Chatsworth House is absolutely magical. Visiting Chatsworth House (Pride and Prejudice‘s Pemberley) is a must for any Jane Austen fans. Here is everything you need to know before traveling to the enchanting Chatsworth House and what you absolutely must do while you’re here!
Why Should You Visit Chatsworth House (Pride and Prejudice’s Pemberley)?
You’re a Jane Austen fan. For Jane Austen fans, don’t miss Chatsworth House — it’s a must see! Touring the house and grounds transports you to Regency times; and it’s so easy to put yourself in an Austen novel as you walk through the gardens or up the grand staircases. It felt surreal.
You like beautiful places. I kept thinking of the word “magical” to describe how it felt walking around Chatsworth House and its gardens. Everything was so beautiful. It was hard to believe a place like this existed and that one family owned it all!
You like touring grand, historic estates. If you’ve never read a Jane Austen novel or seen any film adaptations of her books, you may not be as interested to visit Chatsworth House. But if you are someone who likes touring grand, centuries-old houses with incredible gardens and beautiful artwork, you might just enjoy yourself here.
Quick Facts for Visiting Chatsworth House
Location: Chatsworth House, Bakewell DE45 1PP
Cost: £29 (off peak) or £35 (standard) per adult to tour the house and gardens
Standard Pricing: School holidays, bank holiday weekends, and weekends in June and July
Open Season: March 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025 (closed November 4-8)
Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (house, open at 10 a.m. in summer only), 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (garden, open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in summer only)
Parking: Free, if tickets booked online
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How Is Chatsworth House Connected to Pride and Prejudice?
Chatsworth House is connected to the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in two ways.
1. Chatsworth House is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth Bennet is discussing plans for her northern tour with her aunt and uncle. It’s not clear from the book if they ever visited it, but the characters had at least heard of Chatsworth House and considered it a “celebrated beauty.”
“…they were obliged to give up the Lakes, and substitute a more contracted tour, and, according to the present plan, were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire. In that county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks; and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.”
— Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Chatsworth House was used as the filming site of Pemberley, the fictional house of fictional character Mr. Darcy, in the 2005 movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
In the book, Pemberley is described as having “some of the finest woods in the country.”
“She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!”
— Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Which Areas of Chatsworth House Were Used to Film Pride and Prejudice (2005)?
- The grand staircase and ceiling of the Painted Hall
- The Sculpture Gallery, including the bust of Mr. Darcy and the veiled Vestal Virgin sculpture
- The grounds of Chatsworth House, including the Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond
- The back patio and stairs leading to the garden
Did Jane Austen Actually Visit Chatsworth House?
Some say Jane Austen did visit Chatsworth House. Some say she even wrote parts of Pride and Prejudice while staying in the nearby town of Bakewell. It’s not quite historical fact, just mere speculation.
Other Famous People Who Have Visited Chatsworth House
While rumors abound as to whether or not Jane Austen actually visited Chatsworth, many other famous people have, such as:
- Novelist Elizabeth Gaskell
- Queen Victoria
- Florence Nightingale
- Princess Diana
- Actress Keira Knightley (while filming Pride & Prejudice and The Duchess)
- Actress Mia Wasikowska (while filming Jane Eyre)
What Else Was Filmed at Chatsworth House?
- Death Comes to Pemberley
- The Wolfman
- The Duchess
- Jane Eyre
- Peaky Blinders
Who Owns Chatsworth House?
Chatsworth House is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and it has belonged to the Cavendish family for 16 generations.
The 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire currently own and live in Chatsworth House.
Interesting Chatsworth House History
- The Cavendish family first purchased Chatsworth House in 1549 for £600, which is about £164,819 in today’s currency. Nearly every generation since has added onto the house and/or gardens, making it their own.
- Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in Chatsworth House at various times between 1569 and 1584. The rooms where she lodged are still called the Queen of Scots Apartments.
- Chatsworth House has been selected as Britain’s favorite country house numerous times.
- The house is approximately 81,000 square feet with 300 rooms. The estate has 1,000 acres of parkland as well as a 105-acre garden.
What to Do at Chatsworth House (Pride and Prejudice‘s Pemberley)
There is SO MUCH to see at Chatsworth House, the house itself is only the tip of the iceberg. The gardens are massive. You’ll need at least five hours to visit properly. See this map for yourself.
Allow at least two hours to tour the house and at least three hours to tour the gardens.
The house is usually open until 4:30 p.m. and the gardens until 5:30 p.m.
Both the house and the gardens are incredible. This estate is a place you could get lost in, and I wouldn’t be surprised if people have.
1. Tour Chatsworth House
I’d recommend touring the house first as the gardens will take much longer to explore and there is a timed entry for the house. The tours are self-guided. You’ll wander the halls wherever the velvet ropes lead you.
It honestly seems more like a museum than a house. Artwork is everywhere. Be sure to take your time to really admire everything, it’s an incredibly opulent house.
In some reviews, I read complaints about the modern art in and around Chatsworth House “ruining the experience” of touring a historic home. I didn’t feel this way at all. The current owners of Chatsworth House obviously love art, and they have an extensive art collection from a range of eras up to contemporary times.
I appreciated the diversity of the art collection and thought the modern art personalized the home for the current owners. At the end of the day, Chatsworth House is not just a filming location, it’s a family home.
2. Admire the Sculpture Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery is one of the last rooms you’ll visit before you enter the gift shop (and the exit). It was built by the 6th duke and contains the duke’s collection of sculptures, some of which he commissioned in the 19th century.
The Sculpture Gallery was also used in the filming of Pride and Prejudice in the scene where the housekeeper is telling Elizabeth Bennet about Mr. Darcy’s good qualities.
3. Find Mr. Darcy’s Bust in the Gift Shop
If you’re like me and you want to see the film prop bust of Mr. Darcy from the Pride & Prejudice movie, look in the Orangery gift shop.
I naively scanned every room of the house, every sculpture in the Sculpture Gallery, trying to spot it only to realize it was in the gift shop all along. Of course. Why would they display a film prop amid all their authentic, expensive artwork?
Mr. Darcy’s bust was created especially for the movie, and it got to stay at Chatsworth House once filming was over, as a souvenir.
You’ll find Mr. Darcy’s bust in the middle of the gift shop. You can even take home a miniature version of it.
There’s a funny little sign near Mr. Darcy’s bust that states “Please do not kiss!”
4. See the Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond
After touring the house, head first to the Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond as it’s the estate’s most recognizable feature. It’s also where you’ll get the best photos of the house.
The Canal Pond was dug between 1702 and 1703. The fountain, which is gravity-fed, is usually on between 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., though this may vary.
One staff member told us they were surprised the fountain was on the day we visited as it hadn’t been on in a few days.
5. Try Solving the Maze Garden
The Maze Garden was completed in 1962 for the 11th duke. You can go to a higher viewpoint to look down at the maze or try entering it and solving it yourself. It was honestly more difficult than it seems. There are a lot of dead ends before reaching the middle, so good luck if you decide to venture into it!
6. Explore the Rest of the Gardens
Definitely take your time wandering the gardens as there is so much to see. There are signs to tell you where things are but you can also pull up a map if needed.
I’ll list out a couple highlights for us in the gardens:
- Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond
- Maze
- Rock Garden (sooo incredible!)
- Cascade
- Coal Hole and Tunnel
- Rose Garden
7. Visit Nearby Bakewell
Bakewell is a cute little village that’s nice to walk around. I’ve heard it mentioned in a few English novels and shows, such as Belgravia and Pride & Prejudice, so I was so curious to visit. Unfortunately, time didn’t allow us to make it over there, but hopefully you can!
Here are some places to check out in Bakewell:
- The Olde Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
- Bakewell Bridge and Bakewell Love Lock Bridge
- Bakewell Visitor Centre
- Pubs like Wheatsheaf Pub and Pantry
- A tea room like the Lavender Tea Rooms or Byways Tearooms
How to Get to Bakewell from Chatsworth House
The 218 Peak Line bus goes from Chatsworth to Bakewell in about 20 minutes (it’s 5 miles away).
You can also go from Bakewell straight to Sheffield Station on the same bus line.
How to Get to Chatsworth House by Train
Booking Tickets and Taking the Train from York to Sheffield Station
We took the train from York Station direct to Sheffield Station, which was about £20 per person round trip (with an open anytime day return). The ride was less than an hour.
How to save money on train tickets: I booked our train tickets via the Trainline app and used our Two Together Railcard for 33% off. Since we did a lot of train travel on our trip to the UK, this railcard was 100% worth it. I was traveling with my mom so the Two Together Railcard made sense for us (see all other railcards).
These train tickets were the only ones that I booked spontaneously (the day before our trip!) because I wasn’t sure if we’d want to go to Chatsworth House or spend more time in York. I’m SO glad we ended up visiting Chatsworth, as it was my favorite day of our England trip.
Booking Tickets and Taking the Train from London to Sheffield Station
To travel by train from London to Chatsworth House, you can take the East Midlands Railway train from St Pancras International Station direct to Sheffield Station. The ride takes less than 2 hours.
You can book your train tickets via the Trainline app. Consider getting a railcard for 33% off.
Taking a Taxi and/or Bus from Sheffield Station to Chatsworth House
Taxi: Outside the Sheffield train station, there are taxi cabs lined up and waiting to take passengers to their final destination. We asked a taxi cab to take us the rest of the way to Chatsworth House (about 15 miles, 30 minutes). If I remember correctly, the taxi fare was around £20-25 one way.
Shuttle Bus: There is a shuttle bus at Chatsworth House that can take you to/from Baslow.
Bus: There is a bus (the 218 Peak Line, see timetables) that goes straight from Sheffield Station to Chatsworth House (and back) in about an hour’s ride (for £5-7 per person). We tried to take this bus on the way back but we waited hours and it never showed up. We found out later that the bus had broken down that day.
Return Taxi: We used Pacman Travel taxi service on the return trip (once we realized the bus was not coming), and they got us to the Sheffield train station just in time!
It’s a good idea to have a plan B in case public transportation doesn’t work out. I’ll never forget us running to the train platform just before the train pulled in (luckily for us, it was delayed!).
Why Travel by Train to Chatsworth House?
Consider traveling by train from York to Chatsworth for this day trip if you are not familiar with driving a car in the UK or with driving on the left side of the road. It’s pretty easy to get to Chatsworth House via train and taxi. It turned out to be a nice way to travel despite the few mishaps.
What Are Other Nearby Pride and Prejudice Filming Locations?
Haddon Hall (6 miles away) in Bakewell, UK, was used as the fictional Lambton Inn, where Elizabeth Bennet and her aunt and uncle stayed during their trip in Pride and Prejudice. The wood-paneled dining room served as the main backdrop during those filming scenes inside Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house.
Stanage Edge (13 miles away) in the Peak District was the spot where Elizabeth Bennet stood on the cliff side, admiring the view, in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie.
National Trust Lyme Park and House (26 miles away) was Pemberley in the 1995 TV show version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth.
Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Chatsworth House
How much are tickets?
Tickets were £26 per person when we visited in summer 2022. Tickets now start at £29 to tour the house and gardens during off-peak season.
For latest ticket prices and information, see the Chatsworth website.
When is Chatsworth House open for visitors?
Chatsworth House is open for visitors from late March to early January.
Can you take your bags?
You can take a small backpack, but you must wear it in the front. Larger bags will have to be put in storage.
Do you have to book tickets in advance?
It’s best to buy your tickets in advance so that you can secure your desired entry time. But it’s not mandatory to buy tickets in advance.
Is there a guided tour?
Tours of the house are self guided.
When is the best time to go to Chatsworth House?
The best time to go would be in the morning, perhaps the first entry time of the day. That way, you’ll have a less crowded experience. Although, we went in the afternoon, and it didn’t seem very crowded to us, we would have liked more time.
As for what time of year is best to go, I think any time of year would be beautiful. In winter, it snows, of course, so that may inhibit exploration of the gardens. The house is also closed from January to late March.
Where can you find the Pride and Prejudice Sculpture Gallery?
The Sculpture Gallery, which was featured in the Pride and Prejudice movie, is the last room you’ll be able to visit on your tour of the house. It’s right before the gift shop.
Can you picnic on the grounds?
Yes, although there are no picnic tables, so you’ll have to settle for eating on the lawn.
We brought food with us and had a little picnic on the lawn. Shout-out to the Meal Deals in the UK! We ate Meal Deals almost every day of our trip.
For those who don’t know, a Meal Deal is this awesome deal at almost any grocery store in the UK where you can pick out an entree (like a sandwich or salad), a snack (like chips/crisps), and a drink — all for £3!
Pack a Meal Deal and a blanket, and you’ll have a wonderful view during lunch at Chatsworth House.
What is special about Chatsworth House?
Chatsworth House is special because of its beauty, its grandness, and its ties to Jane Austen and other historical figures.
Is Chatsworth House the best stately home in England?
I can’t say authoritatively that Chatsworth House is THE best stately home in England, but in my personal opinion, it’s the best I’ve visited in England. I haven’t visited every stately home in England, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
Map of Chatsworth House (Pride and Prejudice)
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Thanks this was so helpful!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
PAC man taxi certainly lived up to its name!! We had such an amazing day!!