Chatsworth – The Perfect Autumn Destination in England

Located in the heart of the Peak District National Park in England is Britain’s favourite country house: Chatsworth. During my first visit, I instantly fell in love with the place. Since then, I’ve ended up going back multiple times each year to explore more of the surrounding area. However, visiting the garden during autumn has become an annual tradition. 

In this post I’ll take you on an autumnal stroll around the gardens and surrounding areas of Chatsworth. If you’d like to see more of Chatsworth then make sure to watch our YouTube video linked below.

Introducing Chatsworth

Chatsworth is located in the north of England, in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales. It’s located on the bank of the River Derwent surrounded by a massive area of idyllic parkland and woodland. The ‘jewel in the Peak District’s crown’ is a stately home (like Blenheim Palace) that has been occupied by the Cavendish family for generations. The head of the Cavendish family and his wife are the current Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. 

The house and the thousands of acres of surrounding parkland are leased to Chatsworth House Trust. So, in short, the Duke and Duchess pay rent to live on the property and of course work closely with the charity to preserve the area.

Chatsworth has a 105 acre garden which was created over the course of 500 years. You can find many ponds, unique water features and gardens, sculptures and even a maze as you stroll through the garden. Over the years, different generations have added their own fashions and trends, but many features can still be seen from the time of the 1st Duke. 

An area as beautiful as Chatsworth will naturally attract filmmakers. So I’m sure it’s no surprise when I say that the House has been used as a location for films such as Pride and Prejudice (another filming location for this movie in the Peak District is Lyme Park), The Duchess and The Wolfman. 

How to get to Chatsworth?

By car: Two car parks cater for Chatsworth. One of them is located close to the house and farmyard (postcode: DE45 1PN). For the other one, called Calton Lees, you need to follow the DE4 2NX postcode. If you decide to arrive by car, you will need to purchase a ticket online which costs £5 per vehicle.

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Chatsworth.

By bus: If you decide to use public transport there are some bus services that stop right in front of the house. The only regular bus runs between Sheffield and Bakewell, stopping at Chatsworth. However other bus services stop at Baslow, a small village nearby, from where you can walk to Chatsworth. If you come from further afield, I suggest getting to either Sheffield or Bakewell by train first, then getting the bus to Chatsworth. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

By bike: If you decide to hop on your bike, then Chatsworth have cycle storage where you can leave your bike whilst you’re exploring the area.

Cost to enter Chatsworth

Current 2022/23 Christmas rates apply. Entry fee for adults is £29.50 and £18 for children which includes the house, gardens and farmyard/playgrounds.  A Garden only pass is £16 for adults and £9.50 for children.  

If you arrive with kids, I recommend checking out the farmyard and playgrounds which cost £7 for adults and children. All the above tickets will include your parking fee.

Please don’t be discouraged by the ticket price. The grounds of Chatsworth are totally free and just as beautiful to explore. Please note that if you only want to explore the grounds for free but you arrive by car, you still need to purchase your £5 parking ticket. 

Check out their website for the most up to date ticket information.

Top things to do in Chatsworth

Believe me when I say there are PLENTY of things to do in and around Chatsworth. The good news is that even if you decide not to pay the entry fee, there’s still plenty to see for free. You can easily spend a full day there walking around, so make sure you wear something comfortable.

1. Chatsworth House

As mentioned above the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire occupy the building, but there are many rooms that are open for visitors. These rooms contain some fine paintings, furniture, books and even some neoclassical sculptures. 

We decided to only purchase the Garden ticket, therefore we didn’t have a chance to check out the interior of the House. However, I saw some amazing photos and if you have the chance, make sure you buy the House and Garden ticket.

2. Chatsworth Garden

 I think there’s something for everyone in the 105-acre Garden, and you’ll have a favourite area at the end of your stroll. Below I’ve listed some of the areas I think you shouldn’t miss:

Rose Garden

Located right next to the 1st Duke’s Greenhouse is the Rose Garden. It only became the Rose Garden after the 10th Duke’s wife remodeled the area, planting roses and a yew hedge around it. Before it was remodeled, it was called the French Garden.

Greenhouses

There are actually two greenhouses in Chatsworth. One is the 1st Duke’s Greenhouse and the other one is called the Display Greenhouse. The Display Greenhouse has three different climate zones: Mediterranean, temperate and tropical. However, only the first two are open for visitors. The 1st Duke’s Greenhouse is a 17th century greenhouse which was actually moved from its original location. It’s now located just next to the Rose Garden. 

If you’re a greenhouse lover like me you’ll enjoy walking around the different areas and taking countless photos.

Rock Garden

One of my favourite areas of the Chatsworth Garden is the Rock Garden. The area was created after the 6th Duke’s visit to the Alps. There are hundreds of rocks placed on top of one another creating this little wonderland. The biggest rock, called Wellington Rock, even has a waterfall. You can walk up to a little viewpoint from where you can get a view of the entire Rock Garden.

The main reason this section became one of my favourites is because you’ll also find some of the most amazing trees here. During autumn, these trees turn into the most magical shades of red. Don’t miss it!

Serpentine Hedges and Ring Pond

After exploring the Rock Garden head towards the Ring Pond and Serpentine Hedges. Both the Serpentine Hedges and the beech hedging around the pond were planted at the same time.

The Maze and the Hundred Steps

Once home to the Great Conservatory, now the area is a large yew maze. Next to the Maze, a long set of steps were installed called the Hundred Steps. Make sure to walk up the steps to get a great view of the Maze perfectly aligned with the steps. (Another excellent photo opportunity, especially if you love symmetry!)

Kitchen Garden

Chatsworth uses its own vegetables, fruit, flowers and other products that are grown in the Kitchen Garden. It’s now located on the upper west corner of the Garden and I highly recommend strolling around to see and smell the seasonal goods they produce. 

Summer House and Golden Grove

Makse sure you stop by at the Summer House and explore the Golden Grove which is an area planted in yellow and gold in celebration of the golden wedding anniversary of the 11th Duke and Duchess.

Cottage Garden

At first glance the Cottage Garden might look nothing more than a beautiful area with some flowers. However, after a closer look, you’ll see that this section is quite a unique one. It was created with topiary furniture in the lower level and a bedroom in the upper level. The upper level acts like the front garden, with some vegetables. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Canal Pond and Emperor Fountain

Another iconic feature of Chatsworth is the Canal Pond with the Emperor Fountain rising from it. The Emperor Fountain you see today wasn’t actually constructed until 1844. For about 150 years there was a different fountain called the Great Fountain, which was also considered the highest in England for a long time.

The Cascade and Cascade House

You really cannot miss the best water feature in England, The Cascade, when visiting Chatsworth. At the top of The Cascade there’s a baroque style Cascade House with fountains in front of it. From them the water runs all the way down the hill through a set of steps. The one you see today is a lot wider and almost twice as long as the original one built in 1696.

Make sure you also walk up to the Cascade House from where you can get a fantastic view of Chatsworth House and the surrounding area. The autumnal trees that run alongside the Cascade will definitely add a pop of colour to the scenery.

Did you know? – They built each step at different levels in order to vary the sound of the water falling over them.

Grotto House, Grotto Pond & Morton Pond

Grotto House is made out of huge boulders with a room inside decorated with stalactites. You can only have a sneak peak of this room as it’s closed to the public. In front of Grotto House you’ll find Grotto Pond.

The trees surrounding Grotto Pond during autumn are absolutely stunning. You can have the perfect reflection shot of both the colourful trees and Grotto House when the water is calm enough. No wonder this area of Chatsworth Garden became another favourite of mine.

Ravine and Azalea Dell

Make sure you walk through the Ravine and Azalea Dell created by the 9th Duke’s wife, Evelyn. This area is quite different from the rest of the garden. It’s a steep serpentine path with a stream cutting through the valley. The autumn colours definitely make this area feel like you’ve just stepped into a fairyland. 

3. Stand Wood

After exploring Chatsworth House and Garden you should head up to Stand Wood. It’s located on a steep hill just behind Chatsworth and it’s totally free to explore. 

I would say there are three must see gems in Stand Wood. One of them is the Hunting Tower which you can definitely see from the grounds of Chatsworth. The 16th century Tower, standing 120 m above Chatsworth House, was used both as a hunting watch tower and a place for banquets.

Did you know? – If you like to stay at unique locations I have good news for you. You can actually book your stay at the The Hunting Tower! Isn’t that cool?

There are also a few reservoirs which supply the water for the water features in the Garden. 

The second gem is a small waterfall falling from a rock called Sowter Stone. It’s worth walking above it so you can see that Sowter Stone is basically a tiny infinity pool. I just love tiny hidden gems like this! 

From Sowter Stone you’ll probably see the third gem, the Aqueduct. This consists of four arches with a waterfall cascading from the end. It looks pretty impressive so definitely check it out.

4. Grounds of Chatsworth Estate

Make sure you don’t leave Chatsworth without exploring its grounds too. I bet you won’t want to miss the perfect photo of Chatsworth House and the iconic Three Arch Bridge. After crossing the bridge head to the left first for the view. After taking countless photos trying to capture the perfect reflection of the house and the trees in the River Derwent, head over to the other side of the bridge for more fun photo opportunities. 

There’s of course always more to see. So if your legs aren’t too tired head over to Edensor which is a model village lying within Chatsworth Estate. It has the cutest little cottages and villas built in a mixture of Tudor, Norman, Swiss and Italian styles. The village also has a church which was originally built in the 12th century before being rebuilt in the 19th century. 

Did you know? – Many of the Cavendish family’s final resting places are in the churchyard. Even Sir Joseph Paxton – who was the architect of the Crystal Palace in London is buried here. There’s also a memorial to Kathleen Kennedy (the sister of John F Kennedy) who was the wife of the Marquess of Hartington. 

Final Thoughts on Chatsworth

Which area do you think would become your absolute favourite? Have you ever been to Chatsworth before? Which season did you visit the garden in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.