Beyond London’s Rush: Finding the Slow Pace of Life in Derby

After two months of London’s hustle, this quiet city showed me what life should actually look like.

The street view was in the Derby — Photo by Yvonne

London is the dream starting point for many people. It’s also the start of my life in the UK. Having lived in the UK for over two months, I’ve gotten used to the fast pace of life and the crowds and noise of the subway. Because of my friend’s invitation, I have a chance to visit this charming city- Derby. At that moment in Derby, I just realized that I always pursue the lifestyle of “leaving blank spaces”.

On the two-hour train journey, I sat side by side with my friend who I hadn’t seen in a few weeks. We talked about things from work to life. The pressure that had accumulated in London was slowly released with the rhythm of the train tracks.

Derby market hall & Derby train station — Photos by Yvonne

Being one of the Industrial Revolution places, Derby is not as cool and steely as I had imagined. On the contrary, it possesses a restrained and gentle beauty. Walking along the streets, the air was less filled with the anxious smell of fumes and more with the calm and composure that life should have.

The most fascinate me is the vibe of the allowing that no need to do anything. In London, stopping your steps seems kind of guilty. But in Derby, even just wandering or strolling along the roadside with friends and enjoying the breeze feels perfect.

Although it was a day trip and the itinerary was a bit rushed, my friend and I still went to Derby Cathedral. The moment we stepped inside the Cathedral, the cool breeze and car noise outside seemed to vanish instantly. The tranquility inside, along with its elegant decorations. This place offered a brief respite for two travelers in a hurry. The interior decoration and design, with its minimalist style imbued with a sense of holiness, made us marvel at the craftsmanship that had been refined over decades. Our time in the cathedral was short, but enough to calm our hearts.

The Derby Cathedral’s interior and exterior — Photos by Yvonne

Walking on the streets of Derby, a crazy thought even popped into my head: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to move here?” This feeling is totally different from staying in London. If London is a never-ending marathon, then Derby is a soothing prose poem. The pervasive sense of leisure and tolerance allowed me, a newcomer to the UK still striving to prepare myself, to finally relax.

On the way back, although I couldn’t sit with my friends. This “alone time” became the perfect ending to the day. Watching the countryside outside the window, my mind was filled with Derby’s understated tranquility. On the way back to London, I finally had the space to quietly sort out the confusion of the past two months and redefine my imagination of “what life should be like.”

Because I had just arrived in the UK and was still adjusting and experiencing various clashes. Derby’s leisurely pace was like a mirror, reflecting my true imagination of what life should be like. I didn’t need to be anyone else in Derby, I only needed to be myself.

The views of Derby city — Photos by Yvonne