Christmas at Chatsworth with Mr Toad

On Sunday we had a lovely visit to Christmas at Chatsworth. This year the display has been inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows”.  As a family this is the beginning of the Christmas festivities for us and I cannot imagine not visiting, from the delightful Narnia to Alice in Wonderland we couldn’t wait to see what adventures Mr Toad and his friends had been on.

 

The story starts in the North Sub Corridor where Mole is putting the finishing touches to his decorations before joining Ratty to visit Toad at Toad Hall.  In the West Sub Corridor there are eerie noises and as you make you way through Wild Wood and enter the Chapel,  you happen to see the Mouse Choir singing on the church steps.  I think my favourite display is Badger’s Kitchen which is in the Oak Room, from his cosy fireside to the hand knitted stockings on the fireplace, Mr Badger is in his element sat by the roaring fire.

Toad’s Baronial Hall is in the Painted Hall and his new hobby is a  fabulous yellow caravan with a lovely picnic and candles set up out front.  Toad is unfortunately placed in jail and the cunning weasels takeover Toad Hall and The Great Dining Room is a sight to be seen, lots of weasels throwing a huge party and getting up to mischief.

Well I am not going to show you any more pictures and spoil it for you, you will just have to pay Mr Toad a visit, you won't be dissapointed.  Chatsworth really does look more magical at Christmas and there are lots of other activities such as the Farmyard and Adventure Playground, which we are intending to visit in the near future, hopefully to coincide with the Christmas Market.

Christmas opening is from the 7th November 2015 - 3rd January 2016 (closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January).  The Chrismas Market is open from the 12th November to 29th November and well worth a visit.