We can’t promise you your own Mr Darcy, but you can still immerse yourself in the films and fiction of Jane Austen at these lovely locations.
Ever catch yourself day-dreaming of being tangled in the social lives of 19th century landed gentry? Of lace gloves and taking a turn around the room to impress a potential beau? Then, your phone buzzes. And you’re back to a world of electricity bills and Love Island on demand. Don’t fret though. While we can’t promise you your own Mr Darcy, or an inherited fortune of 10,000 a year, you can still immerse yourself in the films and fiction of Jane Austen at these lovely locations.
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire - Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice (2005)
The magnificently Baroque Chatsworth House acts as the stand-in for Mr Darcy's famous mansion in Joe Wright’s 2005 film. But what makes Chatsworth really special for Darcy die-hards, is that it’s rumoured to be Austen’s inspiration for Pemberley. A “large, handsome, stone buildingâ€. A surrounding natural beauty that “had been so little counteracted by awkward tasteâ€. That sounds like Chatsworth.
An extra titbit is that Chatsworth’s sculpture gallery is featured in the film as Lizzie tours Darcy’s mansion. You can see the real Bust of Mr Darcy in the Orangery shop, which is found through the Sculpture Gallery.
Tickets for Chatsworth House and gardens start from around £22 for adults and can be purchased online on their website.
Lyme Park, Cheshire - Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Home to the most iconic Jane Austen moment in pop culture (involving Colin Firth and a sopping wet shirt), Lyme Park is a must-see for Austen fans. The Elizabethan building, which consists of both the Palladian and Baroque style, features as the exterior of Pemberley in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation. You can find Mr Darcy’s infamous swim spot a little behind the house. National Trust have even curated a Pemberley walking route so you can discover the pond and explore the luscious surroundings of the Deer Park on your way.
If you want to really immerse yourself, visit Lyme’s Wardrobe Department inside the house and try on an Austen-esque costume.
Entry to the house and garden is £14.50 for adults and tickets can be purchased on site. Find out more about Lyme Park on their website.
Wilton House is a goldmine for Jane Austen references. And when you’ve seen the mansion’s state rooms, you’ll understand why. Period filmmakers have flocked to them for their enchanting embellishments: walls decorated with foliage painted in gold leaf; a ceiling mural of the story of Perseus; an original Rembrandt painting.
The state rooms feature as the site of the London ball in Sense and Sensibility (1995) where Marianne had her fateful encounter with Willoughby. You’ll also recognise them as the rooms in which Keira Knightley’s Lizzie stumbles upon Mr Darcy and his sister as she wanders around Pemberley. It doesn’t end there. Wilton House will be making an appearance in Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 adaptation of Emma. What a résumé.
Wilton House costs £15.50 for adult admission. Find out more on their website.
Stourhead Garden, Wiltshire - Pride and Prejudice (2005)
If the world-renowned landscape doesn’t draw you in, Stourhead Garden is home to the Temple of Apollo, which you may recognise as the location of Darcy’s first rain-drenched, heart-wrenching proposal to Lizzie in the 2005 film.
Stroll around the lake along a path that’s designed to follow the footsteps of Greek hero Aeneas as he journeyed deep into the Underworld. Along this route you’ll find the 18th century Temple of Apollo, which is the perfect place to shelter from the rain - just ask Lizzie Bennet.
A day ticket to the estate costs £18.40. Find out more from the National Trust.
Efford House, Plymouth - Barton Cottage in Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Host to the heartaches of the Dashwood sisters, Efford House in the Flete Estate plays the part of the modest Barton Cottage in the 1995 Sense and Sensibility starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Perched on the Plymouth coast, the cottage presents a quainter alternative to the luxurious stately homes mentioned above. It’s not open to the public, but it is available to rent as a holiday home. And what it lacks in glamour, it makes up for in heart, outstanding natural beauty and the blustery beach that is only a very short walk away.
Find out more about Efford House and the Flete Estate on their website.