Derby to Leeds and York

Approaching Chesterfield, the iconic Crooked Spire of St Mary and All Saints Church pierces the skyline, a quirky landmark steeped in local legend and visible for miles around. The urban bustle resumes briefly, with the town’s industrial heritage evident in the architecture and layout.

As the train rolls through Dronfield and into Sheffield, the landscape shifts dramatically. The city, known for its steel production, presents a striking mix of modern buildings and remnants of its industrial past. Green spaces like the Sheffield Botanical Gardens and the expanse of the Peak District on the horizon offer a contrast to the urban core.

Leaving Sheffield, the train heads north through Barnsley, where the scenery softens into gentle farmlands and wooded areas. The fields here, often peppered with grazing sheep and bordered by hedgerows, reflect a pastoral serenity that is quintessentially English.

Approaching Wakefield, the urban landscape re-emerges, yet interspersed with historical buildings and the winding River Calder. As the train nears Leeds, the skyline grows dense with a mix of Victorian architecture and modern skyscrapers, signalling the vibrant, bustling city centre. Look out for Elland Road, the home of Leeds United Football Club on the right as the train begins its twist and turn into Leeds.

The train continues to York, with the scenery rather flat but always enthralling, as gentle undulating pastures are traversed and farmland with cattle grazing, before the grand denouement under the iconic arch of York railway station. York’s an incredible place and in many respects the adventure has just begun!

Each leg of the journey between Derby and Leeds offers a distinct slice of English life, from rural idylls to industrial vigour and urban sophistication.