Historical UK city named worst place for a short break despite 'amazing' cathedral

When it comes to UK city breaks, everyone has their preferences, whether it's a vibrant nightlife, charming streets, or a top-notch high street. London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Manchester offer their own unique urban culture on a large scale. Meanwhile, Oxford, Bath, Lancaster, and York are perfect for history lovers.

According to research by Which?, one sizable city stands out for the wrong reasons. Described as "rundown" and a "dump," Derby bagged the prize for the worst place to go for a short break in the UK. Liverpool, Edinburgh, and York dominated the table of 25 cities, while Leicester, Swansea, and Derby trailed at the bottom of the ranking.

But what makes Derby so bad? According to the World Population Review, the city, which has an estimated population of 270,468, scored just two stars in major categories analysed in the Which survey.

These included food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights, tourist attractions, shopping, and ease of getting around.

However, it’s a somewhat scathing assessment given that the city has a rich history and is home to some major “firsts”, including the world’s first factory.

Lombe’s Mill was built in 1721 as a silk throwing mill and now stands as a museum after being restored in 2021. Derby Arboretum, England’s first public park, opened in 1840. Described as a “picturesque oasis”, the park is located just outside the city centre in Rose Hill.

Derby might astonish you as a short break contender for another reason, namely the Cathedral.

Affectionately known as The Cathedral Church of All Saints, this historical building is famed for housing the world's oldest set of 10 bells. Predominantly from 1678, the building is believed to have been erected in 943.

Visitors have praised the cathedral, which has a commendable 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor. One user expressed, "The cathedral is beautiful, but it set the scene for a wonderfully atmospheric concert."

Another visitor was captivated, saying: "Amazing place, long weekend visit and found this gem! A total must-see. Although I am not religious it was amazing to see the architecture and how lovely it is maintained."

Should you crave a dose of culture, consider the Museum of Making and the Derby Art Gallery to appreciate the city’s ethos truly.

Sadler Gate beckons with its chic vibe for shopping. The high street brims with unique independent stores and boutiques, offering novel finds at every corner.

Motorheads will know that Derby was, and remains, the home of the Rolls-Royce Engineering Company, which designed, built and developed the Merlin engine used to power the Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes during WWII.

The business was incorporated as Rolls-Royce Limited in 1906, and a new factory in Derby was opened two years later. It’s a company ingrained in British culture, with the buildings on Nightingale Road listed by Historic England.

As for nature, the countryside is always near, with three sides of the city populated by National Trust properties. Darley Park is rated 4.7 on Google Reviews with 2.3k reviews.

The Natural area, which includes woods, grasslands, gardens, wildlife, sports facilities, events, and a cafe, stands out for its “beautiful grounds” and views over the river Derwent.

As for food, drink, and accommodation, Derby ranked favourably with Nottingham and Sheffield in one 2023 survey of the best places for drinking, perhaps thanks to its 106 CAMRA-approved real ale pubs for every 100,000 people, including a number of award-winning venues.

Despite some past negative recognition, Derby has ambitious plans to become the UK's City of Culture in 2029.

The city’s diverse cultural community and organisations have worked together to create many vibrant events, including the Derby Folk Festival, Darley Park Concert, Caribbean Carnival, St George’s Day celebrations, and Derby Market Place.

According to Culture Derby, the city has “strong plans” to enhance its current offering. A new 3,500-capacity venue at Becketwell, Vaillant, opened on April 5.

Its debut events include Conversations with Tim Peake, Miriam Margolyes, and I’m A Celebrity’s GK Barry, plus live music including Wet Wet Wet and Bjorn Again. Comedy from Paul Chowdhry, John Bishop, and Jason Manford are also on the initial lineup.