A town is quite around each Derby and Nottingham and is near to the M1 motorway. Although a town lies inside Derbyshire, these are nearer to Nottingham, a city limits of which is sole 2 miles from either Ilkeston's eastern edge. Due to recent urban development in the area between Ilkeston & Nottingham, Ilkeston is considered per Professional for National Numbers to exist as a portion of Nottingham metropolitan area.

Ilkeston was probably founded in the 6th century AD, and gets its title from either its supposed founder, Elch or even Elcha, world health organization was an Anglian chieftan ("Elka's Tun" = Elka's Town). Historically, a town was referred to as Tilchestune, & appears in the Domesday Book under that name.

Ilkeston's best known boy is arguably a actor Robert Lindsay, star of My Family and Citizen Smith.