Ilkeston (/ˈɪlkəstən/ ⓘ ILL-kis-tun) is a town located in the Borough of Erewash in Derbyshire, England, with a population of 40,953 at the 2021 census.

Ilkeston was likely founded during the 6th century, and gets its name from its supposed founder Elch or Elcha, who was an Anglian chieftain.

The town appears as Tilchestune in the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was owned principally by Gilbert de Ghent.

Ilkeston is one of several places where the distinctive dialect of East Midlands English is extensively spoken.

[8][9] During its long existence the works produced huge quantities of a variety of products, including pig iron, tunnel castings, (used in projects such as the London Underground), pipes and street furniture as well as bitumen, roadstone, chemicals and munition casings.

A local businessman Thomas Potter built, in 1831, the famous Ilkeston Bath at the bottom of Town Street attached to the Rutland Hotel.

'If you're doubled in pain and thin as a lath, Come at once then and try, the famed Ilkeston Bath,' was a well known advertising slogan.

The baths and the adjacent Rutland Hotel, which also enjoyed a revenue from tourism, no longer exist though they are remembered in the name of 'Bath Street'.

A major feature of this line was Bennerley Viaduct, a 1,452-foot (443 m) long, 61-foot (19 m) high, wrought iron structure which still crosses the Erewash valley just to the north east of Ilkeston.

Once threatened with demolition, it is now a Grade 2 listed building, though the line and embankments have long since been removed.

A 150 space car park, cycle storage, bus stop, drop off point and taxi rank are also on site.

Local news and television programmes are BBC East Midlands and ITV Central.