It was the formidable Bess of Hardwick who first created Hardwick in the 1500’s. In the centuries since then her descendants, farmers, gardeners, builders, decorators, embroiderers and craftsmen of all kinds have contributed and made Hardwick their creation.

Throughout 2015 Hardwick will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of Arbella Stuart, the granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick and niece to Mary Queen of Scots. Arbella with a strong royal lineage and a realistic claim to the throne after Elizabeth I died was educated and raised as a princess. Discover more about Arbella in the hall and explore whether you think Hardwick was built as a palace fit for a queen or a prison for a princess, whose desperate attempts to seek freedom ended with her the living at Tower of London.

The Hardwick estate is open every day, for countryside walks with picturesque views, woodland family play trails, locally sourced gifts in the shop and delicious seasonal menus in the restaurant.