Belper River Gardens — Attraction in Amber Valley

The Belper River Gardens is lovely, no free parking but you can park right next to the gardens where you can pay for parking.

There is a band stand there and in the summer months various bands play on a Sunday afternoon.

There are plenty of benches. In the summer they hire out boats on the river.

I took my granddaughter there, who is 5, after playing on the playground. We went to the cafe. She chose a hot chocolate (they do not do a children's one .. only an infant one babychino). My granddaughter tasted it and said it was too sweet.

The system is you order and pay, and then they give you a little device that flashes when your drink(s) are ready for you to collect. If you order any food, they deliver to the table.

When I went to collect the drinks, the couple on the next table had a large dog, which was stood up. I was sat near the window, near entrance to the toilets, which was fine. As I walked back towards my table with a tray with 2 large glass cups on it, the guy with the dog wasn't about to rein it in, so I had to manoeuvre round the dog and there is not a lot of room!! I'm not against dogs but maybe the owners sometimes need the training 🤔 😬., we should all respect each other.

When my food was delivered. I asked the young waiter for a knife, and he said you can get one from behind him, as the dog was in the way, I asked the waiter to pass me one.. he did begrudgingly.

Service is not that good... I know it's not a restaurant, but a little bit of helpful service wouldn't go amiss.

A little bit pricey for me, (1 latte, 1 hot chocolate, 1 tea cake and toast with jam £12) especially when the hot chocolate wasn't drank as it was so sweet (it tasted like one of those drinks you make with hot water) and although I said it was for a child but they served it in a large glass cup. (I think the reason being all staff are quite young.) I didn't see anyone from the kitchen).

But the place was quite busy and seems to be popular.

From looking at my photos the name of the cafe is The Swift Tea rooms.

But the setting is good, and there is some outdoor seating overlooking the river.

The river is very high at the moment but makes for...

Belper River Gardens

Located in the picturesque town of Belper, Derbyshire, the Belper River Gardens is a charming and historic public park that offers a tranquil retreat along the River Derwent. Popular with both locals and visitors, the gardens provide a peaceful setting ideal for relaxation and leisurely strolls.

Originally developed in 1905 with the support of local philanthropist George Herbert Strutt, the site was transformed from an osier bed into a recreational boating area. Renowned landscape designers James Pulham and Son formally landscaped the grounds, which officially opened on Easter Monday in 1906. Today, the gardens are Grade II* listed in recognition of their historical and architectural significance.

Ownership of the gardens passed to the English Sewing Cotton Company after World War I, and later to Belper Urban District Council in 1966. A major restoration effort was launched by Amber Valley Borough Council in 2007 to preserve and enhance this beloved community space.

As part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the gardens reflect the region's rich industrial heritage. The grounds are beautifully maintained, featuring vibrant bedding displays, plenty of seating areas, and scenic views of the river. Visitors can enjoy a café serving food and hot drinks, a children's play area, and numerous information boards detailing local history.

Altogether, the Belper River Gardens offers a delightful blend of history, nature, and community perfect for a...

Park Life Boats, Belper River Gardens:

As a big fan of the Belper river gardens rowing boats since I first discovered them in the 1980's, it was my first time back for a few years. The only negative comment is over the Website. I was lead to believe it was mandatory to pre book a day and time on line. Something which is not great in this unpredictable English weather. Its definitely a nice weather activity. Also, online bookings are limited to 25 minute bookings, with no facility to book two 25 minute slots, for those who like the option nearer to the traditional hour long hire. After fighting with the online booking for to long, we decided to just drive there on spec. So glad we did! We were met by a team of pleasant enthusiastic people at the boat house keen to help! Quite an impressive Fleet of boats they have now. Something to suit everyones desire. We chose the traditional row boat and wasn't dissapointed. The River Derwent is as beautiful as ever and keeps my title of 'Best River to Row in England' It was good to see famies pedalling giant Swans or the more adventurous families trying the Canadian Canoes! Pleased to say it was as good as it ever was! Dare I say even better now with the fantastic new Cafe!

We are lucky to have this on our Door step. Well done to everyone envolved in the boats for giving families the opportunity to create some life...