8 Brilliant Things to Do Near Derby This Summer (and why Hill Farm Glamping is your perfect base)
- Hill Farm
- May 12
- 6 min read
Updated: May 13
South Derbyshire is absolutely buzzing this summer and if you haven't already got your stay booked, this might be the nudge you need.
From free family festivals and canal-side wanders to outdoor theatre under the stars and food fairs you'll still be talking about in September, there is SO much going on right on Hill Farm's doorstep this summer. ☀️
I'm Tara, and if you've spoken to me before, you'll know I love nothing more than pointing guests in the direction of a brilliant day out. So here it is your go-to guide for things to do near Derby this summer, with Hill Farm Glamping as your gorgeous, comfy home-from-home base.
Pull up a warm cup of something, have a read, and then go ahead and book that stay. 😊
First, why Hill Farm is the perfect summer base 🏕️
We're tucked in South Derbyshire, just a few minutes from the A50, which means you've got a brilliant launchpad for everything on this list and all the amenities of Derby, without being stuck in the middle of nowhere (Asda is five minutes away, which never gets old).
Stay in one of our bell tents or pods with a woodfired hot tub, or pitch up on one of our spacious grass pitches. After a full day out, there is nothing better than sinking into a hot tub as the evening light fades and the stars come out.
Proper reset stuff. ✨
We're also right on the canal, so you can walk to Mercia Marina for ice cream and a mooch no car needed. Here's what else is waiting for you this summer…
1. Festival of Leisure, Swadlincote 🎪 — FREE
When: Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June 2026, 11.30am–5pm
Where: Maurice Lea Memorial Park, Swadlincote DE11 9NW
Cost: Completely free (including parking)
Time from Hill Farm: 23 mins
This is one of our absolute favourites to recommend and it's right on our doorstep.
The Festival of Leisure is a brilliant free weekend festival in South Derbyshire, and it is jam-packed with fun.
Think three stages of live music (including a Grass Roots Stage for up-and-coming acts), walkabout entertainment, a Wild West Stunt Show, a Variety Spectacular, creative art workshops, funfair rides and inflatables for the kids, street food from Greek gyros to wood-fired pizza, a licensed bar, and the WI café for homemade cake (obviously essential). 🍰
It's the kind of day where you arrive thinking 'just a couple of hours' and leave at 5pm wondering where the afternoon went.
Hill Farm is approximately 23 minutes from Swadlincote, not too far to still have a hot tub evening back at the campsite. Check the Visit South Derbyshire website for full info.
When: Throughout July & August 2026
Where: Markeaton Park, Derby DE22 4NH
Cost: Varies — many events free
We talk about Markeaton Park a lot on our blog, and that's because it genuinely earns it. Derby's most visited park has an absolutely stacked summer programme this year.
Highlights include:
Pop Up Theatre, a gorgeous outdoor family theatre in the Craft Village. Under the Sea Stories (4th–5th July)
Julius Caesar (15th–18th July) and Romeo and Juliet (22nd–24th July) outdoor Shakespeare for older kids and couples
Outdoor cinema nights 🎬 Rocky Horror (31st July) and Dirty Dancing (1st August)
Markeaton Park Food Festival (15th–16th August) local food, drink and live music
Plus the paddling pool, mini golf, pitch and putt, and famous miniature railway all summer long
If you're staying at Hill Farm for more than a night you'll want to factor in at least one Markeaton Park afternoon. It's about 20 minutes away and endlessly good value for families and couples alike.
3. Derbyshire Food Festivals — pick your favourite 🍕🍻
Mad Hatters Events run a brilliant series of free food and drink festivals right across Derbyshire every summer, and several are within easy reach of Hill Farm:
Belper Food Festival (31st May 2026)
Shipley Country Park Food Festival (20th & 21st June 2026)
Markeaton Park Food Festival (15th & 16th August 2026)
Elvaston Castle Country Park Food and Drink Festival (19th and 20th July 2026)
All with local artisan food, street food stalls, live music and a properly feel-good vibe. Dogs on leads are usually welcome too. A treat for our four-legged guests at Hill Farm. 🐾
4. A wander to Mercia Marina 🚶♀️🍦
When: Anytime (open daily)
How to get there from Hill Farm: Walk along the canal about an hour and a half each way, or a 10-minute drive
One of the genuinely lovely things about Hill Farm is that you can walk straight out of site and along the canal towpath to Mercia Marina one of the largest inland marinas in the country, and honestly a bit of a hidden gem.
You'll find cafés, restaurants, independent shops, beautiful waterside views, and ice cream. It's the perfect slow morning or afternoon walk, especially if you've got little legs along who need a reward at the end. 🍦
The canal walk itself is flat, wide, and really peaceful. Dog friendly, buggy friendly and you can walk the distance you’re comfortable with!
5. Festival of Music and Flowers
When: 9th August 2026
Where: Markeaton Park
Time: 10:30am - 15:30pm
If you want local, small town vibes, then this event hosted by Friends of Markeaton is a pop-by you’ll want to arrest your senses.
Selling flowers and produce grown in the garden, home baked cakes and featuring a host of local musicians, it’ll be an added bonus to visiting Markeaton.
When: Saturday 27th June 2026
Where: Alvaston Park, Derby DE24 8QQ
About 20 minutes from Hill Farm, Alvaston Park is a lovely local favourite and their summer fun day is a proper community event with something for everyone. Good for families who want a relaxed afternoon out without having to travel far.
While you're in the area, Alvaston Park is also great for fishing, a wander around the lake, and the kids' science garden. It's the kind of place that fills a lazy summer afternoon beautifully. ☀️
Already mentioned under Markeaton, but it deserves its own mention if you're a couple staying at Hill Farm this summer, a night at the outdoor theatre is an absolutely gorgeous date night idea.
Pack a blanket (it IS the British summer, after all), grab a drink from the Orangery café, settle into the Craft Village, and watch Shakespeare or a classic film under the open sky. Then come back to your hot tub and call it perfect. ✨
Performances continue even in light rain. Bring layers and a waterproof, just in case!
8. Canal walks and a pint at a dog-friendly pub 🐕🍻
Honestly, sometimes the best thing to do near Derby is absolutely nothing complicated. A long walk along the canal, a dog-happy pub at the end, and an evening back at Hill Farm around the BBQ.
We've got a full blog on dog-friendly walks and pubs near Hill Farm — well worth a read before you arrive so you can plan your wanders. The canal towpath is gorgeous in summer, and there are some brilliant little pubs tucked in the villages nearby.
Ready to make Hill Farm your summer base? 🏕️
Summer at Hill Farm Glamping is honestly one of those things you need to experience. Long warm evenings, kids running wild on the grass, the food truck and ice cream van keeping you fed and refreshed, and a woodfired hot tub bubbling away whenever you need it.
Whether you're booking a family adventure, a couple's escape, or a group stay with friends this summer in South Derbyshire has it all.
Pods, belle tents and pitches are booking up fast for June–August, so grab your dates before they go.
Want a guide for which of our beautiful lotus belle tents to book? Click here
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of event information at the time of writing, please check directly with event organisers before making any day-out decisions based on the content within this article.
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