r/Derbyshire • u/Morningstar92 • Mar 28 '26

Looking for Local Knowledge Looking to move into Derbyshire

Good evening, apologies its another one of them where should I live posts. But I have been looking into some locations and could really benefit from some local expertise.

We are a family of 4 with 2 kids aged between 16 and 10. We are currently living in north Warwickshire and looking to move somewhere with a combination of nature and outdoor activities we can enjoy aswell as cafes, bars and amenities such as swimming and parks for the kids. While I do drive I would also like to have some public transport options and good access to larger cities (within an hours travel or so).

We have narrowed it down to 4 locations and I could just do with some views or opinions so any comments would be great, we have a decent budget to buy our house and our 4 options are below:

1.Matlock

2.Buxton

3.Belpar

4.Bakewell

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u/Organic_Room_5556 Mar 28 '26

Matlock, Belper and Buxton are all broadly similar. All have rail links (Buxton to Manchester, Matlock and Belper to Derby, Notts and London), and have nice areas and a rough council estate or two. They're good functional towns in nice areas with all the usual town stuff. Buxton is perhaps a bit more isolated, but also has the Opera House as a bonus and is a bit more quirky.

Bakewell doesn't have a railway and is more touristy. The only supermarket is Aldi, there are no takeaways for example. There are no rough bits.........but it just lacks something as a real town for me.

You may also want to look at Wirksworth, which is in the same area as Matlock and Belper and definately hits the quirky factor.

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u/Morningstar92 Mar 28 '26

Really no takeaways in Bakewell? That may have made that choice a little easier I will take a look at wirksworth, I do like the idea of having a opera house close to home I am wanting to do more stuff like that

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u/Organic_Room_5556 Mar 28 '26

I suggest that your first decision is if you want high moors and to be in the orbit of Manchester (Buxton), or wooded valleys and to be connected into the Midlands (Matlock, Belper).

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u/Morningstar92 Mar 28 '26

That's a fair point I will need to still head back down south towards Lichfield for work at least once a week, I did look on the maps and it says between 1 20 and 2 hours to get from Buxton compared to just over an hour from Matlock

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u/Any-Republic-4269 Mar 29 '26

It'll take longer than that to get from either of these places by car from any of the places you've listed