Blackpoolmad

If you like history/architecture may I suggest that you have a look at the houses that make up Railway Terrace adjacent to the Brunswick Inn just along from Derby Railway Station. They were built by Stevenson and designed by Francis Thompson in 1840’s; the whole chebang only survived the wrecking ball with 20 minutes to spare - the Council wanted to flatten the whole lot and build a flyover - but were saved by Derby Civic Society taking out listed status and turned up to stop the demolition with literally 20 minutes before it was due to start. In fact Derby Station and the Midland Hotel opposite were also Stevenson and Thompson creations. Derby Station is a tri-junct where 3 mainlines meet. It made Derby the centre of the railway world; and notably the original plan was for Notts to be the centre but those Nimbies turned it down feeling it would besmirch their fair city - 🤷‍♂️ I know. Anyway, enjoy your time. I’ve had 2 great away days in Blackpool in the last 2 seasons so hope you do too - apart from the result of course. 
https://www.brunswickderby.co.uk/history/

I've been to Derby a few times (non football) and yes, the oldest pub in Derby, I've been in there. Is it also the most haunted pub in Derby too? As for the result, we are the most unpredictable team in the division. We still have an outside chance, but we will have a great time regardless win or lose.

Thank you. Everyone over the age of 14 in Blackpool likes their beer, so that will be good.

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

I've been to Derby a few times (non football) and yes, the oldest pub in Derby, I've been in there. Is it also the most haunted pub in Derby too? As for the result, we are the most unpredictable team in the division. We still have an outside chance, but we will have a great time regardless win or lose.

Thank you. Everyone over the age of 14 in Blackpool likes their beer, so that will be good.

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

Get an elephant's foot pastry from Bird's Bakery on Albert Street. You won't regret it.

If you like it a bit livelier than standing around discussing hops and real ale, pop into the White Horse opposite the bus station and enjoy the music. They usually have live bands on Friday,  Saturday and Sunday and it's usually aimed at the more mature folk that enjoy Ska or Northern soul.
If you like a bit of Northern Soul, it's a busy weekend in Derby with at least 3 different events taking place.
I'll be at the 102 club on Friargate on Saturday night, £5 entry 7:30 till midnight, but there is also one at the Bluenote on Saddlergate that is free and runs from 4 pm till 10pm and another on Sunday at The Venue that runs from 3pm till 1:30 am and has a all female DJ line up and costs £7.

Just the pubs could keep you busy all day.

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄 

I always like to visit the assembly rooms, the eagle centre, duckworth square and the pink coconut....
 
But then I don't think I've actually been out and about in Derby for about 25 years....😉

I'm born and bred in Derby almost 68 years, It has it's good and bad just like Blackpool, You've been given some great advice here, There's plenty to see and do, Lots of boozers and eateries, A couple of good museums, A good shopping centre...the Derbion with a decent choice of foods, There's a picture house too in there if you fancy a movie in the back row 😉 failing that your missus can get her hand on a ball or 2 at the bowling alley 😁...also in the shopping centre.
Our history is in the books, Our buildings were destroyed by the town planners decades ago, The market place with the streets off...ie Irongate, Sadlergate, Saint Marys Gate are names given by the Saxons when they came to visit, The River Gardens are nice ish.
The Exeter Pub is a good choice as posters have said, Food and ale there is top notch, Both of you enjoy your stay...well almost your stay 😉

Has she been particularly naughty, because that's some punishment.
Anyway, just on the off chance that she doesn't have a beard, a beer belly and open toed sandals (though its fine if she does), there are other non real ale pubs available which might add a bit of life or glamour to your stay. (The Neptune and Jorrocks are not among them, by the way, imho). Most of the restaurants around Derby are on Friar Gate, and the Distillery or Orange Tree (George St) are popular. Lorentes is a great tapas bar on Friar Gate but its tiny and gets very booked up. Pierre's is always decent.
The shopping centre is ok for a wander around but its just like every other shopping centre, it has a cinema, a bowling alley and a crazy golf thing. Plenty of food choices from Wagamamas to Nandos.
Other than that if you really want to walk through the town centre, which is much like any other town centre in that its a bit miserable and run down, as others have said the Cathedral area is the nicest bit. The Cathedral itself is lovely, and if the weather is ok a walk by the river is nice. Dolphin is a decent pub, the Museum of Making is ok if you're interested in that kind of thing.
On Pride Park, as others have said, Niccos and Seven are the best pick, but a bit pricey in the evening. Harvester, Frankie and Benny's, Merlin are the others, food ok but only ok. You may wish to treat Mrs Blackpoolmad to a game of padel; there's a really good setup there on the old JJB complex next to the stadium. 
Enjoy your stay and enjoy the game!
 

Be sure to try a pint of Dancing Duck ale, locally brewed in Derby and award winning. I'd suggest the Exeter pub for food and drinks. Excellent pub.

Not on match day (Away fans not allowed) but a trip to the Neptune is recommended. 3 Indian restaurants close to each other. Anoki on London Road which is excellent but expensive. Round the corner on Midland Road you have two, the Viceroy which is cheapish, good but comes in 3rd place. Middling for price and very good food you have Shalimar Gold. Wagamama in the Derbion (mall) is good.

If you want to go a bit further and into the peak district Hadden Hall is worth a visit as is Chatsworth House. Both will be busy mind as it's a bank Holiday. 

If you are really into real ale then the Smithfield, Alex, Victoria, Brunswick, Flowerpot and Five Lamps have the best choice.
After the game the Anoki has a bogof early evening offer which makes a top class Indian restaurant have curry house prices.
As others have said the making it museum and cathedral Quarter are the nicest areas.
You can walk along the river from there to the ground, passing several good pubs.
If the weather is nice and you want a walk, you cam can up the river to Darley Park, which is pleasant.

Sorry to correct @Gee SCREAMER !! but Pugin designed loads of churches, both in Britain and in Ireland, but he's right to point out St Mary's as a fine example.
It would be remiss not to mention the Joseph Wright of Derby paintings which have a room to themselves at Derby Museum on the Wardwick, as he was one of England's greatest painters and is particularly associated with the Lunar Society and the English Enlightenment. It's also a short walk from there to the Old Bell Hotel, another of Derby's "oldest pub" contestants.

A lot of grave resurrection and dissection went on their as the surgeons used to undertake training in Amen Alley just next door a few hundred years back.  Runs by the side of the Cathedral.  Jorrocks down the road at the bottom of Irongate is very haunted.  They had a skull behind the bar for years that was dug up in the cellar.  It was a regular for the Jacobites just before it went tits up as they headed out of Derby and I believe someone broke their standard just outside in a bit of drunken revelry which was deemed a bad omen.  Most definitely a Derby pub however, so probably not the best choice before or after match.
Cathedral is actually quite nice and is the second largest church tower in England, but not quite York Minster.  Bess of Hardwicks tomb is in there.  St Marys church just up the road was Pugin designed, the only church he ever designed  and it does actually look like the Houses of Parliament. 

If you're staying near to the ground and want somewhere close to eat I'd recommend Niccos if you like curry www.niccorestaurant.com/ or Seven www.sevenrestaurant.co.uk/ otherwise.
These might be worth a visit:
Museum of Making - https://derbymuseums.org/museum-of-making/visit/
Great Northern Classics - www.greatnorthernclassics.co.uk/

My second trip this season to your great club, but this time I'm treating my Mrs to a couple of nights in Derby.
We are staying in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the ground, but we will be doing the tourist bit and was wondering if any of you good Derby folks could give us some good places to visit and any welcoming pubs too. We are late 50's, so no skate board parks or teeny bopper boozers please. 
Thanks in advance and see you Friday 😄