Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family.
The house is renowned for the quality of its art, landscape and hospitality, and it has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes, passions and interests of succeeding generations.
Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, on the banks of the river Derwent. The house is based on three floors that are made accessible by a lift. The garden, farmyard and park are accessible with certain restrictions. You can find out more about accessibility at Chatsworth in the below document. We do offer free admission to carers. Do not include carers when booking online as they will be given complimentary admission on arrival.
Accessibility
House
There is a lift in the house, allowing access to the entire visitor route for visitors with restricted mobility. Electric scooters cannot be used inside the house. However, other smaller mobility aids may be used.
Please note that we do have eight manual wheelchairs for use in the house and garden. They must be booked in advance by calling 01246 565430, and can be collected from the Lodge to the left of the house entrance.
Garden
The garden is accessible to visitors who use manual wheelchairs and electric scooters, please take extra care on steeper slopes. There are buggy tours of the garden from outside the Orangery shop on a first-come, first served basis and for a small additional charge.
The map of the garden below shows detailed routes of varying length and ease so you can find the best route to your favourite areas. Further maps of the garden are included in the guide books. Please ask a member of staff at the house entrance if you would like to borrow a copy.
The sensory garden is fully accessible to visitors who use manual wheelchairs and electric scooters. Please note that we do have eight manual wheelchairs for use in the house and garden and three electric scooters for use in the garden only. They must be booked in advance by calling 01246 565430, and can be collected from the Lodge to the left of the house entrance. For safety reasons, at the discretion of our staff, we reserve the right not to issue scooters in bad weather.
Farmyard and playground
The farmyard entrance is at the top of the main car park. A lift and a ramp give access to all parts of the farmyard. Please be aware that the playground is a woodland site with uneven terrain and a soft bark surface. The paddocks and picnic area are accessible via a gently sloping footpath.
Park
The 25 seat trailer is fully wheelchair accessible and offers rides to the woods and lakes behind the house for a small additional charge. If wheelchair access is required, it is essential to pre-book to ensure availability by calling 01246 583139. Otherwise, rides are on a first come, first served basis.
The Kissing Gate was installed in 1999, allowing access to the park from Baslow. It allows wheelchair access to the park without leaving a gap through which grazing stock might escape.
Shops and restaurants
The shops, Carriage House and Cavendish restaurants are fully accessible; although space is limited inside the garden shop. Our free buggy service runs around the car park, to the house and garden entrances and up to the stables and farmyard. Please enquire with a member of staff if you wish to make use of this facility.
Farm shop and café
The Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop and its café are 1.5 miles from the house, in the village of Pilsley; both areas are accessible for visitors in manual wheelchairs. There are four bays reserved for Blue Badge holders.
Car parking
The closest lane of the house car park is reserved for Blue Badge holders, for whom there is no parking charge. Visitors with restricted mobility may be dropped off and collected from the main entrance.
Lavatories
There are adapted lavatories near the house entrance, in the Carriage House restaurant and in the farmyard. Regretfully, there are no adapted lavatories within the garden.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome in the house, garden, and park. Puppies in assistance dog training are welcome in the house as long as they are house trained.
We hope you found all the information necessary in relation to accessibility above. However, if you have any other questions, or would like to contact us in advance of your visit, please call the bookings office on 01246 565430.
Induction loops are installed at the house, garden and farmyard entrances. A British Sign Language interpreter is also available by prior arrangement only.
The sensory garden located near the display house has been developed to stimulate all the senses, including sound, touch and smell.
