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Hardwick Hall

📍 Derbyshire, England

4.5 ★★★★½ 4,200 reviews

About

Hardwick Hall is an architecturally significant Elizabethan-era country house in Derbyshire, England. A leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, the Renaissance style home was built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick to a design of the architect Robert Smythson. Hardwick Hall is one of the earliest examples of the English interpretation of this style, which came into fashion having slowly spread from Florence. Its arrival in Britain coincided with the period when it was no longer necessary or legal to fortify a domestic dwelling.

Built 1590-1597 by Robert Smythson for Bess of Hardwick, one of the richest women in Elizabethan England. A 'prodigy house' famous for its revolutionary use of glass — its enormous windows were a statement of wealth. Contains one of Europe's finest collections of Elizabethan embroideries and tapestries. National Trust.

Getting There

🚗 Drive via M1

Just off M1 Junction 29. From Chesterfield: 10 min. From Nottingham: 30 min. Signed from the motorway.

🅿️ NT Car Park

National Trust car park. Free for members, £5 for non-members.

🚌 Pronto Bus

Stagecoach Pronto from Chesterfield/Mansfield, alight at Hardwick crossroads. 1 mile walk to the hall.

Terrain & Accessibility

♿ Partial Access🌳 Country Park🏛️ Grand Interiors💺 Seating Available

Bess of Hardwick's Elizabethan masterpiece — "more glass than wall". Contains exceptional original tapestries and the High Great Chamber. Ground floor accessible; upper floors via stairs (stairlift to first floor). The adjacent Old Hall ruin is also worth visiting. Surrounded by a country park with Longhorn cattle.