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There are 76 official cities in the UK. A handful – we’re talking the likes of Edinburgh, London, Oxford – are known the world over for being excellent holiday destinations and are constantly teeming with tourists, thanks to spectacular architecture, exciting culture and excellent restaurants. But the rest of the country’s cities have an abundance of things to offer, too.
That’s why Time Out’s writers and editors have put together a list of the British cities that we think deserve some more appreciation this summer. We’ve already shone a spotlight on the ‘City of Stories’, Norwich and now it’s time to let you know why Derby is one of this year’s most underrated UK staycations.
At the end of 2025, Derby became the country’s newest raving hotspot. ULTRA, a 3,500-capacity warehouse club promising ‘early rave spirit’ and state-of-the-art production, opened just outside of the city. Run by the same people behind the Forbidden Forest festival, its early days saw sets from the likes of drum ‘n’ bass juggernaut Wilkinson and Mixmag Breakthrough DJ of 2024 Max Dean.
If clubbing is not your thing, there’s plenty more to do in Derby besides. The Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a one-of-a-kind attraction exploring the city’s 300-year history of craft and creativity; the Market Hall is a glorious historic retail and food destination with traders such as winery Darley Abbey Wines, sustainable fashion outlet The Oddities Store and Sri Lankan street food spot Columbo Street, and the wholesome Electric Daisy Urban Garden, a community-run garden and events space is our favourite place to be as soon as the sun comes out.
The city has a stacked programme of annual events, too. In June, there’s the Derby Dracula Festival celebrating the infamous vampire’s ties to the area with an exhibition, a Gothic market, poetry slams and live music. In October there’ll be a big fan event to mark the 30th birthday of Tomb Raider, which was created in the city. Tomb Rider Day at the Quad creative centre will include guest panels, autograph sessions and photo opportunities with actors, models and makers who had a hand in the making of the Lara Croft franchise. The same month, there’s the UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships, which will bring weird and wonderful events like bicycle gymnastics and cycle-ball.
And if all that isn’t enough to fill your time, Derby is also an ideal base for exploring the wider region – specifically the dramatic Peak District and idyllic nearby villages like Ashford-in-the-Water, Bakewell and Buxton. The best of both worlds!
🌆 Explore Time Out’s full guide to the UK’s most underrated city breaks.
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Plus: The 5 greatest UK cities for culture in 2026, according to Time Out.
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