compositions simple; respect local users and events.
The Escape Room Guys - Derby
Compact urban attraction in Derby's Iron Gate: photograph the building frontage, signage and group-action shots of escape-room teams. The stone streets and nearby historic centre (Cathedral, Market Place) give context. Best visited weekdays or early evenings to avoid crowds; exterior shots work well at golden hour or after dark when signage pops. Interior photography usually requires permission — low light and cramped sets make candid team portraits and detail shots (locks, props, clues) most ju
Dalesgate Green
Small neighborhood green in Littleover offering open lawns, mature trees and residential backdrops—good for intimate landscape, seasonal and community shots. Visit at golden hour or autumn for warm light and color; weekday mornings are quiet. Easily accessible on foot or by street parking; no entry fee. Modest subject but useful for practising composition, shallow depth of field and local life.