Fabulously Festive Christmas Shopping in Derbyshire

Updated November 2024 Last year, I set out to write two gift guides. One was a ‘clickable’ Derbyshire Christmas Gift Guide for those who love to online shop, and then this one, which is more about the experience of shopping, supporting Derbyshire high streets and brick and mortar shops and having a lovely festive day out. Why not set off somewhere new and have a few hours mooching around? We all know how much our local high streets need support. Because this guide is more about the experience – I’ve also tried to include suggestions for the best places for a pre-shop coffee or breakfast, where might be a good place for a mid-shop wine, where’s good for lunch etc – to help plan a day of fabulously festive Christmas shopping in Derbyshire – although if you’re specifically interested in festive eating and drinking, make sure you read my festive food guide.

The idea for this article was partly inspired by something I was asked to write for Derbyshire Life magazine, with an earlier article I wrote for them about favourite gift shops here. Updates made November 2024 but, as ever, please do double check any details before making a special journey.

You might also be interested in my 2024 guide to Christmas events in Derbyshire.

Festive Day Out in Derby

If it’s atmosphere you’re after, head to The Cathedral Quarter for beautiful, historic architecture. Irongate and Sadler Gate and The Strand are particularly worth a mooch, and are particularly lovely at Christmas time. They are studded with lots of gorgeous independent shops, bars and restaurants. Read my 2023 blog post on Festive Derby.

Although I always prefer the charm of a traditional high street, it’s hard to argue with the convenience and comfort of Derbion shopping centre (previously Intu – or if you are really ancient like me, ‘The Eagle Centre’). There are plenty of local independents here too.

Start with breakfast or just a great coffee at Bear or 200 Degrees, then check out the fabulous Design 44 for a beautifully curated selection of gorgeous gifts. Other local independents to check out during your Christmas shopping at Derbion includes Enchanted Rose florists, Judith Hart Jewellers and Young Ideas, a multi-award-winning luxury independent boutique for premium womenswear and menswear. The Amber Room pre-loved clothing boutique is also local and independent. There are also various festive activities at Derbion.

In Derby city centre, there’s an abundance of great places to eat and drink, most recently I’ve been to The Dining Room, an exceptionally good bistro on Friar Gate and QUAD café bar which is well-priced, very family friendly and usually there’s some sort of free exhibition to explore. New for 2023 is a cosy Nordic Bar – read my review – it’s the perfect place for festive drinks with friends.

Make a day of it: There’s no real ‘shopping’ to be done here but if you’re planning on a proper day or weekend of discovering Derby, don’t miss Darley Abbey. About a mile and a half from the city centre, this is a fabulous place to eat and drink, or just explore (The Darley Abbey Mills complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site). For high end dining, Darleys has wonderful views of the River Derwent, Lorentes offers excellent tapas and Darley Abbey Wines is fabulous for drinks.

Christmas Shopping in Chesterfield

In the short time I have lived here, I have grown really fond of this fabulously quirky town full of Derbyshire character. There are a wealth of independent shops. Particularly look out for Shop Indie which is jam packed full of lots of gift ideas, including lots of Derbyshire Gifts.

The quirky streets of The Shambles and The Yards are bursting with character. Look out for Adorn, an award-winning jewellery boutique (and passionate advocates of all things Chesterfield).

Inside Chesterfield’s historic Market Hall, find gems such as The Little Ark selling wooden and sustainable toys and gifts and The Cheese Factor, a decades old, family run, specialist cheese shop, selling a wide variety of quality cheeses, many local, including from Hartington Creamery. Chatsworth Road is also bursting with independents.

Just off Chatsworth Road, round the corner from Koo and Libby’s, is Elsie Moss Botanical‘s beautiful brand new shop (87 Heaton Street). Selling the most gorgeous handmade, natural, plant based skin care, body care and aromatherapy products.

Festive eating and drinking in Chesterfield: Start with coffee at Society and either brunch or lunch (or cocktails) at Bottle and Thyme – look out for festive sandwiches, mulled wine etc, all available to takeaway too. Each a short drive away, treat yourself to a mid-week festive lunch at Cocina at Casa or festive afternoon tea at Peak Edge (also a perfect place to stay for a festive weekend visiting Derbyshire’s best Christmas markets).

There are more suggestions of fabulous festive places to go in Chesterfield in this post, or read my full guide to the best places to eat and drink in Chesterfield.

Best Christmas Shopping in the Derbyshire Dales

Derbyshire Dales council traditionally offer free parking after 2pm in all council car parks in December* providing an excellent incentive to do at least some of our Christmas shopping in person in some of Derbyshire’s loveliest high streets.

Ashbourne

Ashbourne is an attractive market town with cobbled streets and plenty to look at. Start with an aesthetically pleasing breakfast at The Little Shed, or a sensational seasonal latte at F’Coffee and then peruse the wealth of independent shops. I particularly like Handmade Ashbourne which stocks over fifty UK designers and makers.

Bakewell

Another quaint, historic market town to enjoy a mooch around. Take a riverside stroll and watch the ducks(if you’re wondering where the love locks have gone, they’ve been moved to Thornbridge Hall to protect the bridge). There are lots of interesting independent shops. I particularly like The Lambton Larder for foodie treats.

Eating and drinking: boujee vibes at Chakra-Lounge, decadent dining at Lovage or a solid all-rounder, The Rutland Arms. A trip to Bakewell could be easily combined exploring the Christmas markets at either Haddon or Thornbridge Hall.

See my full guide to Christmas markets in Derbyshire.

Cromford

Although there aren’t a vast amount of shops, the sheer quality of a couple of gems makes Cromford a great destination for a beautifully festive day out (particularly if the thought of a busy high street is not your idea of fun). There’s obviously the iconic Scarthin Books (read more here) and recently opened nearby is Little Bow by My Painting Shed (previously Bow in Matlock), where you can expect a carefully curated selection of gorgeous gifts. There’s usually lovely festive events in the Cromford Mills courtyard.

Festive Day Out in Amber Valley

Christmas Shopping in Belper

Belper is one of the few towns to have been voted Britain’s best high streets more than once! It was living in Belper where I discovered my love of independents and shopping locally. 

Eating and drinking: Nourish at 44 is a great all-rounder and very dog-friendly. On Strutt Street, Reunion also boasts a good deli (perfect place to source foodie gifts or decadent festive treats).

Also nearby are Denby Pottery Village and Brown Bear in Ripley, a café with a lovely range of gifts, including lots of their handmade chocolate.

Christmas shopping in South Derbyshire

Melbourne

Gorgeous Georgian market town Melbourne has lots of lovely independent shops to explore, plus plenty of cute cafés to revive oneself afterwards.

Head to Williams Yard which boasts a lovely selection of independent businesses and premium boutiques such as SoS Lingerie (also the exclusive Derbyshire stockist of luxury womenswear brand Henriette Steffensen), carefully curated children’s gifts at Lucky and Gray. Just outside of Melbourne is Tori & Ben’s farm shop.

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