Pride & Prejudice, 1995

Lyme Park in 2024

The 1995 A&E version of Pride & Prejudice is actually my favorite version!  I love the 2005 version also, but I guess the longer version is just so much better because I get to watch it longer (several hours, to be exact!), and it includes more details from the book.  In November 2024 I went on a trip to England and included Pride & Prejudice filming sites in my trip, including both of the Pemberley's -- the 2005 and the 1995 Pemberley's.  Ironically, the two estates are only 45 minutes apart!  I visited them both on the same day.

I knew that I wouldn't be able to go inside Lyme Park, because it closes every November while they decorate the house for Christmas.  We actually arrived after the decorations were all put up, and they were allowing the employees to tour Lyme Park.  My husband talked to an employee, imploring her to let us inside, or at least me inside.  She almost let us in, but then she decided it might put her job in jeopardy so she said she'd better not.  We were able to go inside the courtyard, which you see in the movie when Mr. Darcy comes running after Elizabeth after he catches her in his house.  The gift shop entrance is inside the courtyard, so luckily it is always open.  A choir was singing Christmas music while we were there.  We were also able to walk all around the grounds.  There are no fences keeping us out, like there is at Chatsworth House.  Of the two, Lyme Park is definitely my favorite!

We walked around the lake and on the grounds and explored the green house.  I enjoyed going up and down the stairs where I remembered Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy walking together in the movie.  I noticed that the lake looked differently than I remembered it in the movie - the one that Mr. Darcy swims in before coming to the house.  I watched the movie again and realized that there is another lake over the hill, and I had missed seeing it when I was there!  That gives me an excuse to go back!

Here is the official website for Lyme Park:  Lyme Park  The house is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The garden opens at 10:30, and the park and car park at 8:30.  Remember that the house closes in November!  Look at their website for other closings, such as the week between Christmas & New Year's.  Tickets that include a visit to the house are 18.70 euro.  Lyme Park is located here:  Lyme Park

Here are some scenes at Pemberley - in this scene, I love seeing Lyme Park come into view and Lizzy admiring the house.  I stood in that very spot and admired it like she did.  

Lizzy explores Pemberley

This is the scene where Mr. Darcy comes back home and swims in the lake before heading into the house.

Darcy swims in the lake

And this is the scene where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth see each other, and he shows her and the Gardiners around Pemberley grounds.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth walk together at Pemberley

Approaching Lyme Park

There is Lyme Park, from the side!  Majestic on the mountain!

Approaching Lyme Park - do you remember in Pride & Prejudice when they drive right through that archway?

Lyme Park through the trees

The arched entrance

Going through the arched entrance, there is the beautiful north side of the house in all its beauty

Entering into the courtyard

Do you remember Mr. Darcy running down those stairs as he tried to catch Lizzy before she left Pemberley?

The columns on the south side of the house

Remember in the movie when Lizzy walks through this beautiful garden

the south side of the house

Do you recognize this path from the movie?  Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and the Gardiners walked on it before they left Pemberley

I was very happy to be standing where Mr. Darcy stood in the movie, just before he looks up and sees Lizzy at his home

This is a very unique tree on the grounds

Those are the stairs that Mr. Darcy and Lizzy walked up as they walked the grounds of Pemberley

The Green House, also shown in the movie

The Gardiners leave this green house just before Lizzy insists that they leave, because Mr. Darcy has just come home unexpectedly

Remember Lizzy walking on this grass with the house behind her, just as she looks up to see Mr. Darcy approaching her, soaking wet from his swim in the pond?

A choir was singing Christmas carols in the courtyard

leaving the courtyard and heading towards the arched entrance

Location of Lyme Park

In the 1995 movie, the Gardiners and Lizzy drive through the arched entry gate, approaching the north side of the house

Lizzy walking through the garden beside the house

Mr. Darcy approaching the pond where he takes a swim after his long ride home.  This is not the same pond that is on the south side of the house.  This pond is over the hill a little ways from the house.

Mr. Darcy approaching the house after his swim in the pond

I stood on this spot where Mr. Darcy is walking just seconds before he sees Lizzy

After Lizzy conversed briefly with Mr. Darcy on the south side of the house while admiring the grounds, she is horrified that he has caught her at the house and determines to leave immediately.

The green house in the background, Lizzy tells the Gardiners that they must leave immediately

She hurries across the south side of the house

Mr. Darcy comes out the door and runs down these stairs in the courtyard to try and catch Lizzy before she leaves Pemberley

Mr. Darcy hurrying through the court yard out to the north side of the house. Notice the arched entrance gateway outside

Mr. Darcy exiting on the north side of the house - you can see the plaque on the wall to his right, which is pictured above.

Lizzy, Mr. Darcy, and the Gardiners converse outside the north side of the house

Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner talking, notice the arched entry gate in the background

Back on the south side of the house, the four walk the grounds of Pemberley.

The stairs that we also walked up and down during our visit, on the south side of the house

The dirt path which we also walked on near the lake

By the south side of the house and the green house, Mr. Darcy bids farewell to Elizabeth.

It was like a dream being at Pemberley!  I could almost hear Mr. Darcy's words to Elizabeth as they walked up the stairs, "do I ask too much to introduce my sister to you during your stay at Lampton?" And Elizabeth's response, "I should be very happy to make her acquaintance."  And it is with this short conversation, during their beautiful walk at Lyme Park, aka Pemberley, that Mr. Darcy and Lizzy both realized that a romance actually was possible between them.