A real gem, so old and quirky, beautiful rooms and stunning gardens. Really enjoyed our visit and... read more
A real gem, so old and quirky, beautiful rooms and stunning gardens. Really enjoyed our visit and... read more
A fascinating visit to Haddon Hall. This is both of great historical interest and highly... read more
We went for the evening candlelight and decorations tour which was very good and was led by an enthusiastic guide. We started with Mulled Wine and a mince pie and ended with a nice traditional meal in the restaurant. All included in the price. The hall was very well decorated and looked every bit the Christmas country house.
Went for the Christmas meal and candlelight tour and thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening. The staff looked after us really well, was very knowledgeable and took pride in their jobs. The meal in the restaurant was cooked to perfection, take a bow Chef !
Positives first. The house stewards and staff were wonderful, impressive knowledge and cheerful , positive chat. The whole house makes you feel the years. You are treading the step where countless feet have walked. The history of the place is remarkable. Someone said it was good value compared to Chatsworth. I beg to differ. Why book on line? We still had to wait in the queue to get in unlike Chatsworth. We could have saved money by using the concession because we are over 60. On line it mentioned concessions but did not say what they were. Again unlike Chatsworth whereif you book on line car parking is free we still had to pay £3 to park the car. So that was £32. There are very few rooms, the best is the chapel and worth the whole visit. We went for a warm up at the cafe but the coffee machine wasn't working until we were almost ready to leave. The leaflets were out of date and not very clear anyway. The gift shop was too full of tat and things unrelated to a medieval house. We are fond of this place because our name is Haddon and we always joke about our ancestral home. If we didn't share the name I wonder how attached we'd be. Chatsworth is a 5 star marvellous experience where there is so much to see and feel. Haddon is not worth the charges. Haddon is a pale shadow that could, with more forethought be a great deal better.
Found this very atmospheric and at £14 entrance fee for seniors is significantly cheaper than Chatsworth.
Ok it is smaller but none the less a good display, chorus of carols every day is a positive asset, and in the sunshine it was a most enjoyable day.
The path to the hall is totally in keeping and adds to the atmosphere.
The toilets are some of the best in Derbyshire.
Car park is on the other side of the main A6 and crossing is not always easy.
I visited yesterday with my dad who is 91. The access to the Hall was difficult for him but the staff were on hand to give him a arm for support. Once we got into the banqueting hall there was a beautiful choir singing. Once again a seat was quickly found for both of us near the front and we enjoyed 40 minutes of wonderful singing. We then made our way down the steps to the restaurant. The room was decorated for Christmas and there were crackers etc on the table. The food was absolutely first class and really hot. We both enjoyed it very much and sent our compliments to the chef. Unfortunately the steps proved too much for dad and we decided to leave without looking round any further. Arrangements were then made for me to bring my car right up the Hall to save the walk back to the car park. Again the ladies were so helpful and kind and we were waved off like old friends. On reflection, it is not suitable for the very elderly but if modern aids were out in place it would be completely out of character.
We visited mid Dec so just loved the authentic Xmas decorations and roaring log fires - and handbell ringers playing carols was the icing on the cake. Staff were so lovely, knowledgable and genuinely love the place. The kitchens is fascinating and you can easily picture what life was like below stairs. A resident robin added to the charm! A truly authentic castle steeped in history - and you can understand why it’s often used as a film set. Be very careful if you’re unsteady on your feet though as cobbles, steps and stairs are all authentic, so are worn, uneven and very few handrails. We’d been to Chatsworth the day before and although very different to Haddon, we preferred this wonderful castle. Not nearly as commercial or busy too.