Moving from Derby to London might seem like a dream, but with affordability, the Peak District on the doorstep, and Derby’s central location, one local explains what drew them back home for good
Emily Malia decided to leave London for Derbyshire (Image: Emily Malia)
I was captivated by London during my first childhood visit, but returning home has rekindled my affection for my hometown in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
There’s no doubt why anyone would be drawn to the Capital. The metropolis brims with culture, prospects, artistic expression, exceptional cuisine and chances to meet people from every corner of the globe. Yet anyone who has relocated here from elsewhere understands that it comes with significant costs.
I could compile an extensive catalogue of reasons why London ranks as my favourite city, and this was precisely what fuelled my initial ambition to leave my hometown. Nevertheless, since returning home to the Midlands, out of the M25 bubble, it has become clear to me why people never leave.
Growing up in Derby, I certainly undervalued the undulating hills of the Derbyshire countryside, the strategic location, the warmth and down-to-earth nature of its residents and the reasonable cost of living here. Now, it’s clearer than ever to me why so many Derby-born individuals opt to remain; who could fault them?
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Derby town centre has a lot going for it(Image: Derby Telegraph/Simon Deacon)
Location
If you’re someone like me who enjoys travelling, discovering new cities and national parks, and undertaking day trips and weekend getaways, then Derby truly is ideal for this. The Midlands are, as the name suggests, positioned in the middle of the country, and therefore Derby sits at the heart of it all. Encircling the city is a wealth of charming villages, each boasting their own communities, cultures, clubs and pubs, akin to miniature versions of London’s thriving boroughs.
A ninety-minute train journey from the city can whisk you to central London or the North’s vibrant city of Manchester. Furthermore, by car, a vast array of destinations are within a two-and-a-half-hour drive – Liverpool, Leeds, and the east coast are all easily reachable, and even Wales is within a two-hour journey.
East Midlands Airport, though modest in size and offering fewer duty-free options to browse, serves as a well-connected gateway for travel throughout Europe and beyond, and is remarkably straightforward to reach. It’s close enough to catch a bus from the city centre or hail a taxi, which in my experience has been surprisingly affordable at £20 shared amongst a group.
I missed the nature(Image: Emily Malia)
Affordability
A pint in Derby will cost you roughly £5, compared to London’s hefty £10. Let’s be honest, drinking culture is deeply ingrained in this country, and being able to unwind with a few beers, mark a special occasion, or simply enjoy a night out as a twenty-something shouldn’t be considered such an extravagance.
I will never forget spending £20 on a single glass of double vodka with lime and soda at a bar chain in Soho on my birthday. While Soho is hardly renowned for its affordability as a cornerstone of the capital’s nightlife, I could have wept handing over my cash, knowing full well I could have ordered the very same drink back home for £5.50, or a cocktail for £7 — even two for £12.
London ranks amongst the most expensive cities in the world, and unless you’re raking in the big bucks, it can prove genuinely difficult to fully immerse yourself in all that it has to offer at times.
Admittedly, there are far fewer options when it comes to culinary delights, but I can dine out with a friend, share a bottle of wine, and get a few sides too, all while paying roughly half of what I’d spend in London. Pleasingly, this means my money stretches considerably further.
For those seeking a permanent base, the Midlands also holds a significant advantage in terms of property prices. Rightmove indicates that the overall average house price in Derby for 2026 stands at £245,352, compared to London’s, which dropped to £678,283.
Having Elvaston Castle on my doorstep is nice(Image: Derby Telegraph)
Proximity to nature
London boasts some truly stunning parks and boroughs, with Richmond being the first to come to mind. It genuinely gave me a taste of Derbyshire in West London. Nevertheless, I frequently longed for the ease of stepping outside into nature and experiencing a genuine sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of life.
Personally, I found myself longing for the sight of horses, cows and sheep in fields and hearing the songs of birds in the morning. London undeniably has its own pockets of nature, despite its towering skyline and dense population, yet these fleeting glimpses never quite felt enough.
Wherever you find yourself in Derby, the canal path is never far away, winding throughout the entire city and offering cyclists and walkers scenic routes past fields, canals and villages. Much like London, Derby also boasts a wide variety of parks, each varying considerably in size.
Particularly noteworthy is Elvaston Castle, a historic estate just a 20-minute cycle or brief drive from the very centre of Derby. Its well-kept grounds are cherished by locals for their otherworldly feel, where you’ll find people picnicking, running, walking dogs or pottering around the gardens and nature reserve — a remarkable offering for a city.
Without question, having the Peak District on my doorstep is the finest aspect of returning home. Within an hour’s drive through Derbyshire, you are greeted with some of the most serene peaks, country homes, hidden gem walking spots and so much green that it seems silly not to go as often as possible.
Whether Derby will remain my permanent home remains uncertain, and I’ll undoubtedly venture out at some point, even if just for a short while. However, with a practical, adult-thinking hat on — not the kind that dreams of the sea and exciting cities — it genuinely appears to be a wise and practical decision.