by Tange

Created on: January 21, 2008   Last Updated: January 22, 2008

In my previous review about Haddon Hall I mentioned about how lucky I am to live near so many historic houses and castles. One of the most impressive, and possibly well known, of the ones not too far away form my house is Chatsworth House.

~~~WHERE IS CHATSWORTH?

Chatsworth House is in North Derbyshire, not too far from Baslow and Bakewell. To get there by bus from Chesterfield (this is my only point of reference because this is the only place I have travelled to Chatsworth from - usually the way if you live in a particular place!) you need to get the number 170 to Baslow. From here you can either walk to the house (it's about 2km, so decide for yourself if you wish to do this), or wait in Baslow for the number 214. This is the bus you would be getting if you were coming from Sheffield and it is the Wirksworth to Sheffield service.

By car you need to follow the signposts to Baslow on the A619 - there is a car park near the house, but this costs 1.50 (which on top of the entrance fee to look around the house it will make your day quite pricey). A tip if you don't mind a walk is to drive to the south end of the park and park (is that too many parks?) for free at Calton Lees - this does mean you have about a mile to walk, but as it is through the grounds, it is quite nice on a good day.

~~~HOW MUCH DOES IT COST & WHEN DOES IT OPEN?

Some of the house is open all year round, so you can access Chatsworth Park (which covers 1,000 acres), the farm shop and the restaurant attached to the shop when the other attractions are shut for the season. The House, gardens, farm, gift shop and restaurant are open from the middle of March to late December. Admission times to the various areas are as follows:

House 10.30am to 6.30pm, last admission 5.30pm.

Garden 10.30am to 7.00pm, last admission 6.00pm.

Farmyard and adventure playground 10.30am to 5.30pm, last admission 4.30pm.
Prices for entry as of the 2007 season are:

House - Adults 10.50 (12.25), Senior citizens/students 8.50 (10.25), Children 4.00 (5.00), Family ticket is 25.00 (30.50) (Prices in brackets include the Scots rooms; nine additional rooms in the area of the house that was home to Mary Queen of Scots when she was imprisoned here between 1569 and 1584, not always open).

Garden only - Adults 6.75, Senior citizens/students 5.25, Children 3.25, Family ticket 15.00,

Farmyard and adventure playground - Adults and children 5.00 each. Children under 3 years old are free.

They have a special Twilight opening, which means that after

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>