Photographers in Derby

Cathedral Quarter

Derby Cathedral's tall Perpendicular Gothic tower, completed in the early 16th century, is home to a well-known pair of nesting peregrine falcons. Around it, Iron Gate, Sadler Gate and the Strand have Georgian and Victorian fronts, independent shops and narrow side streets, giving varied backdrops in a small area. The Market Place and the Guildhall's clock tower open up the space for wider shots.

The Silk Mill and riverside

The Museum of Making stands on the site of Lombe's early-18th-century silk mill, the southern end of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Beside it, Cathedral Green and the river walk give open space and water within a few minutes of the cathedral.

Darley Abbey

At Darley Abbey the mill buildings stand in a tight group of red brick around cobbled yards, with the weir and the Derwent alongside. The contrast between industrial brick and green riverbank works for moody autumn sessions and bright summer ones alike. Darley Park, across the river, has sweeping lawns and old trees.

Parks and houses

Markeaton Park, on the west side of the city, is large and flat, with a lake and open space for families. Kedleston Hall, a Robert Adam house now cared for by the National Trust, sits in parkland a few miles north-west and adds a grand classical option.

Derby station has direct East Midlands Railway trains from London St Pancras and CrossCountry services to Birmingham, Sheffield and beyond. The Cathedral Quarter is a walk of roughly 15 minutes from the station. Darley Abbey is north of the centre along the river: a pleasant riverside walk, or a short drive or taxi ride.

Parking at Darley Abbey Mills is limited and shared with the businesses there, so arriving on foot or by taxi is often easier. Markeaton Park and Kedleston Hall have their own car parks. For Peak District sessions, Derby is within easy driving distance of Dovedale and the southern Peak.

Darley Abbey is at its best on still mornings, when the river above the weir is smooth; after heavy rain the Derwent can run high and riverside paths may flood, so check conditions and keep away from the water's edge. Weekend afternoons bring walkers and diners to the mills.

The Cathedral Quarter is quiet on Sunday mornings and busy on Saturdays. Derby Cathedral is a working church, the mill buildings are privately owned and Kedleston is National Trust, so each has its own rules for professional photography. Your photographer will confirm what applies.

In poor weather, the Cathedral Quarter's shopfronts and arcades give some shelter, and a session can be kept short and centred on a single street.

Derby sessions are quoted from our standard starting prices, for example engagement photography from £300 or a family photoshoot from £200. Adding a Peak District location to a Derby session means extra travel and time, which is quoted separately, as are National Trust admission or permission fees.