Chatsworth House

Chatsworth is one of Britain’s best loved historic houses and estates, offering something for everyone to enjoy, from famous works of art and the spectacular fountains in the garden to the finest shopping, food and drink and many miles of free walks. The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the magnificent landscape of Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, and is seen in the recently released film of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

2010 will be a landmark year for Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, with more of the house open to visitors than ever before.

After years of painstaking work and restoration, funded by the Chatsworth House Trust, we open a new visitor route through the house, including a completely new gallery for displaying art and treasures from the collection, important rooms newly restored, elegant new displays celebrating the legendary Duchess Georgiana, and an exhibition celebrating the 90th birthday of Deborah Devonshire, the present Dowager Duchess.

Other innovations this year include access to the restored stone courtyard at the heart of the house, completely new guidebooks and audio tours, far fewer stairs for all visitors and a new lift giving full disabled access to all three floors of the house for the first time. Chatsworth's tradition of welcoming every visitor warmly continues in 2010, with visitors invited to quiz our friendly team, or try a talk or tour, to discover more about the intriguing people and events that have shaped Chatsworth's history over five centuries.

Highlights of the new displays will include our most spectacular ever array of family portraits spanning 450 years, on the walls of the restored Oak staircase, and the life and tastes of Duchess Georgiana reflected in new permanent displays of portraits, furniture and works of art she commissioned or acquired, many not seen by visitors before.