Open day

Notes: This former mining town is set high on a hill overlooking the Erewash valley.

D. H. Lawrence wrote Lady Chatterley's Lover using Shipley Hall and park, just outside the town, as the book's setting, and rumour says it may have been based on a local working lad and aristocratic lady.

After mining disappeared in 1968, taking with it thousands of jobs - nearly half the town had been employed at the mines - Heanor began to grow as a small industrial base.

There are now nine sizeable business and industrial parks around the town, with more than 130 businesses.

And the big cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester are just a hop away, which is gradually transforming it into a commuter town.

Commuters are taking advantage of its position - close to major centres of work, just four miles from the M1 and with its own London rail link.

Heanor is full of the old and the new, from old terraced mining cottages to super new three-storey starter homes; from the world's biggest maker of Christmas puds to a paint shop for Formula 1 racing cars; and from little corner shops to big modern superstores.

Although its traditional town centre took a bit of a hit when Tesco moved into the edge of town, with a new retail park opposite, this has pushed the old centre towards providing more specialist types of shops, such as the surf-and-skate outlet that brings in trade from all over the country.

Coal might have gone, but Heanor still has the positive attributes of an old mining town: salt-of-the-earth people with a friendly smile and a big welcome.

Shopping: The town centre is becoming more specialist, with a surfing and skateboard shop which is one of the most popular in Britain.

It has its own popular antiques centre, with more than 200 independent traders, which is a real "hunter's delight".

Tesco has opened on the Derby Road just outside town, and opposite is a big new retail park, which includes Argos and other national chains.

Eating and Drinking: Heanor might be small, but its eating habits are quite diverse. Eating out mainly revolves around traditional pub grub, with a few good Chinese and Italian restaurants.

There are a fair few cafes, and lots and lots of takeaways of every kind; a real fast food town for kebabs and similar food.

Sports: Good for sport with lots of local clubs offering all kinds of activities such as bowls, cricket, cycling and running. Heanor Town Football Club is at the Broadway.

There is a big new multi-million pound "William Gregg VC" leisure centre, named after a local hero who won the Victoria Cross.

Entertainment and Leisure: There are lots of local societies, and some of the pubs host regular gigs.

Parks and open spaces: Shipley Country Park: This old colliery site has now been landscaped. It covers 600 acres and has 18 miles of walks. There is also Heanor Memorial Park on Ilkeston Road.