D

esigns don’t get much grander than Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Having been the film location for the Duchess and Pride & Prejudice, all you need is a little imagination and you’re that Jane Austin heroine soaking up the opulent interiors.

After a major restoration, it’s now possible for you to walk through impressive galleries, displays celebrating the legendary Duchess Georgiana, or walk through a restored stone courtyard at the centre of the house and elegant new displays.

All the embellishments of 500 years of wealth are in evidence including painted ceilings, statues in every nook and cranny, and of course the grandest of staircases. Even the toilets are super swanky, all beautifully tiled and bigger than the average flat.

If the weather’s nice then buy a Chatsworth ice-cream made fresh on the estate and set about exploring the 1000 acre park. The grounds are scattered with bold sculptures, classical statues and bright flora. And for the kids, there’s a farmyard with daily opportunities to handle the cute animals, a maze to get lost in, and water features to splash in.

Chatsworth is so much more than a very big house in the country…