We leave for England in a week and have three nights booked in Ambleside. I am trying to decide what to do the two nights before Ambleside. We are arriving into Heathrow early Saturday. RS England book does not mention Chatsworth which was disappointing to me. Have any of you been and able to recommend Chatsworth?
Any other suggestion about where to stay and what to do between Heathrow and Ambleside for two nights?
Thank you. Sally Moxley Richmond VA., USA
Chatsworth is one of my fondest memories. Look up it up on line. It has one of the best interiors and furnishings of any of the Great Estate Houses. It still the home of the Duke of Devonshire and his family. It has been occupied by several interesting personalities including the famous Georgiana one time Duchess of Devonshire. There is a movie about her called "The Duchess" There have been several TV programs about Chatsworth...maybe you can find one on a streaming service. It also has spectacular grounds and a famous onetime greenhouse "The Orangerie". You may have to buy a timed entry ticket in advance...you may be able to purchase on line. Their website is Chatsworth.org.
Thank you Kathleen. Your comments affirm my desire to go to Chatsworth. Strange Rick Steves England does not mention Chatsworth.
Chatsworth is an absolute winner - here is an excellent documentary about it , we loved our visit - https://youtu.be/VMTjdOzUUmo
We visited Chatsworth House and would call it a must see. Let me start with the drive up to it. The large expanse of grounds with sheep dotting the grass and not bothered by a smattering of visitors relaxing on these beautiful grounds. The big surprise was the reveal of Chatsworth House itself off to the right. Stunning!
The library room is beautiful and sitting next to it is a grand piano which we were lucky to hear. A visitor had to try it. He was an accomplished pianist so it was a great moment. I still enjoy listening and watching that video I took of it and it's been two years since. We enjoyed Bakewell too.
RS England book does not mention Chatsworth which was disappointing to
me.
I hate to be heretical, but other guide books do exist that perhaps give a less selective view of England. Here's a bit about Chatsworth and surrounds from Rough Guide's website;
"Strange Rick Steves England does not mention Chatsworth. "
Nothing strange about it. Rick's books are deliberately selective. He goes into great detail about the places he chooses to include, and excludes everything else. That's a deliberate choice of his, which inevitably leads people to say "Rick's book about (insert name of country) is garbage because it omits (insert name of place)." But as the saying now goes, "it's a feature, not a bug." He includes places that he personally likes, and that he feels will be of interest to Americans on a first time, relatively short visit, and that logistically work with other major destinations. He admits in his introductions that not everyone will agree with his choices.
No, I'm not related to him (g). But if you're using his books, it's important to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
If you're looking for a comprehensive book about a place, use another guidebook. I always supplement Rick's books with other ones, for this reason. Rough Guide and Lonely Planet try to include most places in a country. The Tripadvisor website can be handy too. Look at their lists of top attractions for a place; you'll inevitably learn about things you didn't know of (as well as some you have no interest in).
Proof, if needed, that RIck Steves is not the be all and end all of foreign travel advice. Why so many Americans hang on to his every word is beyond me, we are all different and we all have different tastes and interests.
Clearly Chatsworth House interests you, you obviously know something about it, certainly have an interest in visiting it yet question a visit because RS doesn't mention it! If you want to see it go and see it, you don't need a guidebook to recommend it to you. This is the reason, I believe, for the current obsession with the Cotswolds/Bath/Oxford. The UK is full of towns and villages on a par or 'better' than those three but because they're recommended in a guidebook and because everyone feels that they should visit they've become a 'must see' at the exclusion of anywhere else.
Go with your instincts, visit what YOU want to visit and forget what someone else tells you you should see.
Oh and enjoy your visit here, we're having fantastic weather and it should be a relief from the humidity of Richmond (we were there last year in August!)
Chatsworth is absolutely worthwhile, and you can spend a full day going through the house and gardens. The gardens alone are worth the trip. We were there last August, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We were with an HF Holidays group staying at their country house in the Peak District, so can't give you any suggestions for accommodations, but you might want to complement your visit to Chatsworth with one to Haddon Hall if you have the time.
All of the Chatsworth responses have been helpful. Last night we watched the PBS documentary on Chatsworth and enjoyed it. I had forgotten about the Kennedy connection. Thank you. I read the other travel guide write-up of Chatsworth that one of you posted. I was successful in booking two nights of accommodation in Bakewell. Looking forward to our trip. Sally in Richmond.
RIck Steves is not the be all and end all of foreign travel advice.
Why so many Americans hang on to his every word is beyond me, we are
all different and we all have different tastes and interests.
I had barely heard of RS until a few years ago, when I found him on some PBS fund-raising marathon. I've watched a lot of his videos and bought some of his guidebooks.
I think it's ironic when people seem to want to begin - and end - their research into European travel with RS's videos and books. Because my takeaway from them, is that he encourages people to develop travel skills for themselves and to overcome the inhibitions and fears that would keep them from exploring the world beyond their country's borders.
Of course, he wants us to buy his stuff and book his tours. And I see nothing wrong with his personally curated guidebooks which cover places he's enjoyed and thinks that others will too. Guidebooks that aren't intended to be encyclopedic and exhaustive as to all places of note in the country/region in question.
But my impression of him - and I've never met the guy so I could be very wrong - is that he'd do a facepalm if someone said, "Ya know, Rick, we were in [name of country], and had a chance to see [name of notable place] and kind of wanted to, but it wasn't in your book and so we passed it up." OTOH I think Rick Steves would be delighted if someone said, "I got interested in travel by watching your TV show and reading some of your guidebooks, so I read some more guidebooks in addition to yours, and did some more research, and went traveling. Saw some places on your list and some that weren't, a few things went wrong and most things went just fine, and it was all a hoot."
Chatsworth was my first experience of an English stately home, therefore it has a special place in my memory. I have been fortunate enough to visit many more homes in the UK since, but in my opinion, Chatsworth, reigns supreme. The view of the house and gardens as you come over the bridge, is truly spectacular.
Judy in Australia
I still recall the moment we crossed the little bridge and Chatsworth appeared, still a memorable moment. Gasp and all.
It's 2 hours to Sheff by train and if the times tie up, 45 mins by bus to Chatsworth.
Chesterfield is also an option
