Even before regency romances like “Bridgerton” became a craze, there was the OG Jane Austen, author of the classic “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” Revered by fans of classic literature, she celebrates this year her 250th birthday.
This is why Austen fans should include southwest England in their bucket list this year as they host a year of festivities dedicated to the beloved author.
From Hampshire, her birthplace, to Bath, where she lived as a young adult, fans can explore her legacy through immersive experiences, historical tours, and themed events.
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath offers exhibits, costumed tours, and events like a nautical ball inspired by Persuasion (May 31), a seaside-themed ball (June 28), and a yuletide ball (December 16). Don’t miss the annual 10-day Jane Austen Festival (September 12–22) with guided walks, performances, and a Regency-costumed promenade. The Holburne Museum’s “Illustrating Austen” exhibit runs until January 2026, showcasing evolving visual interpretations of her characters.
You can also visit Jane Austen’s House in Chawton to see where she wrote her novels, or explore Chawton House, her brother’s estate, featuring exhibits on women writers. Walk the 1.8-mile Jane Austen Trail connecting Alton and Chawton, and tour her final home in Winchester, now open to the public with a special exhibition from June to August 2025.
Relive “Pride and Prejudice” with visits to Lyme Park and Chatsworth House, iconic filming locations for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley. Stroll Haddon Hall’s gardens or reflect at Stanage Edge, where Elizabeth Bennet dreamed of love.
So, time to break your piggy banks set your travel dates, and pay homage to Austen. Those are the deets!
