WHERE TO PLAY THE GAME

Notes: Melbourne is country living at its best. There is a real heart to the village, pretty houses, friendly people, lots of pubs and good restaurants, a picturesque church and plenty to do.

It has got everything a village needs, and oozes atmosphere and warmth.

The attractive central square has covered seats to while away the hours people-watching or chatting, and is edged with enough shops to make it busy but not chaotic.

Visitors pour in to see the sights, including the parish church - described as a "a miniature cathedral" - and the gorgeous setting.

Thomas Cook was Melbourne-born and started his travel empire from here by selling train excursion tickets; they flattened his birthplace in 1968 but the memorial "cottages" in the village centre remind the visitors of where he started out.

Nearby are two stately homes, Calke Abbey and Melbourne Hall - home to Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, who also gave his name to Melbourne in Australia. The house has roots dating back to King Charles 1.

Not far from the village are the two hamlets of Ticknall and Barrow.

Ticknall was an estate village for nearby Calke Abbey until about 30 years ago and it feels like time has passed it by.

In contrast, Barrow has seen lots of post-war housing springing up. Together with Melbourne, they all sit in the new National Forest...and the local council has pledged in the parish plan that the "quiet, peaceful character of the area" will be maintained.

Trains: The nearest mainline station is at Derby.

Bus: There is a regular service to Derby with buses every half hour.

Shopping: There is a good cross-section of shopping in Melbourne, including banks, bakery, convenience stores, travel agents, clothes outlets - generally enough for day-to-day living.

Eating and drinking: Melbourne has 10 pubs, ranging from upmarket to little back street ones. There are five pleasant restaurants, including Thai and Indian, as well as two tea rooms and cafes.

Ticknall has three pubs, all serving food, and there is one at Barrow.

Sports: There is a wide range of activities on offer on the recreation ground and at the leisure centre. Melbourne also has two karate clubs, two football teams and two fitness centres, as well as facilities for rugby, badminton and squash.

Leisure and Entertainment: There is lots to keep you busy here, including pub music, operatic society, photographic club, a town band, sailing club, male voice choir, large village hall and pool, active cubs and scouts movements, and even a historic research group.

There is a big two-week festival at the end of August featuring music of all sorts from heavy metal to classical, as well as arts and crafts.

The village sits on National Cycle Route 6, known as the Cloud Trail, linking Derby to Leicester, cutting through some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain.

There are two art galleries in Melbourne.

Parks and open spaces: There is a recreation ground in Cockshut Lane and play areas in Coronation Close and Quick Close, as well as plenty of walks through the stunning countryside.