Chatsworth celebrates summer in the great outdoors with wellness festival, silent disco and nature activities
Wellbeing and relaxation in the open air are the focus of this summer’s programme of events at Chatsworth.
From outdoor yoga sessions and gardening clubs to a silent disco watching the sun set, Chatsworth offers opportunities for visitors of all ages to unwind, explore and learn.
The brand-new Wellness Festival will take place on June 27 and 28, bringing together experiences centred around movement, mindfulness and connection to nature within the garden and park. Visitors will have the opportunity to try practices including yoga, meditation and wellbeing workshops, alongside talks from inspirational speakers and expert practitioners.
Additional outdoor wellness sessions will take place throughout the season, including Cascade Flow Yoga, Riverside Tai Chi and Movement and Mindfulness classes, all designed to encourage relaxation and improve mental wellbeing. The sessions form part of the Celebrating the Cascade programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, helping restore and safeguard the historic Grade I listed Cascade water feature for future generations.
As the evenings grow longer, Chatsworth will also host a Summer Solstice Silent Disco on June 20, offering visitors the chance to dance beneath the summer sky in a unique after-hours celebration against the backdrop of the house.
Nature-based activities include seasonal clubs led by the Chatsworth learning team. Little Pips Gardening Club encourages budding gardeners to get hands-on with planting and growing, while Seedlings Gardening Club and Squirrels Nature Club help children connect with wildlife and the outdoors through crafts, adventure and exploration.
In the farmyard, guests can experience more of Chatsworth’s working estate through the popular Young Farmers sessions held throughout the summer, where aspiring agriculturalists can discover more about farming, animals and food production through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
The Chatsworth Farmyard also offers the chance to meet rare breed animals and learn more about the estate’s farming heritage, while younger visitors can explore the adventure playground’s woodland play equipment, slides and zip wires.
At the heart of this year’s programme is House of Stories, Chatsworth’s exhibition exploring the stories, history and characters that have shaped the estate over the centuries. Through immersive displays and objects from the Devonshire Collections, the exhibition offers visitors a new perspective on the people, creativity and literary traditions connected to Chatsworth.
Emma Flack, head of visitor experience at Chatsworth, said: “Summer at Chatsworth is about creating opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the estate in different ways, whether that’s exploring the house and garden, spending time outdoors, learning something new or taking a moment to relax and reconnect with nature.
“From hands-on activities in the farmyard and garden to wellness experiences and evening events, there is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the season.”
Chatsworth’s Universal Credit tickets are available throughout the summer; priced at £3 for an adult and £1 for a child, the tickets were introduced in 2024 to help remove barriers to entry and are available to anyone in receipt of certain benefits. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and details of eligibility can be found on the Chatsworth website. Anyone purchasing a Universal Credit ticket is entitled to 25% off food and drink on the day of their visit.
Chatsworth is also encouraging visitors to take advantage of the National £3 Bus Fare cap, and travel to Chatsworth on public transport. Anyone using a bus, train or bicycle for all or part of their journey and visiting the house will receive complimentary hire of a multi-media guide for each adult ticket booked.Chesterf
To book, go to: www.chatsworth.org/visit-chatsworth/book-tickets