[G]

To be honest Derby does not really have a nice part as such, and its not really a place for a night out. The Westfield Centre is ok for shopping. But your much better off going to Nottingham for food, shopping and the night out. There is not really that many nice villages 'close' to derby either, most villages/towns between nottingham and derby are pit towns and fairly run down.

You need to look towards the small villages to the east and north east of derby if you are after your typical quirky countryside villages, but then you also further from nottingham.

You really are best to just spend a day or two driving around to get a feel for areas you like.