Event details
Saturday 20 September
Adults £25 | Children £15
Timings
6.00pm gates open
7.00pm film starts
Running time: 2 hrs 16 minutes.
It's 250 years since the birth of beloved author Jane Austen, and 30 years since her first novel, 'Sense and Sensibility', was brilliantly adapted for the screen by actor Emma Thompson, with direction from Ang Lee.
This celebratory screening will take place as part of The Queen's Reading Room Festival, and will be staged on the Salisbury Lawn with Chatsworth's Rose Garden and the Old Duke's Glasshouse as your backdrop.
You do not need to purchase a festival pass or garden ticket for this event.
Friends, Patrons and Passholders
This is a Queen’s Reading Room event, the official charity of Her Majesty Queen Camilla. Please note that there are no complimentary or discounted tickets available for Chatsworth Patrons, Friends, or Passholders.
About Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility tells the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood (played by Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet), as they come of age and adapt to their reduced circumstances and social standing following the death of their father.
With the family estate entailed to the male line (a weak-willed brother played by James Fleet and an unsympathetic social-climbing sister-in-law played by Harriet Walter), they are forced to relocate to a cottage in rural Devonshire.
The story explores the sisters' evolving understanding of themselves, each other, and the world around them. As they navigate experiences of love and loss, each sister responds in her own way, influenced by her ability to act rationally or to be guided by her emotions.
This multi-award-winning adaptation also stars Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars, Greg Wise as John Willoughby, Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon, alongside a supporting cast of talented British actors such as Gemma Jones, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Laurie, Imogen Stubbs, Robert Hardy, Elizabeth Spriggs, and Tom Wilkinson.
In the Garden
Bring Rugs & Blankets
Visitors are invited to bring their own picnics, blankets, rugs, low-backed camping chairs and tables. Please note that gazebos and garden parasols are not allowed in the garden. BBQs are not allowed in the garden or anywhere on the estate.
Food & Drink
Flora's Temple Teas, located next to the garden entrance, will be open before and during the screening, offering a selection of snacks, cinema style confectionery, and hot and cold drinks.
Chatsworth Farm Shop is just a few minutes' drive from Chatsworth at Pilsley, and will be open until 6pm, offering a range of fresh produce and deli items, as well as wine, beer and spirits. Learn more.
Gift Shops
Our Orangery gift shop in the garden will be open until 7pm and stocks a wide selection of gifts, books, home decor, and Austen-inspired products. Learn more.
You can also shop our collections online.
Toilets
The nearest toilets are located by the garden entrance, next to Flora's Temple Teas (female), and by Flora's Temple (male).
Please note: only the area around the Rose Garden, Orangery Gift Shop, and Flora's Temple Teas will be open during this event. The rest of the garden will be closed.
Accessibility
The garden is accessible, and the screening is on the Salisbury Lawn, which is gently sloped.
Please note that there are no accessible toilets in the garden. The nearest accessible facilities are located between the garden entrance and the house entrance. View Map (by POI #8)
If you would like to discuss access needs or require a carer ticket, please email chatsworth.events@chatsworth.org
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Discover more...
The Queen's Reading Room Festival 2025
20 September 2025
A literary festival like no other, uniting authors, experts, and literature enthusiasts for a day dedicated to celebrating the written word.
Festival Cinema: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
19 September 2025
Spend an evening in the Chatsworth Garden watching an open-air screening of 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005) starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen and Chatsworth House as Pemberley.
Separate ticket required.
Festival Cinema: Sense & Sensibility (1995)
20 September 2025
Watch Emma Thompson's captivating retelling of Austen's first novel 'Sense and Sensibility' in our open-air cinema in the garden. Directed by Ang Lee, it also stars Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman alongside a stellar British cast.
Separate ticket required.
The Queen's Reading Room Festival Afternoon Teas
20 September 2025
Add an elegant afternoon tea in the Old Duke's Glasshouse in the Chatsworth Garden to your Festival experience.
Separate ticket required.
FAQs
View our frequently asked questions.
Stay With Us
With miles of walks on the estate and in the national park, as well as centuries of heritage, art and design to explore, Chatsworth and the Peak District are a dream destination for an unforgettable escape. Find a stay with us in a hotel, inn, cottage, or shepherd’s hut here.
Please note: Please be aware that for technical, operational or safety reasons, some facilities may be removed or closed, or entertainment and event timetables cancelled and/or altered at any time, including at short notice. Chatsworth reserves the right to change the programme of attractions and entertainment if, at any time, it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so, this may also include closing attractions or areas of the estate. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused should this need arise.
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