Derby, the county seat of Derbyshire in the Midlands, is Britain's second most haunted city and the home of real ale and a number of local microbreweries, making a visit to the area's National Brewery Centre a must on any visit. As a popular tourist destination it is serviced by East Midlands Airport (EMA).

For those looking for something interesting to do on a break, Derby is packed with activities. Its central location makes it easy to get to and from anywhere in the UK, with extensive rail links to London, Sheffield, Leicester and all the way to Scotland and the South Coast. The city of Derby itself is compact and easy to explore on foot. Naturally, the local breweries have shaped a terrific pub scene in this welcoming place, which has a small-town feel but is packed with city amenities. The historical nooks and crannies of the Cathedral Quarter are presided over by the towering cathedral, which is well worth a look too. The heritage and legacy of Derby are also examined at city-wide attractions - at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, Derby also played a major role in the railway industry. 

Further treasures of Derby are spread among the surrounding areas. The town and adjacent areas are easily reached via the M1 and M42 motorways but are close to attractive countryside.

You can pick up your hire car in Derby in one of the city centre's downtown locations.

You can visit the nearby Peak District for a range of activities - keen walkers will enjoy bracing days outdoors, while less active types can still appreciate the area with a ride on the Heights of Abraham cable car.

Within the Peak District is the spa town of Buxton, the home of Poole's Cavern. These limestone caves resemble a kind of eerie natural science lab with a vibrant activity centre. Equally fascinating is the Neolithic stone monument at Arbor Low, one of Britain's best-preserved henges. Head north out of town to delve into the more recent past, at the historic estates of: Chatsworth House; the Lyme Park National Trust estate; Haddon Hall; the enormous Bolsover Castle; and Crich Tramway Village - an Edwardian-themed open-air museum. Alternatively, natural-world attractions include the Treak Cliff Cavern at Castleton for unique local Blue John stone deposits.

Younger visitors to Derby will be far more interested in a trip to the famous Alton Towers amusement park, which is to the west of Derby - plan for an action-packed day! A more sedate time can be had in the town of Chesterfield, with its distinctive crooked church spire, or at the picturesque Trentham estate, with its formal Italian gardens and cute monkey gardens. The first of such attractions to be opened in England, it boasts 140 free-ranging Barbary Macaques.

For visitors to Derby, car hire makes it possible to get out of town to nearby Matlock and picturesque Castleton, the locations for several popular TV shows and films, or to Carsington Water reservoir to try out a bit of fly fishing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing or bird watching.

Sports fans might fancy seeing Derby County Football Club in action or, in Nottingham (around 25 minutes by road), Notts County or Nottingham Forest. Also in Nottingham is Trent Bridge, said to be one of the world's oldest cricket grounds.

If you're looking to rent a car in Derby, use TravelSupermarket's price-comparison tool to find the best deal.