Chatsworth House is the Derbyshire home of the Dukes of Devonshire, about three miles northeast of Bakewell, and it fills a day. Inside, the Painted Hall, State Rooms, Sculpture Gallery and library hold art from Egyptian and Roman sculpture to Lucian Freud. Outside, 105 acres of garden run from a Victorian rock garden with its own waterfall to a maze and the Emperor Fountain, with deer and sheep grazing the parkland beyond. Families get a farmyard and a woodland playground. For lunch there is a cafe, a restaurant, and coffee and cake vans along the paths.
The Cavendish family and the house
Chatsworth has been the home of the Cavendish family, the Dukes of Devonshire, for 16 generations. In the 16th century Bess of Hardwick and her husband Sir William Cavendish bought the manor and began the first house on the site. The Hunting Tower, which Bess built in the 1580s, still stands on the hill above the house. It can be rented as a holiday let.
In 1569, on the orders of Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots was held at Chatsworth. The house you see today took shape later, after remodelling in the classical style from the late 1680s into the early 18th century. The current Duke and Duchess still live here, and the house is open to visitors.
Inside the house
The tour runs through richly decorated rooms. The Painted Hall is the grand entrance, covered in frescoes and ceiling paintings. The State Rooms were designed to impress guests. The Sculpture Gallery is light-filled and holds classical and modern sculpture.
The collection spans about 4,000 years. It includes Egyptian and Roman sculpture, works by Rembrandt and Gainsborough, and modern pieces by Lucian Freud and David Nash. The current Duke has added contemporary work, and some of it sits in the rooms.
The library is a highlight. Its books are a draw, and it holds the first library catalogue, drawn up by Thomas Hobbes. Some rooms have information cards, and the room guides add stories about the people who lived and worked here, both above and below stairs. Parts of the house are closed to visitors, and the interiors reflect changes made over many generations rather than a single period look.
Gardens and parkland
The garden covers 105 acres. The Victorian rock garden is among the best known parts. It uses local stone to imitate the gritstone landscapes of the Peak District, with boulders, streams and a waterfall. Elsewhere you find ornamental borders, a hillside garden, a kitchen garden, glasshouses of tropical plants, an arboretum, sculptures, a maze and the 100 steps. Water features include the Emperor Fountain, the willow tree fountain and the Cascade. The Cascade has at times been out of action for repair, so check before you go.
The 1,000-acre park beside the River Derwent was designed by Capability Brown in the 1760s. Joseph Paxton, an engineer as well as a gardener, shaped the gardens in the 19th century. Deer and sheep graze the parkland. Picnics are popular by the river, on the Salisbury Lawns and near the Emperor Fountain.
Farmyard, playground and walks
The farmyard lets children meet animals such as a Suffolk Punch mare and a Pygmy goat, and hold guinea pigs. Goat milking is part of the programme, and a tractor tour is also available. The woodland adventure playground has slides, zip lines and sand play, and its tunnel entrance is a hit with younger children.
A 4.5-mile circular walk through the grounds takes 2 to 3 hours and passes the Emperor Fountain, the Cascade and the Hunting Tower. A longer circular route runs via Edensor, the estate village. The woodland walk past the Hunting Tower and around the reservoirs is at its best in late spring and early summer, when the rhododendrons flower. A scenic drive through the parkland crosses bridges over the Derwent.
Food, events and planning the day
Food ranges from vans selling coffee, cakes and snacks to a cafe and a restaurant. The Gallery, in the grounds, is an AA Rosette fine dining restaurant, so book it ahead if you want a sit-down meal. There is also a farm shop and several gift shops. Meals are generous and food is priced at stately home levels. Space for picnics is plentiful, which suits families.
The calendar includes horse trials, Halloween-themed nights, a Christmas market with decorations and light shows, the Regency Ball and the Country Fair. Tickets for these are worth booking early. The house has also been a filming location, including for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, where it stood in for Pemberley, and The Duchess (2008). It can close for filming, so check the website before travelling.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee for Chatsworth House?
Yes. Prices and ticket options for the house, gardens, farmyard and playground are on the Chatsworth website. Booking tickets in advance is recommended.
How long do you need at Chatsworth?
Plan on a full day. The house, 105 acres of gardens, the farmyard, the playground and the estate walks add up to more than a half-day visit.
How do you get to Chatsworth House by bus?
From Bakewell, bus 218 takes about 15 minutes and runs half-hourly. From Chesterfield station, bus 170 reaches the estate. Check the schedule on the website before you travel.
Are dogs allowed at Chatsworth?
Dogs are welcome in the gardens and parkland on leads. They are not allowed in the house, the farmyard or the play areas.
Is Chatsworth House wheelchair accessible?
The entrance, restrooms, parking lot and some seating are listed as wheelchair accessible. Contact the estate in advance about access to specific rooms and garden paths.
Was Pride and Prejudice filmed at Chatsworth?
Yes. The house played Pemberley, Mr Darcy's home, in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
