Event details
Enjoy an interactive light and sound trail around the Chatsworth Garden featuring some of its best-loved landmarks, including the historic Cascade, Rock Garden and Maze.
The light trail will culminate in a spectacular animated light and sound show projected onto the house, inspired by Chatsworth's history and collections, and the new festive story Henry and Lion's Christmas Feast.
Best viewed from dusk | Approximately 1.8km | Allow 45mins to 1hr 30 mins
Last entry is one hour before close and some projections may finish slightly before closing time. Please ensure you allow enough time to complete the trail.
Tickets must be booked in advance. Please do not arrive at Chatsworth without a pre-booked ticket.
During high winds, access to some areas of the garden will be restricted. This is part of our health and safety protocols, designed to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and colleagues.
Ticket information
Christmas in the Garden tickets include:
- admission to the garden light trail
- admission to the farmyard and adventure playground
- one car parking space per transaction
If you would also like to visit the house, please book a Christmas at Chatsworth ticket.
Please note that if you have booked a Christmas at Chatsworth ticket, you do not need a separate ticket for the garden light trail as it is included.
Entry is by time slot:
You will need to book a time slot for your visit to the garden. The first entry is 4.00pm, however you can arrive at Chatsworth at any time after 9am on the day of your visit to walk in the parkland and woodland, or visit the shops and restaurants from 10am. View festive opening times.
Ticket Prices:
Adults: from £21.82
Children (3-16 years): from £7.27
Children aged 2 years and under do not require a ticket.
A full calendar showing available time slots for each day will be displayed at the start of the booking process.
‘With donation’ and ‘without donation’ ticket prices
When you book online, you will have the opportunity to add a small donation to the Chatsworth House Trust charity to your booking. If you select the 'with donation' ticket option and you are a UK taxpayer, you can add Gift Aid to your booking at no extra cost. Gift Aid allows the Chatsworth House Trust charity to claim an additional 25% from the government.
Important information - please read
All tickets will be scanned at the car park entrance. You must bring your booking confirmation with you and be ready to show it on entry. Please note that we cannot retrieve bookings for you at the car park entrance.
If you have booked more than one car parking space, each car included in your order must have a copy of the booking confirmation to show on entry.
The QR code on your booking confirmation will validate entry for the number of cars on your booking, after which it will become inactive.
In the garden after dark
Some areas of the walk will be darker than others and we ask you to supervise children and recommend you bring a torch.
The walk is one-way and there are no cut throughs to shorten the route, as the rest of the garden is in darkness and includes areas of open water and steep drops. Colleagues will be on hand to offer assistance should you need it at any time.
Please avoid looking directly at the light sources. There are some flashing lights in Paxton's Greenhouse, near the top garden entrance by the Stables.
Toilet facilities
Toilets are available at the beginning of the route next to Flora’s temple, and accessible toilets and baby change facilities are available at the Stables and next to the park shop catering unit, marked on the access map. There are no toilets further into the garden.
Please note that Flora's tea shop in the garden will close when the garden closes.
Parking arrangements - please read
Visits from 2 December to 5 January
If you visit from 2 December to 5 January inclusive, your tickets do not include access to the Christmas Market (the market runs from 9 Nov - 1 Dec).
Over this period, cars will be parked in the main car park with some overflow parking within short walking distance on parkland or trackway. During periods of wet weather, the trackway and immediate areas may become slippery and muddy.
We recommend you wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground and in muddy and wet conditions. We will not take responsibility for any damage to footwear. You may also wish to have access to a torch.
Opening and entry times
Our opening times vary over the Christmas and New Year period. You can view a full list of house, garden and farmyard opening times, including last entry times, here: View opening times.
You are welcome to arrive at Chatsworth any time after 9 am on the day of your visit. Our shops and restaurants open at 10 am.
Last entry to the garden is one hour before closing. Our light trail takes approximately 45-90 minutes to experience and is best viewed from dusk.
Please note that the projection may finish 20 minutes earlier than the garden closing time so please allow plenty of time to complete the trail. The Orangery shop and Flora’s café will close when the garden closes.
Accessibility
You can view an accessibility map of the garden here, note that the planned route goes up past Flora's Temple, Paxton's Glasshouses and through the Maze, returning via Broad Walk.
We have a small number of manual wheelchairs and electric scooters available for hire at no charge for use during your visit. These can be added to your order when you book online. Please note that these are subject to availability.
Some of the interactive light sequences around Paxton's Glasshouses involve flashing lights which some visitors may find uncomfortable. These points on the route can be avoided if you wish. Please ask a member of the team on the garden entrance to point these areas out for you.
View more accessibility information here.
Visiting with Dogs
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the garden.
FAQs
- 1. What does a Christmas in the garden ticket include?
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A Christmas in the garden ticket includes access to the garden light trail, the farmyard and adventure playground.
It also includes car parking for one vehicle. If you need more parking spaces please add them to your order when you book online. Please note that only one booking confirmation email is issued.
If you would also like to visit the house please book a Christmas at Chatsworth ticket.
- 2. Does my ticket include entry to the Christmas market?
-
Visits during 9 November to 1 December
If you visit from 9 November – 1 December inclusive, your tickets include access to the Christmas Market (the market runs from 9 Nov - 1 Dec).Over this period, parking arrangements will be different to those you may be used to. As well as in the main car park, cars will be parked on trackway across the parkland and we will be operating a tractor and trailer shuttle service between shuttle stops and the house car park. This service ends 15 minutes after the garden closes. View opening times for the day of your visit here.
During periods of wet weather, the trackway and immediate areas may become slippery and muddy. We recommend you wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground and in muddy and wet conditions. We will not take responsibility for any damage to footwear. You may also wish to have access to a torch.
The tractor and trailer shuttle service is wheelchair accessible. Visit our accessibility web pages for more information.
View a map of parking arrangements during the Christmas market here.
Visits from 2 December to 5 January
If you visit from 2 December to 5 January inclusive, your tickets do not include access to the Christmas Market (the market runs from 9 Nov - 1 Dec).
Over this period, cars will be parked in the main car park with some overflow parking within short walking distance on parkland or trackway. During periods of wet weather, the trackway and immediate areas may become slippery and muddy.
We recommend you wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground and in muddy and wet conditions. We will not take responsibility for any damage to footwear. We recommend you have access to a torch.
View a plan of Christmas market car parking here.
- 3. Do I need to buy a separate parking ticket?
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One car parking space is included with each booking.
You can purchase additional car parking spaces when you book online. Please note that only one booking confirmation is issued.
- 4. What time can I arrive at Chatsworth on the day of my visit?
-
If you have booked a Christmas in the Garden ticket you can arrive at any time after 9am on the day of your visit. Our gift shops and restaurants will be open throughout the Christmas period. View opening times.
Your garden entry time is the time you selected when purchasing your tickets and is shown on your booking confirmation. Please arrive promptly as if you are more than 15 minutes late we may not be able to allow entry and no refunds will be given.
Please note that some of the projections may finish slightly earlier than closing time so we recommend prioritising the trail. The Orangery shop and Flora's café will close at the same time as the garden
- 5. What age ranges are included in the child ticket?
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Children aged 3 – 16 years inclusive require a child ticket for entry to Christmas in the Garden. Children aged 2 years and under do not require a ticket.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- 6. I am coming with my carer, do I need to buy them a ticket?
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We offer free admission to carers visiting with the person they care for.
Please add a carer ticket to your order when you book online.
- 7. I am a Chatsworth Friend, do I need to book my tickets in advance?
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Friends of Chatsworth and all pass holders must also book tickets online in advance.
Enter your membership ID (first ten digits of your membership number) and the email address you used to sign up with to book your Friends tickets.
If you are having difficulty using our system, you can email friends@chatsworth.org.
- 8. Will there be any disabled parking?
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There is disabled parking available in the main house car park and these spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis. Please display your blue badge clearly when arriving at Chatsworth so our team can direct you to the disabled parking area.
Should this area become full, our parking marshals will direct you to a space closest to the attractions.
If you are visiting during the market (9 November - 1 December) parking at Chatsworth may differ to what you are used to. Please read the FAQ 'Does my ticket include entry to the Christmas market' for more information.
Parking charges apply for blue badge holders.
If you would like any further information, please call 01246 565430 and select option #3 (accessibility), you can also visit the accessibility section of our website.
- 9. How accessible is the trail?
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We want everyone to enjoy this walk, there are no steps or stairs on the route and most paths are generally flat and wide. There are several inclines, some paths are a little uneven, and the path narrows in places. All paths are wide enough for pushchairs and electric wheelchairs.
- 10. Can I hire a wheelchair/mobility scooter?
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Manual wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for use in the garden. They can be added to your online booking at no cost and are subject to availability.
They can be collected from the house entrance underneath the flagpole.
Please call 01246 565430 (accessibility option #3) or visit the accessibility section of our website for further information.
- 11. Can I get a refund or change my booking?
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You can manage your booking using the link provided in your booking confirmation or here.
We are unable to offer refunds for any reason.
- 12. Can I bring my dog?
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Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the garden and at the Christmas market. View Christmas in the garden. View Christmas market.
Please note that only assistance dogs can be admitted to the house, farmyard and adventure playground.
- 13. What are ground conditions like at Chatsworth?
-
Over the Christmas period, particularly during the market (9 Nov - 1 Dec), some cars may be parked on grass, or temporary tracking across the parkland with a tractor and trailer shuttle service transporting visitors between numbered car park shuttle stops and the house car park.
Due to the time of year and the wet weather experienced throughout Derbyshire over recent months, the walk from your car is likely to be very muddy. Please take care on the trackways as it may become slippery. You may find it helpful to have access to a torch.
We strongly recommend that you wear sturdy footwear suitable for walking on uneven ground in slippery, wet and muddy conditions. We will not accept responsibility to damage to footwear.
You can view a map of car parking during the Christmas market here: view map
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Please note: Please be aware that for technical, operational or safety reasons, some facilities may be removed or closed, or entertainment and event timetables cancelled and/or altered at any time, including at short notice. Chatsworth reserves the right to change the programme of attractions and entertainment if, at any time, it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so, this may also include closing attractions or areas of the estate. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused should this need arise.
