Ripley guidebook

  pic: Ripley Town Centre
Ripley had to change after the mines closed and its main source of employment disappeared.

So it went back to its roots and became a market town again, replacing the mines with factory estates, building lots more houses, and just getting on with life.

That's the kind of town it is: no nonsense.

Now it's busy and bustling, the home of two councils and the county police HQ, and a magnet for tourists and night time fun lovers.

It might not be the prettiest of towns, but it's become a little mecca of tourism, with its fair share of shoppers and day trippers keeping the tourist office busy all day.
 
A traditional, quaint, old industrial town, it's small enough to walk around but big enough to keep bargain hunters happy all day in the plethora of old shops, many passed down through generations.

And there's stacks of stuff to see, from the railway museum with working steam engines, to the tram museum, and even a doll emporium.

Its people are traditional and straight talking - you'll always get a warm welcome in the cafes and pubs with an "Eh up, me Duck" as you walk in (literal meaning, Hello there!)

  pic: Views over Ripley
With three big cities on its doorstep, Derby (10 miles), Nottingham (14 miles) and Sheffield (25 miles), it's prime commuter territory and has seen a big influx of newcomers - and there are lots of houses being built to accommodate them.

Hard to believe that Ripley started with just 16 families. Even in the year 1800, it only had 1,000. Now it has 21,000 and plenty of its own industry, with four industrial estates having grown up after the mines closed.

Back in 1800, Ripley even had its own revolution – although the starving farm workers found themselves on a slow boat to Australia when it went wrong.

The latest revolution here is the boom in nightlife, drawing coach loads of revellers from all around the East Midlands to trendy bars such as the Cube, the 3 Bar and the Wreck.

But don't be deceived, this is not cocktail territory.  Ripley remains mostly traditional, with old style pubs and the corner shop in command.

The town centre is still a mix of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, with just the odd new-build in between, and only Oxford Street, in the shopping heart, has been pedestrianised which means motorists can still park right outside the other shops.

In summary, Ripley is traditional, olde worlde in parts, but moving with the times.  Even its motto hits the mark: 'Character Thrives on Hard Work' - and Ripley is certainly full of character and hard work.

Property in Ripley

Like all mining towns, most of the housing in Ripley was once owned by the council but that's changed dramatically in recent years as smart new private estates have sprung up.

A recent example is the Butterley Engineering site outside of town.  This world-renowned company made the stunning roof at London's St Pancras railway station but have slimmed down over the years, and part of their site is now being turned into a large, modern housing estate.

This is the kind of development that may appeal to the growing numbers of young professionals who like the town because of its commuting opportunities and busy nightlife.

Buy-to-let landlords from the neighbouring big cities are also now being attracted to the town's cheaper property and its potential for growth.

Areas in and around Ripley

1. The Town Centre

  pic: Ripley Town Centre
Where is it? Around the Market Place and High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street, Cromford Road and down the Nottingham Road.

What's there? Big Edwardian and Victorian terraced houses, built for the middle classes as the town grew. Tree-lined streets, with some post-war three bedroom semis and detacheds that have squeezed in between the terraces.

Buyers: First-time buying couples who snap up the cheaper terraces, and families who want to be close to the town centre.

Pros: Access to all the amenities, including the many green spaces which are scattered around the town, such as Crossley Park.

Cons: Very busy, can be noisy at night, and heavy traffic.

2. Amber Heights

  pic: Detached houses, Amber Heights
Where is it? Just off Hartshay Hill as you turn down the A610 into town.

What's there? Highly sought-after, good-looking four- to six-bedroom houses built in the 1930s. Very stylish homes in stylish roads.

Buyers: Professional families who can afford to pay a premium, and want doctors and lawyers as neighbours.

Pros: Attractive select area with upmarket homes.

Cons: Can be noisy because it's so close to the A38.

3. The Elms

  pic: Semis, The Elms
Where is it? A big estate just off the Derby Road (A6179) down Elms Avenue. It's behind the Ripley Leisure Centre, and all the avenues are named after trees.

What's there? It was a council estate but is now mostly privately owned. Another estate of new private semis is springing up in Maple Drive next to The Elms.

Buyers: Families looking for affordable, well built, roomy houses.

Pros: Good value for money and good sized three bed houses. The new estate should help to raise the district's profile.

Cons: It still looks like a council estate from the outside.

4. The Lons Estate

  pic: Detached houses, The Lons Estate
Where is it? Just off the A38. Instead of turning right into Amber Heights, turn left on to The Lons.

What's there? Very desirable and sought-after area of private three- and four-bedroom detached homes right next to the town centre.

Buyers: Families moving upmarket who want an attractive place to live.

Pros: Affordable but very desirable housing.

Cons: Quite busy with traffic - there is a road running right through the estate so motorists use it as a short cut.

5. Porterhouse Estate

  pic: Detached house, Hopton Close
Where is it? On the Nottingham side of town in between Steam Mill Lane and Nottingham Road.

What's there? A strange mix.  It's mainly ex-council three-bed semis, with a super new private estate of big detached houses next door on Quenby Lane and Hopton Close.

Buyers: Families and anyone looking for affordable houses.

Pros: Big houses in the countryside but just on the edge of town.  Reasonable prices.

Cons: The owners of the new-builds still have to drive through an ex-council estate to get to their spanking new deluxe homes.

6. Butterley Hill

  pic: New builds, Butterley Close
Where is it? Just outside the town centre off the A610, along Butterley Lane.

What's there? Brand new stylish estate of about 60 private detached homes ranging from three to six bedrooms. 

It is set on the edge of town next to countryside and to the county police headquarters at Butterley Hall.

Buyers: Professional families who can afford upmarket luxurious new homes.

Pros: Brand new, attractive properties with stunning views.

Cons: Close to the Butterley Brickworks and the police helicopter pad, so not the most peaceful part of town.

7. Marehay

  pic: New builds, Marehay
Where is it? Less than a mile out of town on the Derby A6179 road.

What's there? A village with Victorian terraced houses and new semis and detached. A new estate, Poppy Fields, featuring town houses and large detached homes has just been built.

Buyers: Families who want to be in the countryside.

Pros: Prestigious area, much sought-after, with great views, village location and feel, and near enough to town for its amenities.  It's also close to the famous Denby Pottery.

Cons: Expensive housing and you may need transport.

8. Codnor

  pic: Countryside near Ripley
Where is it? On the A610 Heanor Road out of town.

What's there?  A mix of private homes and lots of council houses. It mostly consists of a wide range of semis, but there are a few fantastic houses on the edge which are worth well over half a million pounds.

Buyers: Mostly families looking for good value semis but with a village feel.

Pros: Appeals to first-time buyers who want big houses at a reasonable price. It has beautiful countryside views.

Cons: Codnor has no real centre. There is basically just one main street which means lots of traffic and it can be noisy.

It's not within walking distance of Ripley town so having transport is essential.

9. Golden Valley

  pic: Detached house, Golden Valley
Where is it? Through Codnor, down the Alfreton Road towards the Ridings and Alfreton.

What's there? As the name implies, fantastic detached houses fetching big money.

Buyers: People who can afford luxurious living.

Pros: Fabulous place to live and great houses in a select area.

Cons: VERY expensive!

10. Waingroves

  pic: Semis, Waingroves
Where is it? A village on the edge of town close to the Mill Hill Comprehensive School in Pease Hill Road, which joins the town centre at the Nottingham Road.

What's there? Mainly traditional private semis, and three- to five-bedroom detached homes.

Buyers: Families who want to be close to the school but still in a rural location.

Pros: Good countryside views and local amenities.

Cons: Busy traffic because of all the cars doing the school run.

Living Here

Transport:

Trains: No rail station in Ripley but Alfreton and Langley Mill are just a short distance away with daily links to London and most cities.

Buses: Most of the big local bus companies support the area. Good links to most districts and nearby towns and cities.

Road: Despite being slap bang in the middle of the country, Ripley is set on the junction of the A610 and the A38, with the M1 just minutes away, so it has good road access.

  pic: Ripley Town Centre market
Shopping:

A good mix, mostly little family-run shops, and two big superstores.

Busy markets are held on Fridays and Saturdays in the town centre.

There is a centre of business in the market square, which offers cheap car parking.

Eating and drinking:

Tends to be traditional food served in the pubs although there are a handful of cafes and restaurants.

There are plenty of takeaways aimed at partying youngsters.

Trendy bars are springing up to cater for the influx of young money and tend to be packed on Friday and Saturday nights.

However, during the day and most of the week, it's the traditional pub that has the pulling power.

Sports and Leisure:

Lots of sports are available in Ripley: Men's and women's football, badminton, netball, running, bowls, cricket, cycling, hockey, karate and martial arts, tennis and table tennis...and even a lifesaving club.

The leisure centre in Derby Road is undergoing a multi-million pound facelift – it is one of the first centres in the UK to receive lottery money to provide enhanced fitness facilities for the disabled.

Entertainment:

Ripley has become the weekend entertainment nightspot of the East Midlands, attracting party-goers from all over the county, with offbeat bars springing up in the back streets.

The town also has a good selection of traditional bars.

For cinema and theatre, the closest options are in Derby and Nottingham.

Parks and Open Spaces:

Crossley Park, just two minutes away from the town centre, is a great outdoors space with a popular paddling pool.

Ripley Greenway, a section of disused railway, has been turned into a great walk and nature reserve.