Belper is a charming market town, located at the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Positioned on the edge of the Peak District approximately 10 miles north of Derby. Once a remote Anglo-Saxon settlement, Belper is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087 as 'Bradelei'. The Normans then renamed it 'Beaureparie' meaning beautiful retreat. The town now offers a great high street experience, being the acclaimed Winner of the 2019 Great British High Street Award. There are friendly independent local shops, Artisan bakeries, delicious delis, and unique stores to experience.
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Visit The East Mill Belper
A water-powered cotton mill was built in Belper during the late 18th century, being only the second one in the world at that time. With the expansion of the textile industry, Belper became one of the first mill towns. In 1803 the North Mill was burnt down and replaced by a new structure designed to be fireproof. Further extensions followed, culminating in the East Mill in 1913 – this is now a present-day Belper landmark with its wonderful horseshoe weir across the River Derwent. Although no longer used to manufacture textiles the mill still derives electricity from the river, using turbine-driven generators. The mill has its own museum to explore with guided tours. To the rear of the mill are the beautiful Belper River Gardens, a great place to spend time walking or sitting enjoying the peace and quiet.
Shop
The town offers a great selection of shops, there are friendly independent local stores, Artisan bakeries, cafes and coffee shops, delicious delis, and unique stores. Along the high street, you will find the lovely war memorial gardens. A great place to stroll around or sit and take a break from shopping. There is a farmer’s market in the town square, held on the 2nd Saturday of the month along with food fairs which are held twice a year, one in the summer and a Christmas one in December.
Enjoy
For evening entertainment, the town offers a relaxed atmosphere with restaurants, cocktail bars, micropubs, and an award-winning independent art deco cinema.
The town is also home to the Belper Arts Trail which takes place in May each year. Local artists display and promote their work utilising every possible space as a venue over the Arts Trail weekend, including shops, churches, and even people’s homes.
For more daytime activities, there are some great public footpaths to explore the surrounding countryside, including a walk along the River Derwent. There are also guided walks where you can gain knowledge of Belper's industrial history, from the mill and forges to the building of the railway and cobbled streets.
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Commuting
- Train - hourly services to Derby and Nottingham, with links to Leicester, Birmingham, and London. Hourly services also to Matlock Bath and Matlock.
- Roads - with easy access to the A38 joining the M1 motorway at junction 28 (north) and junction 25 (south), the M1 then gives further links to the M6 and M18 motorways.
- Airport - East Midlands Airport is approximately 22 miles from Belper.
