Nineteen acres of Victorian gardens west of the city centre, opened in 1836 and laid out around a series of glass pavilions designed by Joseph Paxton's contemporary Benjamin Broomhead Taylor. The pavilions were restored in 2003 and now hold subtropical and Mediterranean collections; the rest of the gardens are divided into themed sections including a rose garden, a rock garden, a fossil display, and the famous bear pit.
The Gardens are free, open daily, and a 30-minute walk or short bus ride from the centre. The Mappin Art Gallery is at the north entrance. A pleasant half-day, especially in late spring or early summer when the magnolias and rhododendrons are in flower.