Entertainments of a non-sparkly nature

[pensnest]

We'll be in the reasonably-close vicinity of Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and very beautiful (see here for details), and of Alton Towers Theme Park (see here).

I suggest that we do Chatsworth on the Tuesday and Alton Towers on the Wednesday. If we have groups of sufficient size we can get a group rate on tickets, which seems worth doing. For Chatsworth we need 15, which we may not be able to manage; for Alton Towers, just 10.

Have a look at the websites, and comment if you would like to go.

I propose that we potter about locally on the Monday (and possibly eat at the terrific and perfectly traditional pub we discovered on our Exploratory Visit last year), and we can have a look when we get to the Chapel and discuss other possibilities for tourism on the Thursday.

Comments

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Dyou mean the pub with the slope of DOOM and the v. good ploughman's? Mmmmm, cheese.

[pensnest]

The very same. We can take ropes, and haul one another up the slope.

[rikes]

Sounds like fun! I'm definitely interested in both. I hope the weather treats us well!

[rikes]

Hmm, this happens to be on the Tuesday - do you think it affects the number of visitors too much?

http://www.chatsworth.org/whats-on/12-may-an-evening-with-the-dowager-duchess-of-devonshire

[pensnest]

I don't think it should matter, since it's an evening thing. I'd rather go early as I suspect the preparations for the Horse Thing later in the week will be more intrusive.

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

Sign me up for both of those :D . Whee, Camp Sparkle! *is a tiny bit excited*

[turlough]

I would love to do both but Alton Towers is definitely the kind of thing that will depend entirely on how my back feels.

[pensnest]

I'm going to have to take a close look at what is available that doesn't involve going up and *down* terribly fast, and see whether there's enough inside to make me happy. If not, I can drop off people who want to do AT and go on to a more sedate attraction somewhere else.

[nopseud]

If you don't fancy the theme park, Alton Towers also has a waterpark, which might be more enjoyable for people who don't like fast rides. In fact, while I love the theme park, I've never been to the waterpark as R doesn't much like that kind of thing, so I could be tempted to do that instead.

There's also a spa in the Alton Towers hotel, which might be fun. It isn't even too stupidly expensive for that kind of thing -- there's a package for £70 which includes a 1-hour treatment and lunch.

And, of couse, there are absolutely tons of cool things to do round there, anyway. There's some very intersting industrial history museums in South Derbyshire, if you like that kind of thing.

[turlough]

Since getting wet is one of my least favourite things (I must have been a cat in a former life :-) neither of those sounds like anything for me, but I'm sure I'll manage to find something else to interest me if everyone wants to go to the theme park and my back isn't up to it.

[valya22.livejournal.com]

You can count on me with Chatsworth! OMG! I'm a completely fan of "The Duchess" (just hope to finish the book before I watch the movie). Alton Towers looks like fun. :D

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, sign me up for both! :D

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

Both sound like fantastic fun to me!

[adelate]

Oh both of those sound fun! :))

[chalcopyrite.livejournal.com]

Chatsworth sounds wonderful!