Anyone from Derby around?

[DenbyGirl]

I’m after some local knowledge please.
Dd has been offered a job there, in central Derby.
Can anyone recommend where she might start looking for accommodation? What areas are nice/undesirable. Ideally she would like to live centrally (she’s a city girl and likes the buzz of living in the thick of it) Also she doesn’t drive so would be reliant on buses or her bike. She will most likely, at least to begin with, live alone, so somewhere she won’t feel unsafe, and that will be okay returning if she goes out on an evening.

Any pointers Would be great as we don’t know Derby at all. Hoping to visit in the next couple of weeks to look around.

TIA

Nice: Chester Green, it’s close enough to the town centre to walk. Littleover, on good bus routes. Town centre/Pride Park has some nice flats.

I’d avoid Normanton and Pear Tree.

Thank you TheZeppo really great to have some place names to get started with

Everything TheZeppo said.

Stay far, far away from Normanton and Pear Tree. Do not be tempted by the cheap rent there, it's cheap for a reason. Honestly it's a hell hole.

Darley is about 10 minutes walk from the city centre and isn't bad. Chester Green is ideal.

I live in between Derby and Nottingham so I know both cities well.

Chester Green is lovely!

Oh and avoid Chaddesden as well.

We live in chester green but our rent is £850 for a 2 bed they’re all like that here, my friend’s flat is £750! Normanton avoid, alvaston and allenton are commutable easily into the city centre but a little rough around the edges!

Chester green or somewhere close to the university would be ideal as they are a short walk into the city centre.

Thank you everyone. This really is terribly helpful.

Chester Green and Darley Abbey are the well-off areas and are nice. That top area near the University generally (Kedleston Road) is possibly the best bet. Normanton and Peartree avoid, Stockbrook has got worse, as has Mickleover. Chaddesden is a huge area so has better parts, but much of it isn't. Spondon, Borrowash and particularly Oakwood on the outskirts are largely ok.

Going a bit further out, Spondon is an OK area, it's not in the city centre but plenty of bus routes and it's doable on a bike. The nicer areas right in the centre are more expensive so it depends on your DD's salary.

I'd agree with previous posters. Darley Abbey is particularly lovely, but I'm not sure what the rents/ house prices are like. The " must avoid" places which pps have listed really are to be swerved. I should know-I used to practise criminal law in Derby and certain areas/ streets are notorious.

BitchQueen90 her salary is okay. She currently lives in a very costly area of the southeast so is overjoyed at the thought of not having all her salary swallowed up in rent!

Definitely avoid Normanton and Peartree. Darley Abbey is lovely.

She'll be in for a pleasant surprise then even in the pricier areas of Derby!

I rented in Darley for a while and a 3 bed townhouse was £750pm.

I've name changed for this because of my job but I just wanted to say I've taught in Normanton for years and it is not a 'hell hole'. It is an area with a strong and caring community spirit. The children at my school are well looked after and impeccably behaved. They are clean, well fed and loved.

Derby44 I'm sure they are. But that doesn't change the crime statistics and drug problems in the area.

I don't actually live in a great area myself but there's no way I would feel safe in Normanton as a young woman living alone.

The children in Normanton May well be lovely but the area itself is dire. I wouldn’t feel living in Normanton. I’ve driven through it plenty of times and always make sure that my doors are locked. If your dd wants to be close to the city then definitely Darley Abbey or chestergreen.

Normanton definitely has its positives. It's very diverse and has some great food shops for a start. I wouldn't want to have to walk alone there at night to get home, though.

Thinking around the city centre, the north side tends to be pretty active due to the University; however with that comes the alcohol and all that brings. The south side is quieter unless there is football at Pride Park on and generally, having walked both areas at night, the south area heading towards Wilmorton and Alvaston felt safer for me personally.

When coming to visit, check St. James Street - it has several letting agencies so is a good starting point for seeing what is available. Also, not in the city centre but within/on the outer ring road, The Merlin or the Oast House is really nice for eating out after looking around.

Normanton has its reputation because the police have pushed the spice drug addicts out of the city towards that area in recent years wouldnt want them dirtying up the streets of the shoppers with the money . Other than that it's just a bit poor and run down but there is a community spirit there.

Agree with others but would add Five Lamps/Duffield Road area. It’s walking distance to town and no major issues with student noise. Quite a few nice flats in Victorian conversions

I lived in Chester Green for 7 years recently. You can walk into the centre of town within 15 mins and there are some nice parks nearby too. There’s a lovely feel to it during the sunnier months. There’s also a really tasty Chinese takeaway called Evergreens

Thanks again so much for all the advice. It really is very very helpful