Derby unveils 'UK's largest post box' just in time for Christmas - and it's taller than a double-decker bus

Shoppers in Derby City Centre are being greeted by a new landmark on the horizon – the UK’s largest post box.

Measuring 6 metres in height – taller than a double-decker bus – the giant post box has arrived on The Spot, in St Peters Quarter, just in time for Christmas.

Children are encouraged to post their letters to Santa in style. When each letter is dropped into the box, they can watch the letter fly towards the North Pole thanks to a colourful LED light display…

The unusual sight has been brought to Derby in a seasonal collaboration between St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) and Derby City Council.

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Dear Santa,

Brad Worley, BID Manager for St Peters Quarter BID, said: “Posting a letter to Santa is a classic Yuletide tradition, and what better place to do it than at the UK’s largest post box! We’re sure that this eye-catching – and frankly unmissable – addition to Derby’s streets will help to bring some extra festive cheer to the city this Christmas.”

Other Christmas activities lined up by St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District include a giant snow globe which will be set up at St Peter’s Cross, on St Peter’s Street, on Saturday, December 9 and 23, from 11am.

Visitors will be able to climb inside for some family photographs and make Christmas memories.

Each Saturday in the lead-up to Christmas you can also enjoy appearances from festive musical acts, stilt walkers, gingerbread men and the Grinch – all funded by the BID.

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Golden ticket

Shoppers in St Peters Quarter can also enter the Golden Ticket Prize Draw, which gives away a whopping £2,000 to local shoppers. Golden Ticket Entry cards are available in businesses in St Peters Quarter, and shoppers can post them in any of the 20 special post boxes located across the city centre.

The deadline for entries is Sunday, December 10, and winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 13.

Four winners will each receive £500 worth of vouchers to spend in both Quarters’ businesses of their choice.

Window Wonderland

To add a final sprinkle of Christmas cheer, shoppers can also vote for their favourite festive window display – and enter a £100 prize draw. More than 30 businesses across Derby will be decorating their windows as part of the Window Wonderland Competition.

Participating BID businesses will be judged on their creative and festive flair by Derby shoppers and every member of the public who votes for a window will be entered into a free prize draw to win a £100 shopping voucher to spend in outlets within the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter.

Businesses taking part will have their displays in place from 28th November. Voting will close on the 17th December, and winners will be announced on 21st December.

How to vote for your favourite window display

Voting for your favourite Window Wonderland display is simple. Visitors who download the LoyalFree app will be able to follow a special trail, taking them from display to display, and giving them the chance to vote for their winner.

There will also be QR codes in each participating window, allowing shoppers to scan and vote as they come across their favourite.