Set in 10 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland, this country house was built in 1845 for Josiah Wedgwood’s grandson. It is now a family-owned hotel and popular as a wedding venue. A grand staircase leads to characterful bedrooms, some with a balcony; others are in an annexe. A wood-panelled lounge has stunning views across the valley. Open to non-residents, home-cooked food is served for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. 4½ miles S of the city; 10 minutes off J15 on the M6.

Sleekly refurbished, a cow-themed country pub with chic, rustic bedrooms and a beamed dining room with leather booths for tapas-style dishes. Tractor seats on milk churns serve as bar stools in the convivial bar which stocks an impressive range of gins. Dogs are provided with bed and bowls in ground floor bedrooms. 9 miles W of Derby.

Converted from former design studios of the Spode pottery works, a modern aparthotel with an on-site café. Spacious suites are kitted out with a kitchen area and comfy sofa. The industrial-design café has bare brick walls, large windows and interesting repurposed features. It is open (Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 11.30am-4pm) for breakfast, snacks, lunches and afternoon tea, and can be hired for weddings and functions. A short distance from the town centre. On-site parking is available.

A rural B&B in a large, quaintly furnished farmhouse with oak staircase, beams and parquet floors, on a working dairy farm. Overlooking fields and pasture, Derby is just a ten-minute drive away. Seasonal produce, and free-range eggs for breakfast.

Help-yourself home-baking and books galore add allure to Rob and Roberta Aitken’s handsome Victorian house, in an historic mill village near Darley Abbey, on the edge of the Peak District national park.

Well located in the town, a comfortable hotel in a handsome building dating back to 1809. It makes a good base for hikers and visitors to Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall nearby. Bedrooms (some recently refurbished in the main house; some with a 4-poster bed) are also in a courtyard building across the road. Dining is in the elegant Square Restaurant or in the lively Juniper Pizza and Gin bar.

Hardwick, Hartington, Hassop, Hathersage? Beginning with ‘H’ each of the ten modern bedrooms in this centrally located hotel is named after a Peak District village and tells a story with local artwork and photographs on the walls. Staying guests join locals in the Lounge Bar which is open until 9 pm, for a Continental breakfast (cooked extra), snacks, afternoon tea and bar meals. Or head to the Bakewell Pudding Parlour for the town’s famous tart.

A 200-year-old coaching inn in the centre, with beamed ceilings, exposed stonework and cosy nooks and crannies where, to the accompaniment of an original Wurlitzer juke box. ale aficionados can savour local brews. Homemade classic pub grub and Sunday roasts are served in a stone-flagged conservatory, or on warm days, outside in the courtyard. Bedrooms are in the converted stables; one has a four-poster bed and a free-standing bath; another would suit a family.

Wonderful views, luxury extras and home-baked treats – on a quiet road within walking distance of the town centre, this B&B in an Edwardian property has an immaculate modern interior and welcoming hosts.

Reputed to be England’s oldest hotel, the characterful building dates back to 1573, and has accommodated many illustrious Elizabethans, as well as the hapless Mary Queen of Scots. Today’s guests appreciate its blend of tradition with modernity and its great location opposite the beautiful Pavilion Gardens and Buxton Opera House.

Experience a B&B in a 16th-century timber-framed building set in two acres of landscaped gardens which has featured in Channel 4’s ‘Four in a Bed’ programme. Bursting with character, the house has roaring fires in ancient hearths, highly polished oak furniture, and wooden beams and four-poster beds in spacious bedrooms. From the peaceful Orangery lounge, there are views onto beautiful flower gardens. A la carte breakfasts include eggs supplied by the owners’ free-roaming hens. On the border between Staffordshire and Cheshire, the village (recorded in the Domesday Book) is 8 miles SW of Stoke-on-Trent.