Tour details
£45 per person (17+ years only)*
Take a guided walk behind the scenes at Chatsworth, through historic working and service areas rarely seen by the public, including the old kitchen, confectionary, cellars, plunge pool and theatre.
Guests on this tour will see how the function of these spaces has changed over time, while maintaining astonishing original details, like the copper pots that remain on the shelves of the 19th Century kitchen, now used as a joiners’ shop, and the 130-year old scenery backdrops painted by William Helmsley, still in place in the theatre’s wings.
This is an exciting opportunity to access a well-preserved example of a country house ’downstairs’, which remains a thriving workplace for Chatsworth House Trust today.
This tour also includes a ticket for the house, garden, farmyard and playground for the same day.
There is a maximum of 12 people per tour.
Three Chatsworth guides will accompany each group.
Important notice
Photography is not permitted during this tour.
Large bags will not be permitted due to lack of space. These can be left in the luggage lockers available at the front of the house (a refundable £1 coin is required for these lockers).
Itinerary
The tour lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on the group size.
The Behind the Scenes tour will start at the museum, a previously unseen area of Chatsworth, which the 6th Duke used as an area for a small personal selection of sculpture, which he and his friends collected, before continuing through the cellars, the confectionary and the kitchen, ending with the plunge pool and theatre.
Availability
The Behind the Scenes Tour takes place at 10.15am on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-March to the end of October.
Guests are asked to arrive at the North Gate entrance 10 minutes before the tour starts.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for wheelchairs or people with accessibility needs.
There are steep, uneven stone steps down to the cellars and up to the theatre (125 steps in total) as well as low ceiling heights in certain areas.
We advise sensible footwear due to uneven ground in some areas.
*Price quoted includes an optional 10% donation to the Chatsworth House Trust charity.
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House and Garden Tour
Get closer to Chatsworth with this expert-led tour of the house and garden.
Available mid March to end of October.
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Behind the Scenes Tour
Step 'below stairs' at Chatsworth with exclusive access to areas rarely seen by the public.
Available weekends from mid March to end of October.
Max 12 people per tour.
Day Tickets
Spend a day exploring the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground.
Book online in advance for free parking.
Available mid March to early January.
Membership
Explore annual Friends membership for adults and families which offers unlimited access during open season, free tickets to events, and discounts on shopping, dining and stays.
All membership income supports the Chatsworth House Trust charity.
Bespoke Tour
We can arrange private views of historic artefacts from our collections or create a tour tailored to your special interest.
Contact us to find out more.
Curated Escapes
Curate your ideal Chatsworth Escape: a bespoke service with a Chatsworth Ambassador on hand to offer guidance and make all the arrangements for you.
This retreat is available to guests of The Cavendish Hotel in Baslow.
Every penny generated by ticket sales and memberships is reinvested into the Chatsworth House Trust charity for the preservation and development of the house, collections, garden, and parkland for the benefit of everyone.
