Chatsworth Reviews 

A total disappointment!
Over 5 hours on the road to be met with arrogant and unfriendly staff, one even snubbed my wife trying to compliment his outfit!
We can honestly say there wasn’t one display that made you stay in the room.
The cafe was just as bad and so expensive.
Don’t get me started on the light trail! If they think a few spotlights into trees will suffice then we are so glad we left in daylight.
Staff need to be retrained to be more appreciative of visitors, some of whom have travelled from overseas.
Sorry but not a patch on other stately homes at this time of the year.
A refund would help but at the prices for all food or items on sale in the shop I won’t hold my breath!

Lights are pleasant. Just disappointing for the price. We arrived at 5.30pm not realising this was the last day of the Christmas market. Most stall holders more interested in packing up then serving any customers. General house staff not very friendly or helpful. On leaving, a man was annoyed we were walking through the shutting up market, despite no barriers stopping us. ‘Never mind, you are here now’ was the response. Very much felt we weren’t really welcome. Come on Chatsworth, this is not five star, friendly customer service. Buck up your act!

We were really looking forward to Chatsworth this year as went about 10 years ago and it was stunning but must say this year it was a let down. It was nice and we had a good day but there wasn’t really a theme and it just seemed a bit underwhelming. Disappointed we waited in freezing weather for the light trail it was basically some lights stuck in the ground and some lights in the tree.
The best thing was the market , loads of stalls with some decent stuff although very expensive as is the norm at these things.

Hi Guys
Just to let everyone know that Chatsworth house Christmas event is a real let down, have gone now for the last 6years, sadly had to miss last year and went to Blenheim Palace instead, their lights were out of this world but the house did not match up to our previous visits to Chatsworth!!.
Decided to return this year (22-12-24), note this was also our Golden Wedding Day and it was the only day we could get a house tour arranged, 'what a shock', not sure who decorated the house but it was worse than poor!, no interest shown in the decorations, some very poor cardboard cut out boxes with tiny images placed inside and a poultry two or three line text with part of a story. Hardly any Christmas spirit and overall the display was pretty shocking.
Events team, you need to get your act together as if this is where we have got to then sorry but you won't be seeing many regulars in the future, note I overheard many guests , especially those from abroad saying that they could not see any relevance to Christmas and thought it was a waste of time and money. No corridors decorated and no actors performing or talking to the public making their way around the house as you have done over the past years. Additionally your lights in the ground this year were pretty poor, do your self a favor and get your team to go to Blenheim Palace and check theirs out, I think you would be in for a shock!!
Please rethink what you are doing as I would hate to see this wonderful house closed at Christmas!!

Sorry to say that it is a very underwhelming Christmas in the house and gardens this year (2024). Although it was pleasant they have clearly cut back on everything so although we had a decent day it was extremely expensive and we won't return for another. The market was was however well laid out and plenty to see BUT the food/drinks stalls were utterly ludicrous in price. Two bottles of still water and two cans nearly £12!!

My husband has mobility issues and found the Christmas market really difficult to manage. It is on a slope leading up to the stables and whether walking or using his mobility scooter, it was difficult for him to negotiate. He was not able to enter the house at all as there was no option to leave without completing the tour. Our day out proved to be an expensive mistake.

Chris Simpson , what a smarmy POS. He bullied a guy flying a drone getting lovely shots of the house but unlike the pilot he broke the law and even assaulted him and kicked his drone, yet another crime all caught on camera and is on YouTube. I won't be going or recommending until this man is out were he belongs... On the unemployment line

We’ve been going to Chatsworth to see the Christmas decorations and gardens for years now but this year it was the worst exhibition ever. The entrance price of £36.- is just a lot and it was so over crowded in the house and very unpleasant. The food stalls at the Christmas market are very expensive and the food is of very poor quality and we won’t be going back.

Chris simpson watch you tube clip shock at his behaviour needs to be sacked drone flyer was on public right of way rang the office to complain girl put phone down disgrace staff

The member of your team Chris had a disgusting attitude to members of the public. Committing illegal acts against the said member of the public all cought on film. DISGUSTING

The woke culture reached Chatsworth

Wondering why there was no Christmas music at the Chatsworth Christmas Fair, despite having live music and why Chatsworth chose a Christmas theme no one heard of, but approved by the left? There was something missing, maybe the Christmas music, not sure but to me it felt like a commercial venue, instead of Christmas. Absolutely no religious connotation and this I assume wasn't just a slip up, unfortunately...

Just done the Christmas at Chatsworth and whilst the house and grounds are fabulous the Christmas theme wasn't. Last year was fantastic but such a let down this year. The theme isn't well known so it was difficult to relate to it, some of the corridors were bare compared to last year and some of the smaller trees quite drab.

Not very welcoming. At the entry point Madam Snooty answered with an abrupt " What is the problem?" when we just asked a question about the ticket. Not very friendly customer facing manner. Hopelessly out of date customer service skills. Perhaps they want to convey the atmosphere of when the rich upper class used to lord it over us.

Dinner on arrival date was chaotic. 1 young lady serving 25 people. Long wait for food. Next morning same lady on her own. Long wait for toast and tea.
No bread. Same lady had to replenish servery.
The rest of the week was fine as more staff were serving.still no bread put out. 10/10 for young lady who worked very hard, put up with disgruntled customers.

I was waiting at the house entrance for my daughter to accompany me. I am unfortunately disabled so I was unable to walk uphill to the stables so I needed her to give me a lift up the hill. When she arrived I was about to get into her vehicle with my blue badge when a very uncouth member of staff on the car park started to yell at me quite angrily. Shouting "have they got a blue badge" I informed him that they would have once I had got into their vehicle, to which he very aggressively shouted "I'm not having this"! He was so angry that his face had become red and distorted. The law states that if someone has a blue badge that they can use it in any car. This member of staff was more like Alf Garnet than Sir Garnet when it came to dealing with the situation and the matter left me feeling quite chagrined.

Now normally I would not allow this sort of riff raff to spoil my enjoyment but my daughter was shaken by his aggression especially as we had done no wrong. We would have turned around and we would have left the estate, but we had bought our tickets on-line and we were a party of six who had travelled over a hundred miles, so it made no sense to allow ourselves to become a victim of his bullying. We all tried to enjoy the visit but with this upset we were unable to relax.

I must therefore warn anyone elderly, frail or disabled to be very wary of the aggressive man in a yellow coat who directs the parking as he seems to have it in for our sort.

What a complete ripoff

Very overpriced and underwhelming. Dark interior poor reference material in the rooms. Only the library felt inviting. Food, drinks and gift shop items also far too expensive.

Far too overpriced, to book online £28 for 1 adult , £72 for a family of 4, don’t bother, talk about taking people for a ride

The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. I was in a wheelchair when I visited and they helped me out efficiently and gently. They also seem to be very passionate and know a lot about the house, gardens and it’s history. This made the visit absolutely amazing. When I think of the best days of my life, I think of my visit to chatsworth.
The gardens are ever so nice to wonder around in and there’s tea and pies to bring along for a picnic. I recommend getting a tour, it was super interesting! House itself also exquisite, very nice rooms and artworks. Must see!