Parking during the Christmas Market
Visits between 9 November to 1 December
During the Christmas market (9 Nov - 1 Dec), car parking arrangements at Chatsworth will be different to those you are used to. View a car park plan here.
Entry to the market is free. However, all visitors, including blue badge holders, who wish to park at Chatsworth during the Christmas market must pre-book either Christmas at Chatsworth, Christmas in the Garden or an appropriate Christmas market car park ticket, before arrival. Tickets cannot be purchased on the gate.
On arrival, please display your blue badge clearly so our parking marshals know to direct you to the next available accessible parking space.
Once the main car park is full, we will be parking vehicles on trackways across the parkland and operating a tractor and trailer shuttle service between numbered shuttle stops and the market. The tractor and trailer shuttle service is wheelchair accessible.
Please take care when driving on the metal trackways.
In wet weather, the metal trackways and ground around them may become muddy and slippery. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for muddy, slippery and wet conditions. We will not accept responsibility for damage to clothing or footwear. We also recommend you have access to a torch.
Accessing the market
The market is located on an incline, Lodge Hill, and pedestrian trackway is used for access to non-paved areas.
Accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility, are located close to the house entrance at the bottom of Lodge Hill.
You may find it useful to view a map of Chatsworth (note that the market is located on the grassy areas between icons 12 and 16).
Pre-booked accessibility mini-bus parking
We have capacity each day for a small quantity of accessibility mini-buses. Parking slots must be pre-booked by calling 01246 565 430. Please do not arrive without pre-booking your parking space.
Access buggy shuttle service
Please note that we will not be operating an access buggy shuttle service between the car park and the house entrance/lodge during the Christmas market.
However, this service will be running between the house entrance/lodge and the garden entrances and Stables.
Taxi pick up and drop off only
Visitors with accessibility requirements may be picked up and dropped off by taxi at the north lodge.
Entry tickets must be shown on arrival at the pay booths for scanning. Taxis must not be left unattended at any time.
We reserve the right to limit, refuse or delay entry to drop offs/pick ups in order to safely manage vehicle movement and capacity on site.
Parking from 2 December to 5 January
All visitors, including blue badge holders, who wish to park at Chatsworth must pre-book either Christmas at Chatsworth, or a Christmas in the Garden ticket before arrival. Carer tickets must also be pre-booked.
Tickets cannot be purchased on the gate.
Please display your blue badge on arrival so our car park marshals can direct you to the next available accessible parking space.
Pre-booked accessibility mini-bus parking
We have capacity each day for a small quantity of accessibility mini-buses. Parking slots must be pre-booked by calling 01246 565 430. Please do not arrive without pre-booking your parking space.
Access buggy shuttle service
We offer an access buggy shuttle service between the house entrance/lodge and the car park, garden entrances and Stables. Please contact us in advance of your visit for more information and availability.
Taxi pick up and drop off only
Visitors with accessibility requirements may be picked up and dropped off by taxi at the north lodge by the house entrance.
Entry tickets must be shown on arrival at the pay booths for scanning. Taxis must not be left unattended at any time.
We reserve the right to refuse, limit or delay entry to drop offs/pick ups in order to safely manage vehicle movement and capacity on site.
In the House
There is a lift in the house, allowing access to the entire visitor route for visitors with restricted mobility.
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. During this period, there is likely to be a short wait to use the lift. Please build this into your itinerary for the day.
Electric scooters cannot be used inside the house, however, other smaller mobility aids may be used.
Garden
The garden light trail is accessible to visitors who use manual wheelchairs and electric scooters, please take extra care on steeper slopes. You may find it helpful to have access to a torch.
Areas around the Willow Tree are narrower than the main paths. Please proceed with caution and in single file.
Our accessibility map of the garden shows detailed routes of varying length and ease so you can find the best route to your favourite areas. You can also pick up a printed copy of the accessibility map at any garden entrance point.
The sensory garden is fully accessible to visitors who use manual wheelchairs and electric scooters.
Book a manual wheelchair
We have some manual wheelchairs available for use in the house, garden and farmyard.
These are available for hire at no cost and must be added to your order when you book tickets online. They are subject to availability.
You can collect your booked manual wheelchair from the house entrance underneath the flagpole.
Book a mobility scooter - garden only
We also have a small number of mobility scooters available for use in the garden only on a 2 hour timeslot.
These must be added to your order when you book online at no cost, and are subject to availability.
If you do not book in advance, please ask about availability at the house entrance gates on the day of your visit.
Farmyard and playground
The farmyard entrance is at the top of the main car park. A lift and a ramp provide access to all parts of the farmyard.
Please be aware that much of the playground is a woodland site with uneven terrain and a soft bark surface. The paddocks and picnic area are accessible via a gently sloping footpath.
There are accessible paths leading to the adventure playground towers.
Toilets
There are adapted toilets near the house entrance, in the Carriage House restaurant in the Stables, and in the farmyard. There are no adapted toilets in the garden.
There is also a registered Changing Places facility near the house entrance, which is over 12sqm. Please click here for more information about Changing Places facilities.
Park
The Kissing Gate was installed in 1999, allowing access to the park from Baslow. It allows wheelchair access to the park without leaving a gap through which grazing stock might escape.
Shops and restaurants
The shops, Carriage House and Cavendish restaurants are fully accessible; although space is limited inside the garden shop.
Please note that areas of the Stables courtyard have cobbled floors.
Farm shop and café
The Chatsworth Farm Shop and its café are 1.5 miles from the house, in the village of Pilsley; both areas are accessible for visitors in manual wheelchairs. There are four bays reserved for Blue Badge holders.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome in the house, garden, farmyard, playground and park. Puppies in assistance dog training are welcome in the house as long as they are house-trained and are on a short lead. Please bear in mind that we reserve the right to refuse entry.
We hope you found the information you need above. However, if you have any other questions, or would like to contact us in advance of your visit, please call the bookings office on 01246 565430 (accessibility option #3)
Carer tickets
If you are visiting with a carer, you may add a carer ticket to your online booking at no cost.
Carer tickets must be booked in advance.
Parties comprised of carer only tickets will be refused entry.
Here to help
If you have any further questions regarding accessibility please call our team on 01246 565430 (accessibility option #3)
