The 14 Best Day Trips from Derby

How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.

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There are 14 good day trips from Derby, United Kingdom, led by Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield. The closest is Nottingham, about 35 min by car, and 4 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.

Day trips from Derby

  1. 1

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car57 km south-west of Derby

    Known for Cadbury World.

  2. 2

    Manchester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car80 km north-west of Derby
  3. 3

    Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car51 km north of Derby
  4. 4

    Leeds, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car97 km north of Derby
  5. 5

    Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car114 km north-west of Derby
  6. 6

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car39 km south-east of Derby
  7. 7

    Bradford, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north of Derby
  8. 8

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car57 km south of Derby
  9. 9

    Birkenhead, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car115 km north-west of Derby
  10. 10

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car22 km east of Derby
  11. 11

    Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km north-east of Derby
  12. 12

    Preston, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car124 km north-west of Derby
  13. 13

    Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 55 min by car48 km west of Derby
  14. 14

    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car109 km south-east of Derby

A sample day: Derby to Birmingham

  1. 08:30Leave Derby
  2. 09:35Arrive in Birmingham (1 hr 5 min drive)
  3. 09:50Cadbury World
  4. 11:50Lunch
  5. 13:05Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Birmingham
  6. 15:35Head back to Derby
  7. 16:40Home in Derby

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Derby?
The best day trips from Derby are Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool. The closest is Nottingham, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Derby?
Nottingham is the closest, 22 km east of Derby, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Derby?
4 places are within about an hour's drive of Derby: Nottingham (35 min), Leicester (45 min), Stoke-on-Trent (55 min), Sheffield (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Derby for a day out?
Birmingham is the largest city in day-trip range, 57 km south-west of Derby and about 1 hr 5 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
Where can I go for a weekend from Derby?
For a weekend away from Derby, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Preston (124 km, 1 hr 55 min), Kingston upon Hull (119 km, 1 hr 50 min), Birkenhead (115 km, 1 hr 50 min), Liverpool (114 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
How far is too far for a day trip from Derby?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Preston at 124 km, around 1 hr 55 min by car.

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