Derby to Milton Keynes by car: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Derby to Milton Keynes drive are Leicester, Althorp Estate and Stoke Bruerne. The distance from Derby to Milton Keynes by car is 82 miles, with a 1h25m driving time.
Finding the best things to do on a Derby to Milton Keynes road trip
The Derby to Milton Keynes drive takes you from the heart of the East Midlands to a new city with a surprisingly large history.
The top attractions in Derby include Markeaton Park and the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill.
Oft-maligned Milton Keynes is a new town gradually coming into its own. There are lots of fun attractions here, including the Snozone indoor ski centre and indoor skydiving at iFly.
Top of the list of Milton Keynes experiences, however, should be Bletchley Park. This was the secret codebreaking centre in World War II, where teams of mathematicians and scientists made key breakthroughs that turned the tide of the war. The stories are fascinating, and the on-site National Museum of Computing takes you through the history of computers.
Derby to Milton Keynes distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Derby to Milton Keynes is 82 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 25 minutes. The quickest route is mainly down the M1.
The best stops on a Derby to Milton Keynes road trip are Leicester, Althorp Estate and Stoke Bruerne.
Best stops between Derby and Milton Keynes: Leicester
Leicester is one of the most multicultural cities in England. It offers scavenger hunts and the National Space Centre. The latter is all about space exploration, and houses a Blue Streak Rocket, and Apollo Moon Lander and exhibitions about the UK’s contribution to the space race. The highlight, however, is the shows in the massive planetarium.
Also worthwhile is the King Richard III Visitor Centre, which tells the remarkable tale of the former king’s remains being found beneath a Leicester car park.
Derby to Milton Keynes road trip attractions: Althorp Estate
A ten minute detour off the M1, the Althorp Estate is home to one of England’s finest and most lavishly decorated stately homes. The Spencer family still lives there and tours are seasonal.
However, most visitors are going for the Diana connection. Althorp was Princess Diana of Wales’ family home, and her grave is on the estate.
Derby to Milton Keynes drive: The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne is a pretty little village on the Grand Union Canal. The Canal Museum here looks at life on the canals, with interactive displays showing what it has historically been like to live and work on Britain’s canals.
There’s a narrow boat parked outside – the Sculptor – which is now a museum boat with a convoluted backstory. During World War II, it was pressed into action putting out fires in London.
More Derby road trips
Derby to Birmingham | Derby to Luton | Derby to York.
More Milton Keynes road trips
Milton Keynes to Birmingham | Coventry to Milton Keynes | Leeds to Milton Keynes | Leicester to Milton Keynes | Sheffield to Milton Keynes.