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In 2025, people in the UK celebrate 250 years since Jane Austen was born. It is a great time to visit the beautiful places in her famous book Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen never visited Derbyshire, but she wrote about it in Pride and Prejudice. She read books and journals to learn about the area. In the story, Elizabeth Bennet visits Derbyshire and sees lovely villages, green valleys, and rocky hills. In the 2005 film, many of these places were shown on screen, and now many fans travel to see them in real life.
Pemberley – Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House was used as Mr Darcy’s home, Pemberley, in the 2005 movie. It is a big, beautiful house with gardens, rivers, and wild animals like deer. The Devonshire family has lived there for over 300 years.
Each June, visitors can watch Pride and Prejudice in the gardens. Inside the house, you can see famous art, old books, and a statue from the movie. Outside, there is a waterfall, a maze, and a funny tree that sprays water!
Medieval Houses – Sudbury Hall and Haddon Hall
Derbyshire has old houses like Sudbury Hall and Haddon Hall. Sudbury Hall was used for the inside of Pemberley in the BBC version. Haddon Hall is even older and looks like it is from a fairy tale.
Haddon Hall has also appeared in movies like Jane Eyre and The Princess Bride. Some rooms were used as the inn and Elizabeth’s bedroom in the Pride and Prejudice film. You can take a special film tour and learn how movies are made there.
Bakewell – A Lovely Town
Some people say Jane Austen stayed in Bakewell at the Rutland Arms Hotel and wrote parts of Pride and Prejudice there. Bakewell is close to Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. The town is next to a river and has a beautiful trail called the Monsal Trail.
Bakewell is also famous for its sweet treats: Bakewell tart and Bakewell pudding. You can try them at The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop.
Stanage Edge – A Famous View
In the movie, actress Keira Knightley stands on Stanage Edge, a high, rocky cliff. This place is now very popular with visitors, who want to stand where she stood. People even call it “Keira Knightley Rock.”
Stanage Edge is part of the Peak District National Park, England’s first national park. It’s great for hiking, climbing, and enjoying nature. From the top, you can see Hope Valley and nearby towns.
Matlock and Matlock Bath – Famous Spa Towns
Elizabeth Bennet also passes through Matlock and Matlock Bath on her way to Pemberley. These towns are good places to stay. Matlock Bath is famous for its hot spring water, which was used by the Romans. One special place is the petifying well, where water turns things to stone!
Matlock is next to the River Derwent and has walking paths like Lovers’ Walks. You can also visit the Heights of Abraham, a hilltop park with great views.
Jane Austen’s Magic
Even though Jane Austen may never have visited Derbyshire, she described it in a beautiful way. She made it feel real in her book. Her fans now visit these places to walk the same path as Elizabeth Bennet. As one expert says, “Jane Austen knew exactly what she was doing when she sent Elizabeth on the road north to Pemberley.”
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Author – a person who writes books
Example: Jane Austen is a famous author.
Novel – a long story in a book
Example: Pride and Prejudice is a novel.
Heroine – the main female character in a story
Example: Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine of the novel.
Countryside – land with fields, hills, and farms
Example: Derbyshire has beautiful countryside.
Estate – a big house with land
Example: Mr Darcy lives on a large estate called Pemberley.
Tourist – a person who visits a place for fun
Example: Many tourists visit the Peak District.
Famous – known by many people
Example: Chatsworth House is a famous building.
Village – a small town in the countryside
Example: There are many pretty villages in the Peak District.
Film – a movie
Example: The story became a film in 2005.
Scene – a part of a movie or story
Example: The movie has a beautiful scene at Stanage Edge.
Walk – a journey on foot
Example: You can enjoy a walk around the gardens.
Fountain – water that flows up in the air
Example: The Willow Tree Fountain is fun to see.
Castle – a large building where kings or queens may live
Example: There are old castles in the area.
Well – a deep hole to get water
Example: The petrifying well turns things into stone.
Trail – a path for walking or hiking
Example: The Monsal Trail is popular with visitors.
Landscape – the view of nature, such as hills, trees, and rivers
Example: The Peak District has a beautiful landscape.
Journey – a trip from one place to another
Example: Elizabeth takes a journey to Derbyshire.
Spring – natural water that comes from the ground
Example: Matlock Bath has a famous hot spring.
Museum – a place where you can see art or history
Example: Some houses in Derbyshire are like museums.
Tradition – something people have done for many years
Example: Bakewell tart is a traditional English dessert.