A surprise addition to the visit, which meant I stayed longer than I thought I would, was that the buildings also housed a Museum of Childhood. Mostly a toy museum (I saw more than a few that I recognised from my toybox), it also told the story of childhood from going to work to going to school to imagination and play. Really fascinating and well presented.

The rest of the drive was exceptionally pretty as far as the countryside was concerned. I wish I could drive and take photographs at the same time as stopping in the most picturesque places was nigh impossible. They don’t do ‘look-outs’ over here!

Leaving Bolsever I noticed directional signs pointing the way to Chatsworth, so I decided to follow them. In the end I spent about three hours at Chatsworth though you could easily spend the whole day. This is the house that featured as Pemberley in the recent Pride and Prejudice film, and as itself in the film The Duchess. The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the interior was awe-inspiring—which, I suppose, is really the whole point of the house.
The gardens were just as interesting. There were a lot of modern sculptures dotted around the landscape as part of an exhibition that I gather was arranged in conjuction with Sothebys.

If I could have the day over again I’d probably visit Chatsworth first. On the way back to the Travelodge I struck my first traffic go-slow on the M1. Thankfully it didn’t stretch for miles and I got back in time to catch the news.