Chatsworth Reviews 

I visited Chatsworth for the first time 3 years ago during a number of Castle and Manor explorations across the UK. After paying the hefty entry fee online and soaking in the magnificent scenery as I drove in, I expected to have my mind blown.. It wasn't. The manor seems to be suffering an identity crisis with random bits of meaningless modern art strewn across the place with no significance to the original ancient furnishings of the house. There is so little context given to the original 15th century contents of the home but a meaningless clay pot from Africa made in 2023 gets a plaque telling its pointless back story. I went again recently, thinking I'd give the manor the benefit of the doubt, but I was sadly mistaken. Same story with the silly bits of art. This time, one of the grand dining halls was "dressed" up to resemble an art gallery with large wooden boards put up to project the worst style of art imaginable obscuring the view of the amazing marble walls. An absolute disgrace! William Cavendish is spinning in his grave.

It used to be good …but the entry price of £32 !! Then add £7.50 for car park and we are up to £40 …if you travelled you have that expense too. 15 years ago it was about £14 for house and garden . What’s happened ? If there’s two of you add food and you’re going thru £100 easy. To walk around a stately house ? I don’t Think so.

There are two entrances to the restaurant, only at one does it have menus and is there for apparent how you know what food they have. This has changed to our previous visits where you approached the dishes and chose... We wandered around for a while before asking a member of staff. There were at least 4 members of staff who saw us wandering around and not one pointed us in the right direction then when we asked she initially didn't listen to what we were saying which was embarrassing. I then saw at least 6 other people come in and do exactly the same thing, again there were staff close by who said nothing. I advised them what to do to save their embarrassment also. The female staff member with the hair extensions and lip filler seemed completely oblivious to the purpose of her being there. She was customer side and well within ear shot but still did nothing to help people. The woman on the cash till after I bought some plants was also inhospitable as anyone I've ever met in a front facing customer role... We haven't been here for a while after a number of similar experiences with staff... It really does raise the question; who in management chooses the staff? I would suggest they're in the wrong job. Come on Chatsworth, we ALL expect better and will stop coming altogether!

Security manager Chris Simpson is a danger to visitors. He broke the law and should be prosecuted, interfered with a drone pilot while he was in control of the airborne aircraft. This is an offence according to CAA laws. No one should visit the place while the security is under management by someone that brakes the law and has no common sense. His dangerous actions are an absolute disgrace.

Completely underwhelmed and out of pocket experience. As a treat we decided to book afternoon tea in the Cavendish Restaurant which was over £49 each, tiny sandwiches and no refilled plates made for a very expensive yet pitiful lunch. Betty's Tea Rooms do it ten times better and pretty much same price!
Oh well at least the poor Duke of Devonshire can heat his pretentious abode for a couple of hours on us!!
Suffice to say we will NOT be returning to this overpriced and overhyped rich man's pad!!

There is no doubt that Chatsworth is a beautiful house . However, the admission fee is ridiculously high and we got charged extra for parking as we paid for our tickets after we had parked, because we didn’t know that’s how it worked. I visited years ago when it didn’t seem all about the money , as it does now and I enjoyed it back then. I can’t see myself going back again now or recommending it to family / friends.

The grounds, garden and exterior of the house is beautiful but extremely disappointed with the inside of the house. Very little information about the family history and I found the art installations just didn’t fit in at all. The rooms were quite sparse compared to many of the beautiful stately homes I’ve visited here in Yorkshire. Keep the art installations in the galleries and concentrate more on the history of the house and family.

We have just left Chatsworth after what I can only describe as a truely horrendous underwhelming visit. If I had wanted to go to an art exhibition there are other venues I would have chosen. There was sparse information on the house, the rooms and their history. I was even charged £7.50 to park my car. A money grabbing disjointed operation. My advise is to avoid - certainly if you have children as I saw little to interest them.

Very disappointed with the garden lights this year. Not many at all compared to previous years. It was mainly trees lit up. Came away feeling very underwhelmed for the price paid. Don’t think we’ll be bothering again :( Also had a bad experience with one of the snack vans.

Disappointing, too short, hurried out before closing time. Did not live up to previous years, lacked imagination

We visited Chatsworth house Sunday 29th December and I have never been so disappointed. The house was not decorated as good as has been in previous years and I’m afraid I have no idea what the point in the story was it certainly didn’t carry through from room to room. I just felt we were looking at Christmas trees in various rooms. Definitely not up to previous standards. The light show was better than previous years but all in all very disappointing.

After a fabulous visit last year, the twelve days of Christmas, we were left feeling very underwhelmed this year..
The house decorations are minimalist.. Not great at all.. There are puppet cases with very little to show.. My grandson (age 12) was bewildered.
The lights in the garden are okay, but the projection onto the house is poor.. Difficult to see and follow what was going on.. it’s supposed to be a story about a lion but my grandchildren were disappointed, as were we..
Such a shame because last Christmas was fabulous.
A very expensive afternoon for us..

Very poor compared to last year. No theme to the decorations in the house and a series of cardboard cutouts, probably aimed at children. All well and good but probably underwhelming for most adults. Last year had the elf animations throughout the house which were fabulous. The garden lights were good, but not as cleverly done as last year. We won’t be returning.

Sadly, a very underwhelming Christmas visit to Chatsworth!
We visit with our children and grandchildren every year, and this year was far from the usual exceptional delights you would expect from such a occasion.
Long queues to enter for parking, the House was very minimal in its decoration, although the trees, as always were dressed beautifully. Sadly, that seemed to be the extent of the interior decor. Apart from the dining table which looked beautiful.
The 'theme' was not particularly interesting or Christmassy. The garden light trail was also quite meagre, not a 'wow' to be heard from our gang I'm afraid
Compared to previous visits, very much a let down.
Come on Chatsworth, you can, and have done much better than this!

Extremely disappointed, the light trail is extremely extensive for a few spotlight pointed at trees. There is no festive spirit at all!.
Not clear that the market finished on the 1st so driving all way just for the light trail which was extremely disappointing we will not be returning.

Well just back from this years Christmas at Chatsworth. We love Chatsworth but we were so disappointed with the light trail. It was so poor and they had clearly cut back so much. Most of the trail consisted of spot lights shining on trees and it was not Christmasy at all. Last years was much better. Who ever organised the event needs to return to basics and give customers value for their money.

The most boring Christmas light walk. It was just different coloured lamps pointing at trees. The only Christmas looking think was the Christmas tree where you could get food. Waste of money and time.

What a shocker
For 32 quid a ticket was a rip off, no festive cheer. Marquee for hot dogs was your choice, poor outdoor lighting, few Xmas trees inside, staircase half finished, miserable staff, best thing of day was trip to garden centre where we got decent food and more festive cheer than the devonshires

Who do the Devonshire's think they are. Being one of the privileged landowners of our beautiful country. With them making a fantastic job of keeping the countryside so beautiful and keeping our old English traditions. So why do they think that they can alter our Christmas which includes Santa Clause and Christmas. By inventing a mouse and a lion. The children just don't get it. What a disappointment. Chatsworth has always led the way at Christmas. The Christmas trees are beautiful. The dining room looked beautiful but I use to love it when the table was laid out for Christmas dinner. Unless you have read the book you wouldn't have a clue what the theme was all about. For the first time I think you have missed the point of Christmas.

Christmas at Chatsworth....well where do I start! Been going for the last 2 years both which I felt very underwhelmed. It didn't have a Christmas feel at all. Thought I'd try again for a third year and this year was even worse. No atmosphere, just afew Christmas tree's. No music, the illuminated gardens was very eerey not Christmas like and the music was more for a spa than a Christmas experience. Went on a Friday which was charged £40 each, no market just the unchristmas like house and gardens. Total waste of money and time. Will not be returning again