In 2025, The New York Times named Jane Austen’s England the top destination on its list of 52 Places to Visit, highlighting the enduring global appeal of one of Britain’s most celebrated authors. This year also marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, making it the perfect time for Jane Austen fans to explore the landscapes, homes, and towns that shaped her life and inspired her timeless novels. Known for her sharp wit and keen observations of 18th-century society, Jane Austen’s works continue to captivate readers and inspire countless film and television adaptations. See my guide to Jane Austen film locations for inspiration on the top picks of the best locations to visit.
From the picturesque village of Chawton, where she wrote her six famous novels, to the elegant streets of Bath, a city she both lived in and featured in her books, this guide covers the countless opportunities to step into her world. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or new to her work, a visit to Jane Austen’s England in 2025 offers literary inspiration and the chance to take part in special anniversary celebrations, making it a truly unforgettable travel experience.
A visit to any of the places that she called home is a treat as is visiting the many places that inspired her novels. There are plenty of places to get your Jane Austen fix but if you only have time for one or two then go for Bath and Chawton. See my Jane Austen 5 day itinerary for the best way to take in all the sights.
A guide to essential Jane Austen destinations in England for a Jane Austen themed day out: her house in Chawton, Hampshire and my top 7 places in Regency Bath.
This guide to the ‘best of’ the must-see Jane Austen locations in England includes Jane Austen’s house in Chawton and the city of Bath which was also Jane Austen’s home for a time and the inspiration for Jane Austen’s six novels.
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Why I recommend these must see Jane Austen locations
There are a multitude of important Jane Austen locations in England but this guide will help you navigate to the most important and iconic Jane Austen sites. It covers the key places to visit for any Jane Austen fan including Jane Austen’s House in Chawton and the key places to visit in the spectacular regency city of Bath. This stunning Georgian city featured in all six of Jane Austen’s famous novels, inspired her stories and was Jane Austen’s home for 5 years. If you are interested in other locations reminiscent of the era then read my guide to Jane Austen film locations. Or if you have more time available consider my 5 day itinerary of the must-see Jane Austen locations in England.
How to travel between the key Jane Austen locations
It is about 80-100 miles between Chawton and Bath. Travelling by car between locations would be most convenient and it will take about 2 hours. If you are visiting the UK from overseas then consider hiring a car for the trip. However, it is possible to use public transport if you prefer and this will take about 3 hours. The number 64 bus connects Chawton to the railway stations at Winchester or Alton where you can pick up rail services to Bath.
The must visit Jane Austen locations in England - her house in Chawton and Regency Bath
Jane Austen’s House at Chawton
Chawton is the small Hampshire village where Jane Austen lived the last years of her life. Jane Austen’s House at Chawton is said to be ‘the most treasured Austen site in the world’. This is where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years of her life and the place where she wrote her six famous novels – Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
The house at Chawton is packed with objects from Jane Austen’s life including her jewellery, paintings, letters, items of clothing, books, and furniture, including her writing table. There are regular guided tours of the house which allow you to explore where Jane Austen wrote, played the piano and whiled away time in her bedroom. Audio played around the house make it sound much as it would have done when Jane lived there including short readings from Jane Austen’s novels, conversations drifting from one room to the next, music being played in the drawing room, and creaking floorboards overhead. You can also explore the cottage garden where Jane Austen and her family would have enjoyed glorious summer evenings.
Jane Austen’s House at Chawton also plays host to lots of events and several festivals each year. consider timing your visit to coincide with something that interests you including writing and poetry workshops, walks and talks. Check the events pages of the website for full details.
In 2025, the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth there is a special 250th anniversary programme of events including a new permanent exhibition Jane Austen and The Art of Writing. In December there is a week of celebration for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday including the annual virtual birthday party that draws in guests from all around the world.
Each of Jane Austen’s books is celebrated with its own festival at the Chawton House. May 2025 will feature the Sense and Sensibility Festival (check for dates) and in July the Emma Festival (check for dates). The Pride and Prejudice Festival returns in January 2026 (check for dates).
The town of Alton, just a few miles away, was visited often by Jane and now celebrates Jane Austen every year in June at the Jane Austen Regency Week with a Summer Regency Ball and a full programme of talks, guided walks and workshops.
5 top tips for a visit to Jane Austen’s House at Chawton
You will have an amazing day out visiting Jane Austen’s house and these 5 top tips will help you to make the most of your visit:
- Pre-book if you can as there are a limited number of people allowed into the house at any one time.
- Keep your pre-booked ticket in a safe place as it allows free returns to the house any time within 12 months – these means that you can spread your visit over a couple of days if you wish.
- Check opening times carefully as they vary throughout the year.
- Get yourself in the mood by listening to the new podcast, A Jane Austen Year. A new episode is released each month.
- Consider the excellent Virtual Tour of Jane Austen's House to whet your appetite. This is also a great option to see the upstairs of the house if you are unable to climb the old wooden staircase.
Where to stay near Chawton
Chawton is just a small village and so you will need to travel a short distance for hotel accommodation. The following hotels come highly rated by guests and are within easy reach of Chawton:
- Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke – a grand 18th century Georgian Manor House with individually designed, elegant rooms
- The Binsted Inn, Alton – comfortable rooms with modern amenities
- The Anchor Inn, Lower Froyle – a traditional country pub with luxurious rooms
- The White Hart, Overton – a premium village inn with charming bedrooms
My top 7 Jane Austen inspired places to visit in Bath
All of Jane Austen’s six novels mention Bath, and two of them (Persuasion & Northanger Abbey) are based in this incredibly well preserved UNESCO World Heritage city.
The building and streets that feature in Jane Austen’s novels are largely as they would have been when Jane Austen lived here. Bath is perhaps the most authentic Jane Austen experience you can get and this guide covers the best Jane Austen locations in regency Bath. You can visit places Jane Austen visited and make the most of the Georgian splendour as well as the various Jane Austen experiences laid on for visitors.
Here are my top 7 Jane Austen inspired places to visit in Bath:
- Visit the Jane Austen Centre in the heart of Bath which celebrates all things Jane Austen and Georgian Regency: find tickets here. You can even enjoy a Regency afternoon tea.
- Experience the Jane Auten Festival, an annual 10 day festival run by the Jane Austen Centre including a Regency Costumed Promenade (over 1000 people in Regency dress), guided walks, costumed balls, and theatrical performances.
- Look in awe at the instantly recognisable Royal Crescent and drop into No.1 Royal Crescent to experience life above and below stairs in 18th century Bath.
- Enjoy a sample of the spa water from the fountain at The Pump Room which would have been the social heart of Bath for Jane Austen. It is a super location for a meal or afternoon tea.
- ‘Take the Waters’ like many during the Regency era who came to Bath to cure their ailments. The Thermae Bath Spa is the only day spa in the UK where you can bathe in natural thermal waters, with a stunning view of the city from the rooftop pool.
- Explore the Assembly Rooms which were the centre of entertainment for Georgian society, including Jane Austen and the characters in at least 2 of her books. The grand interiors were a spectacular backdrop for fashionable regency balls.
- Sydney Gardens are directly opposite Jane Austen’s home in Bath, 4 Sydney Place, and were frequented by Jane Austen and her family for relaxation and entertainment. Sydney Gardens are the oldest park in Bath and were a popular place for wealthy Georgian families to be seen.
Explore many of these places via this Hop on with Jane Austen Bus and walking tour or this Bespoke Jane Austen-inspired Guided Tour.
Where to stay in Bath
Bath has so much variety in its hotels and guesthouses with many in wonderful Georgian buildings. Take your pick from this list of places to stay in Bath.
For a hotel that gives a Jane Austen experience in Bath consider:
- Jane Austen's Family Home in Bath from 1801 to 1805
- The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa , a landmark in the city even in Jane Austen’s time.
- Hotel Indigo Bath which includes ‘Literary Hideaway’ rooms with décor inspired by Bath’s famous authors including Jane Austen.
- The Francis Hotel is on the edge of Queen Square, a location we know Jane Austen visited.
- No. 15 by GuestHouse is located on the iconic Great Pulteney Street and within a few metres of Sydney Gardens.