Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery is a municipal museum in the city of Derby, England, housing local art, archaeology and historical collections. It is noted for its holdings related to the city’s cultural and industrial history.

Exhibitions cover regional archaeology, social and industrial history, and fine art. The museum displays works by local artists and objects that tell the story of Derby’s development during the Industrial Revolution and later periods.

The museum was founded to collect and display Derby’s art and historical objects and has grown its collections over time to include significant local and regional material. Its galleries have been used for public exhibitions and educational programming.

Located in central Derby, the museum is within walking distance of the city centre and transport links, making it accessible to residents and visitors to the East Midlands region.

Collections highlight: Holds important local art and historical collections, including works by Joseph Wright of Derby and material relating to Derby's industrial heritage.

How to Get to Derby Museum and Art Gallery #

Derby Museum and Art Gallery sits in Derby city centre. From Derby railway station it’s an easy walk through the city centre of about 10-15 minutes (roughly 0.6 miles/1 km) - head into the Market/Cathedral area where the museum is located. By car use the A52 or A38 into Derby and follow local signs to the city centre; Nottingham is about 15 miles (≈30 minutes) east via the A52.

Tips for Visiting Derby Museum and Art Gallery #

Visit on a weekday morning right at opening to see the Joseph Wright collection with fewer school groups and local visitors-the museum is compact so you can cover highlights in about an hour to 90 minutes.
Check the museum's website before you go for temporary exhibition schedules and any gallery closures; many visitors see the permanent collection but miss rotating displays in the temporary exhibition spaces.
Pair your visit with a short walk to nearby Derby Cathedral and the Silk Mill area-the museum sits close to the city centre, so using the main entrance facing the market makes for the most straightforward access and a compact route to other local sights.

Best Time to Visit Derby Museum and Art Gallery #

Visit on weekday mornings in shoulder months or during the winter quiet months for the least crowded experience.

Quiet months (best for weekdays)

Jan-Feb, Nov · 0-8°C

The museum is much quieter on weekdays outside school holidays and December, making these months best for an unhurried visit.

Shoulder season (pleasant)

Mar-May, Sep-Oct · 5-15°C

Milder weather and fewer visitors than summer; good for combining the museum with a walk around Derby.

Peak season (busiest)

Jun-Aug, school holidays · 12-22°C

Warmer months and school holidays bring larger family groups and school trips, so galleries are busiest then.

Weather & Climate near Derby Museum and Art Gallery #

Climate

Derby Museum and Art Gallery's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (665 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 36 Good

Best Time to Visit

JulyMayJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

32°

Warmest Month

-9°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

1° – 7°

95%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

59 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.1h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

1° – 7°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

44 mm

Rainfall

4.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

2° – 10°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

49 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

4° – 12°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

50 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

13.8h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

6° – 16°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

53 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

15.5h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

57 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.4

UV Index

High

16.5h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

68 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

12° – 21°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

49 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.4

UV Index

High

16.0h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 21°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

60 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

14.5h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

9° – 18°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

58 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

12.5h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cold

10°C

Temperature

6° – 14°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

60 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.4h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 63 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 10°

94%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

63 mm

Rainfall

4.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.6h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with 63 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 8°

96%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

63 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.0

UV Index

Low

7.5h daylight

Nearby Attractions to Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Cathedral

Anglican cathedral in Derby, seat of the diocese

Religious Site 277 m

Museum of Making

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Pickford's House

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Strutt's Park Roman Fort

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Pride Park Stadium

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Duffield Castle, Derbyshire

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Heath Wood barrow cemetery

Anglo-Saxon barrow cemetery, England's only Viking cremation site

Cemetery 10.4 km