Travel to Chatsworth
 

We will be in London for 2 weeks in July and one of our day trips will be to see Chatsworth. I can no longer find a guided tour. We have been talked out of renting a car (since we're from the states). So it looks like a train to Chesterfield and then a bus, or perhaps a taxi. I got nice prompt replies and a bus schedule from both Chatsworth and Chesterfield but I'd like some feedback from someone who's actually done this. Anyone out there? I am determined to get there; being a Texas girl with little to no experience with trains and coach/bus travel, I'm a little daunted by the long-distance planning! So who has traveled to Chatsworth from London via public transport? Any thoughts/advice?

Did you check with Midland Mainline? It's a train company, but we went on a day-trip with them in 2002 - they might have stopped doing the tours, but we really enjoyed it.

As for transportation, we rented a car, and so we drove ourselves to Chatsworth. How long would the bus ride be to Chatsworth from Chesterfield? Do they drop you off at Chatsworth, or do you have to walk from a bus stop?

Hi,
Don't see any tours associated with Midland. The train gets us to Chesterfield; there are a couple ways to ride a local bus from the train station there to Chatsworth, or can get a taxi from train station. I'm nervous about connections (I hear both about reliability AND unreliability of rail service in general). I think the taxi would work but for about twice the price or more. Might be worth it. I'm just curious to hear if anyone else has done this! (we're pretty sure we don't want to drive anywhere)

If you decide to rent a car, it's really not that hard to drive on the left.

Do you have to stay in London for two weeks, or can you spend a night or two in the Peak District? It's really lovely, and IMO Chatsworth would make an awfully long day trip.

Lee Ann

We are booked through for 14 days at a BandB in London, so we'd have to "eat" an extra night out. The train iteneraries look like we can catch an early train, get to Chesterfield about 10, Chatsworth doesn't open (the House) until 11, and then it closes about 5, so we'd be catching a 7ish train back and be in town before 10. So longish but doable.

I hope. That's the feedback I'm looking for.

The Chatsworth site has some information and public transport links:

http://www.chatsworth.org/planvisit/...axistrains.htm

I will be interested to hear how this works out--I've always wanted to visit Chatsworth via public transport or tour.

From the link Elaine sent -

>>Chatsworth Estate's own minibus will meet key buses from Chesterfield, on Monday to Saturdays between 2nd July and 3rd August, and escort bus travellers free of charge through the famous Golden Gates, not normally open to the public, and direct to the door of Chatsworth House.<<

This sounds like the best option for you.

We loved Chatsworth - hope you do as well!

Lee Ann

'twasn't my link but good information to be sure.

Note that the info on that link is actually from 2007; they don't have 2008 info posted yet and according to their office have not decided whether to run this minibus again this season.

So---I'm still interested in comments from any who have done this or who know of some problem we might encounter---

While Chatsworth is "doable" as a day trip from London - that would not be the norm. My guess is you'll be pretty lucky to find a poster who had done it. Most people visit Chatsworth from much shorter distances.

If it were me - I'd "eat" a night in London and visit Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Hardwick Hall and spend some time in the Peaks.

(What I'd REALLY do is not book two straight weeks in London if I wanted to see so many places outside of London - but what's done is done)

I've seen your name pop up on lots of posts in the week or so I've been here and respect your input; we'll have to consider that overnight option. I was in London with an EF tour with my daughter in 2005 (a GREAT experience all in all) but just didn't have time to savor London, even with an unexpected day added. I wanted at least a week there. My DH has a completely understandable and supported-by-me aversion to driving (on the left). So when we started juggling all these things along with the budget (HA!--we'll go over!), and with our desire to NOT schedule stuff at last minute, then this 2 week thing came up. (BandB near Hyde Park at great price) So--now how to do what we want!?

The train gets to Chesterfield in a little over 2 hours and since Chatsworth is only open basically 10:30-5ish, I'm hoping we can find this is adequate time (it won't be enough!)

Again thanks--and still hoping to hear from someone else.

(If we decide to stay overnight, any suggestions? Bakewell? Chesterfield? Would need to be near stations)

I agree that I think it's doable, although I didn't exactly do things the same way.

When we went with Midland Mainline, we took a 7:45am train out of London and we arrived at Chesterfield at around 10:15am-10:30am. We then got into the tour bus, which drove us to Chatsworth House...can't remember exactly how long, but it was about a 15-20 minute ride. At Chatsworth, we were free to do whatever we wanted, but just remember to meet back at the bus at 4pm.

We loved it since we could still be independent and tour the house and grounds at our own pace. I would say the house took us about 1 hour, then we went to have lunch at the cafeteria style restaurant, and then we toured the grounds.

Now, I'm not sure how you will use your time, but I'm not the biggest fan of the interiors in these types of places. So, it was worked out great for us that we spent more time exploring the grounds and just kind of wandering the outside areas.

We just returned this past summer, and there was so remodeling done in the house, and in there restaurant areas - the cafe. restaurant is really nice now(it was a bit faded and dark in 2002).

The grounds are lovely, but not huge in a Versaille like way - one both visits, there weren't huge amounts of people on the grounds, and it certain areas, you really feel that you have the place to yourself - just lovely!

By the way, you might want to make some time to visit the Chatsworth Farm Shop - I believe you can see it on the website. It's a bit of a walk from Chatsworth House - I'm guessing maybe 10-15 minutes(we did it by car, and it was maybe 2-3 minutes away), but we enjoyed our visit there.

If you get to Chatsworth at 11am(if you're still deciding to do it as a day-trip), I think you could take a 7pm train, but I believe the grounds are open till 6pm - I think it will just depend on how you manage your time within the house and around the grounds.

Bookmarking for me.


....and gig 'em Texasbookworm!

soogie--my kids are not aggies but went to or are going to a smaller branch of it--but we'll back the aggies some, too (Go Vols, too!)
Anyway, about Chatsworth--I got some most helpful info from Chesterfield and Chatsworth and am planning for us to catch an early train and then a local bus. Chatsworth is running a minivan pickup again, but kinda late. I'm hoping we can make our own, better connections and be able to enjoy the house and grounds for almost the whole time it's open. (I'm teaching Pride and Prejudice at the moment and have to keep myself from crowing everyday--I'm going to Pemberley!)

Sorry but (speaking as one from around that part of the country), IMO Chatsworth as a day trip from London is insane. A day trip from Sheffield, maybe. There are plenty of other stately homes much nearer London - is there a particular reason it has to be Chatsworth ? It's not *that* special.

texasbookworm -

caroline has a point. Coming from London is kinda rough. But maybe, caroline, as a local you might be too used to its beauty.

On the other hand, I was at Chatsworth 30 years ago as a college student and I was very impressed. There was nothing like it in my small town! In fact, I am planning on showing my husband and daughters when we visit next year. We're planning on driving from Nottinghamshire area so I can't help with the public transport issue.

I definitely think it is worth a visit. The grounds are very, very beautiful and I still remember the grandeur today. Totally another world.

texas bookworm - Will you please share the name/website of the B&B in London?

As a result of enjoying the Chatsworth showing at the art museum in Tyler, we are planning to visit Chatsworth in September. Would love to hear from you after your trip to get your impressions.

www.athomeinlondon.co.uk/
is the At Home in London site--a sort of agency for a few BandB's--obviously I can't recommend them from first-hand knowledge yet--but the office has been most helpful and responsive, the price seems very reasonable, and "ours" is in a great spot.

And this "bargain" on accomodations means that we've chosen to spend our nights in London for 14 days, because the price was lower for an extended stay, thus our need to make day trips. Plus we have definitely nixed any thought of car rental/driving. If Chesterfield is about a 2 hour train ride from London, with early trains available, and Chatsworth doesn't even open til 11 and then closes before 6 so we have plenty of time to catch a train back, then I don't understand why a day trip seems so impossible. There used to be a couple group tours running up there, as day trips, and LondonWalks Discovery Days still may do one (but not while we're there) so --what am I not aware of?

And the reasons for Chatsworth are the Austin/Pride and Prejudice connection and also I fell in love with the story of Joseph Paxton falling in love, so I've just gotta go there and see it!

texasbookworm, Thanks for the link for the B&B's. I'm very interested for our next visit. I don't think your idea of a day trip to Chatsworth is unusual or un-doable at all. We've done longer day trips from London, one of which was the high speed train to York and back. It sounds like you'll have plenty of time to do Chatsworth. Have a wonderful trip, and remember to post back with your trip report.

Another Texan

crckwc1
Yes, I'll post my experience. I'd contact the BandB soon; Sept. may have more available spots then July, but I made reservations the first of January and already had my options limited.

Also to prepare for Chatsworth, if you contact Chesterfield tourism board and/or Chatsworth official site, they will send you stuff--they even sent me local bus schedule links. (Course, if you're planning on driving, that's unnecessary info).

crckwc1, you might enjoy our pictures from Chatsworth, which we visited last May.

http://tinyurl.com/25xs9t

Lee Ann

Elendilpickle

Thanks for the pics link! I think we're of the same literary mind--Lewis, Tolkein, Peters, and Austin--dictating in a way our destinations! As weird as it may sound to some posters, we're going to try to make LONG day trips on our trip just so we can make it to Shrewbury Abbey, Chatsworth, and a LONG day in Oxford (or 2 if we can't fit it all in--gotta do the Ins. Morse stuff a little bit, too!)

Bear in mind that early trains (which means anything before 9.30/10 a.m) will be substantially more expensive.

Aust<b><u><font color="red">e</font></u></b>n . . . . .

Woops--my Texas (as in capital of)typing fingers took over from my English teacher ones!

And we plan to have a railpass which won't limit us on times, so we'll be catching early ones!

You're going to have a great time! I'd love to spend more time in England. One of these days...

Lee Ann

Lee Ann, Thanks for the great pictures! I can hardly wait!

texasbookworm - Thanks again for the B&amp;B link and info on Chesterfield tourist office. I'll contact them for area information although we won't need transportation schedules since DH is doing the driving. We're driving in from Scotland so will be approaching from the opposite direction and will spend the end of our trip in London -- maybe at your recommended B&amp;B. We'll see.

soogies, Chatsworth is nice but my point was just that if there wasn't a special resaon for it, there are equally nice good or better stately homes nearer London. Now I understand that the OP wants to see Chatsworth particularly because some bits of the most recent 'Pride &amp; Prejudice' film were shot there.

tbw - do you know about the other sites used for the film ? http://www.chatsworth.org/news/news_...;prejudice.htm

Well to be factual I'm not interested in Chatsworth because of any filming done there but because experts agree that it was a definite direct inspiration for Jane Austen's Pemberley. Plus as I mentioned above, I have become very interested in Joseph and Sarah Paxton--he was head gardener among other things at Chatsworth in early-mid 1800's and they have a nice love story and fascinating relationship that I want to explore more. It's cool that when I look at film, if I've been to a place, I can say, Ohh, I've BEEN there, but the real historical and literary connections are what drive my decisions, not film.

bookmarking

An organised day trip is advertised here:
http://www.london-tours.demon.co.uk/...house_tour.htm

Yes, I had found this site back in January, but this tour is no longer operating, or if so you can't make a reservation for this year--so we're still planning on the adventure of train and bus by ourselves!

Best wishes to you on the journey to Chatsworth (and the rest of your trip). I'm especially interested in how it goes as we'll be targeting this site ourselves next summer. Happy Travels!

I promise to share here upon return; our plans would be much different and probably much sketchier and probably more expensive without the help from this forum, so I will post a most grateful TR in early August! (Two months from today we board in London to RETURN. My excitement builds, now that school's out, plans are pretty set, and it's just the waiting (which is the hardest part. YEAH!

I can just imagine how excited you are, just days away from departing! Can't wait to read your report when you get back!