Jane Austen Travel: Jane Austen Festival Bath

Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath!
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Asks the young Catherine Morland, when she first enters the city of pleasures, which Bath was in the late 18th Century.

Jane visited Bath as a girl as many of her relations lived in or close to the city. The Austen family moved here permanently after Mr Austen’s retirement in 1801. Jane was 25 years old, and would parade at the Royal Crescent, pray at St Swithin’s Church where her parents married, dance at the Upper and Lower Assembly Rooms, and eat too many Bath buns, as she mentions in one of her letters.

As much as Jane didn’t really like living in Bath and her writing stalled whilst living in the city, she set two of her novels in Bath, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Little has changed since then, and much of the city’s architecture and buildings are the same as when Jane saw them, so it’s a delight to visit for ten days each year when fellow Jane Austen fans descend on the city.

Jane Austen Festival Bath

The Jane Austen Festival in Bath is an annual event held each September that celebrates everything about Jane Austen. This year it runs from 13 to 22 of September 2024 for 10 days which covers two weekends.

The first weekend is the most popular as it starts on Saturday with the Regency Parade and an opening Ball in the evening. A variety of Jane Austen events are held throughout the week, and there are more dancing events on the second weekend. In 2025, there will be additional balls held in the summer and monthly through to Jane’s birthday on 16 December. These are being themed to each of her novels.

The parade is one of the highlights of the week as hundreds of Jane Austen fans dress up in Regency fashions and set out to parade the streets of Bath. Soldiers set up camp in the grounds of the Holburne Museum and lead the parade whilst playing soldier tunes from that period. Spectators line the streets as the soldiers play, so it’s a wonderful way to start the celebrations.

The Regency Ball is held on the first Saturday at the Assembly Rooms where Jane danced. Practice dancing sessions run through the work, which is well worth signing up for, as some of the dances are complicated. You can also find partners and friends for the evening.

There are walks, talks, theatre shows, regency markets, author talks, walks, tours, and crafting events (as in bonnet making or needlework) which you can find on the website (https://janeausten.co.uk)

Ten Top Tips for the Jane Austen Festival Bath

1. Sign up for the early bird emails

And buy the tickets as soon as possible. They sell out quickly, with the dancing events and Balls usually going within a couple of hours. You can become a Friend of the Festival, although it doesn’t guarantee tickets.

2. Go on the walking tours first

Go on the walking tours first. Sign up for the first one when you arrive so you can find out the Jane Austen ‘highlights’. It is also a good way of getting to know the layout of the city when you arrive.

3. Visit the Jane Austen Centre early in the morning when it is less crowded

It gets very busy so the early you arrive the better. You can also take tea on the top floor before or after your visit, and buy something from the Jane Austen shop whilst you are waiting.

4. Dress up

I know lots of people who sewed up a dress from an online pattern, added a ribbon and bought a bonnet when they arrived. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and will get you into the spirit of things as you parade with other Jane Austen fans around the city.

You can also rent an outfit from places like Molly Limpets and have the outfit fitted when you arrive.

5. Make friends

We usually book to go to some of the first events to make friends and find out where everyone is staying. In previous years someone arranged a meeting place in a hotel lounge so if anyone was alone or at a loss, there was somewhere to meet other Jane Austen fans. Facebook and Meet Up is also good for this.

6. Sign up for the ‘other’ Jane Austen events

These days there are less book launches and author talks arranged by the Jane Austen Centre (which is a business rather than a charity). See Facebook, Waterstones or independent bookstore websites, and the library website to see what else is going on. You may also find free events this way.

7. Book early

If you can image hundreds of Jane Austen fans descending on a city it does get busy. If you want tea and cake in the Jane Austen Centre, or lunch at the Pump Rooms, then it’s a good idea to book early.

8. Have a plan

We usually run through the brochure when it arrives and decide what we want to do. We allow plenty of free time to walk between venues and take breaks. You may find the events that sold out quickly have additional dates added, so keep checking the website.

9. Timing is everything

If you only have one weekend, pick the first one. The Regency Walk is a great event that kicks off the week. Everyone goes, and you can meet other Jane Austen fans. The Balls sell out quickly, so you could arrange to eat with other Jane Austen fans together in the city.

10. Be prepared

It will probably rain, even a little bit, so pack an umbrella and a light jacket. Bath is a big city with events taking place at venues around the city, so think about shoes. Most of the city is cobbled with a few hills thrown in, so pack your dainty shoes into a bag and change into them when you arrive.

As some events are held outdoors, bring something to sit on like a picnic rug with a waterproof backing. I have a travel towel I fit into my purse as it’s light and handy when sitting on benches or walls.

How to arrive

Bath by car – There is an exit for Bath off of the M4 motorway if you are coming from London. You then follow the road straight into the city. For long term parking for the day look for Charlotte Street Car Park. There are three park and ride facilities which run regularly into the City.
Bath by train – Bath Spa is the train station. Depending where you arrive from, you usually have to change at Bristol, though it’s 15 minutes from there. National Rail is the most popular website for trains in the UK.
Bath by coach – National Express run a coach network from Heathrow Airport to various locations, which is also an option from London although it will take a lot longer to arrive.

If you have any questions or comments, please add them below and I will answer them as best I can.. and most of all – have fun! We can’t wait to see you there.