Jane Austen Quickstep Travel Guide

For Jane Austen fans who want to follow in her footsteps and have fun doing it!

Travel

A Day with Jane Austen in London

You will have much pleasure being in London. ..Their departure took place in the first week of January. The Middletons were to follow in about a week. The Miss Steeles kept their station at the park, and were to quit only with the rest of the family.

Sense and Sensibility

London Season

Elinor and Marianne agree to Mrs Jennings in her house in London, ‘in one of the streets near Portman Square’. Marianne spends the visit in hope of seeing Willoughby, and when she finds out he is engaged to someone else, the visit is ruined. Mrs Jennings’ attempts to cheer her up with Constantia wine, dried cherries, olives and sweetmeats which go unheeded. She longs to return to the countryside to wallow.

Most people went to London just after Christmas, but along with the continuous improvement of roads and travel, the season shifted to the middle of January.

The London season coincided with the sitting of Parliament, beginning at some point after Christmas when fashionable families would move into their London houses. The men would attend Parliament, whilst the women shopped, visited, and found husbands for themselves or their daughters. It lasted until early summer, when the ‘beau monde’ would return to their country estates, escaping the city’s stifling heat and pungent smells. 

The season was a whirlwind of court balls and concerts, private balls and dances, parties and sporting events. On a typical day, ladies would rise early to go riding in Hyde Park, before returning home to breakfast and spending the day shopping, dealing with correspondence and paying calls.The Season.
Jane Austen’s House Museum

Jane first visited London with her brothers in 1796, and when Henry and his wife Eliza moved from Brompton to 64 Sloane Street, she often returned to London to visit their home in 1811 and 1813 which you can still see today. She preferred Henry and Eliza’s second London home in Covent Garden, having visited them at 10 Henrietta Street in both the summer of 1813 and March 1814.

Following the death of Eliza in 1813, Henry moved to 23 Hans Place where Austen stayed during her 1814 and 1815 London visits. While editing Emma and negotiating with her publisher in 1815, Jane returned to Chawton only to be called back when Henry was very ill. This was her last visit to London before she passed away 19 months later in 1817.

A Day in London with Jane Austen

Below are all the things that should be on your list as a Jane Austen fan in London, and make the most your time. Jane loved the parks, and you can stroll through Kensington Gardens where Elinor Dashwood’s walk is interrupted with gossip about her sister from Anne and Lucy Steele.

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, a place where Jane loved to visit, is where John Willoughby learns of Marianne’s illness from Sir John Middleton in Sense & Sensibility‘s. He lodges at Conduit Street in Mayfair.

1. Portrait Gallery

This is where you can see the famous portrait of Jane Austen made by her sister Cassandra. Plus hundreds of portraits of many famous contemporaries including those of Warren Hastings, Nelson, Queen Caroline and George IV, and those of the actors and actresses that Jane Austen loved to see on the theatre stage.

2. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Jane’s two brothers Frank and Charles were in the Navy, and Jane uses naval references throughout her novels. You can write down a list of ships she mentions, and see many of their paintings hanging in the National Maritime Museum.

One gallery charts the history of the East India Company, linked to Jane’s aunt Phila, and her lover, Warren Hastings, Eliza’s famous (god)father. The Nelson Gallery is dedicated to the hero of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson, which both brothers missed. Another gallery charts the history of the slave trade, and the plantations in the West Indies Jane talks about in Mansfield Park. You can learn a lot about life on board a ship, and remember what Anne Elliot and Mrs Croft thought about that in Persuasion, inspired by Jane’s sister-in-law Fanny, more of whom you can find at Chatham Boatyard.

3. British Library

Mr Austen bought Jane a portable writing desk for her 19th birthday, and here’s where you can see it on display alongside her reading glasses. They also have other displays, and at the moment are showing the unused chapters of Persuasion. Visit the British Library.

4. The Wallace Gallery

On 24 May 1813, Henry took Jane to see a much talked about art exhibition at the British Institution in Pall Mall, London. The show was a selection of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) works, England’s celebrated portrait painter.

No visual record of this show is known to have survived, although it attracted hundreds of daily visitors during its three-month run. Many details of the exhibit can be found in the original 1813 Catalogue of Pictures, a one-shilling pamphlet purchased by visitors as a guide through the three large rooms where hung 141 paintings by Reynolds.

Jane is looking for a portrait of her Elizabeth Bennet, and thinks there is ‘no chance of her in the collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds’s Paintings which is now shewing in Pall Mall, & which we are also to visit,‘ and she jokes ‘I dare say Mrs D. will be in Yellow.’ (Letters, 212)

The Wallace Gallery has an extensive collection of Joshua Reynolds works, or see an artist impression at the What Jane Saw website.

5. Shop at Twinings Tea on the Strand

Jane was in charge of the breakfast in Chawton Cottage that included keeping the key for the tea chest. When visiting Henry in London, she purchased tea from Twinings Tea Shop in the Strand, and would have walked through this doorway which dates from 1787.

The pair of Chinese men is a reminder that all imported tea came from China, until the East India Company introduced large plantations in the 1820s. Paintings, prints and tea caddies are on display inside.

Jane also mentions in a letter that she visited Wedgwood China Shop with Edward and her niece Fanny. This shop has since closed, though you can still find their china in Harrods and Selfridges

6. Westminster Abbey

Small plaque for Jane Austen (lower left) in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey.

You can also find a tribute to Jane Austen in the celebrated Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. Jane is buried in Winchester Cathedral, and has a memorial tablet in recognition of her place among Britain’s greatest writers. Surrounded by Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer, Wordsworth and many more, it’s a wonderful reason to visit the Abbey.

Lovely Links

Find Jane Austen events in London click HERE

TAGS

Jane Austen, Jane Austen 250, London, Twinings Tea, Joshua Reynolds, Henry Austen, Sloane Street, St Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Wallace Gallery, Portrait Gallery, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

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Exhibition Review: Beyond the Bonnets Working Women in Jane Austen’s Novels

We arrived at a quarter past 4 — & were kindly welcomed by the Coachman & then by his Master, and then by William, & then by Mrs Perigord, who all met us. Before we reached the foot of the stairs. M de Bigeon was below.1

~ Jane visiting Henry in London on 15 September 1813

Beyond the Bonnets is an exhibition about working women that Jane Austen knew and that featured in her novels. It also features working women from the period, and those that Jane knew personally.

The exhibition is in Winchester between 26 July 2025 to 2 November 2025, before moving to the Willis Gallery in Basingstoke from 12 November 2025 to 1 March 2026. The exhibition is free.

Jane Austen statue outside Willis Gallery in Basingstoke
Jane Austen statue erected outside the Willis Gallery in Basingstoke to celebrate Jane Austen 200 in 2017

The Exhibition

Beyond the Bonnets explores working women that lived in the background to our heroines. It shows how invisible working women were, and how opportunities for women were limited. They had a lack of rights, and worked in domestic service, trade, childcare, and education.

Through Jane’s novels and letters, plus historic objects, you will encounter women working in different circumstances, including those who ran their own businesses. Mrs Mary Martin of Basingstoke ran a business with her husband until he died. She then single handedly ran an inn which held public balls, similar to those featured in Jane’s novels, and went on to run a drapers shop, and a lending library, but went bankrupt in the end.

Beyond the Bonnets exhibition is on the ground floor of the Willis Gallery in Basingstoke

Highlights for Jane Austen Fans

In tribute to Susanna Sackree (1761-1851), Edward’s nursemaid who was a beloved member of the household for over 58 years. She helped care for Edward’s children after his wife Elizabeth died, and in thanks, he had a portrait painted of her which was unusual at the time. Jane knew her well and spent time with her at Godmersham. She also befriended Anne Sharpe, his Governess, and sent her a specially bound copy of Emma.

Susanna Sackree (1761-1851) Edward Austen’s Nursemaid who took care of his children, especially after his wife Elizabeth died

A pair of silver nipple shields are found in one of the cabinets, loaned from the Royal College of Physicians, and probably used by wealthy mothers rather than wet nurses.It is alongside items dedicated to childcare, including an ivory teething rings rattle and pots. Many pieces of the artifacts displayed in the cabinets were used by working women.

The rest of the museum features dresses sewn by seamstresses and kept in mint condition by ladies maids.

Handmade dress
Handmade dress 18th century and kept in good quality and clean by a lady’s maid.

Dolls made during the period are lifelike in size, and other toys were made for wealthy families.

Doll made for a wealthy family by a toy maker.

Overall, Beyond the Bonnets is a small and refreshing exhibition full of information about women in the Regency period, and lots of unusual items on display. It covers the types of roles that women did, including writing as an author like Jane, and how some remained invisible and anonymous – whether by choice or not.

TAGS

Exhibition Review, Beyond the Bonnets, Working Women, Godmersham Park, Edward Austen, Nanny, Governess, Hampshire, Basingstoke, ARC, Winchester, Jane Austen 250, Willis Gallery, Jane Austen Statue.

Lovely Links:

Beyond the Bonnets: Working Women in Jane Austen’s Novels, curated by Kathleen Palmer. 

The Beyond the Bonnets is in Winchester at the ARC Gallery (Inside Winchester Library).

The Beyond the Bonnets is in the Willis Gallery on the main High Street in Basingstoke from December 2025 to February 2026.

Read more about Jane’s brother Edward’s home – Godmersham Park in Kent.

Exhibition Review: The Most Tiresome Place in the World

Jane Austen at Bath

5 July – 2 November 2025

I have melancholy news to relate, & sincerely feel for your feelings under the shock of it.—I wish I could better prepare you for it. But having said so much, your mind will already forestall the sort of event which I have to communicate.—Our dear Father has closed his virtuous & happy life, in a death almost as free from suffering as his Children could have wished.

This is one of two letters that Jane wrote to Frank from Bath telling him their father had died. She wanted to tell him first what happened before he heard or read the news elsewhere.

It’s dated 21 January 1805, and the other letter on display is the first letter that Jane wrote to him that he did not receive as he had already left his ship. What must have been upsetting for Jane, she had to rewrite the letter all over again.

It would signal the end of living in Bath for Jane, as shortly after she would leave the city and move to Southampton. Ironically, it was to live with Frank and his new wife Mary.

The Most Tiresome Place in the World

Along with the two letters written by Jane, the other special items in this exhibition is the manuscript of The Watsons, and a lock of Mr Austen’s hair and the little envelope Jane in which she kept it.

Jane Austen’s Treasures,, Royal Crescent Bath Exhibition ©Emma Darlington

The Watsons

I love seeing Jane’s writing and crossings out from her novels, and this novel is one of the only manuscripts that remain. You can read her writing and I pulled up a chair to do this as it was so quiet.

Probably written in Bath in 1804-5, The Watsons was left unfinished by Jane. Cassandra said that Jane her about the story where a clergyman dies leaving his daughters penniless, and it may have been the similarity to Jane’s own situation as to why she left it unfinished.

Jane Austen kept it by her for more than a decade during which all her famous novels were published, so may have intended to pick it back up at some point.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) autograph manuscript of ‘The Watsons’, c.1804-1807. The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Eng. e. 3764, booklet 9, pp. 2-3

Around the walls of the two rooms that are part of this exhibition are first editions of Jane’s novels. The prints and illustrations connected to Regency Bath displayed on the walls include architecture, maps, fashion and comedy sketches.

They relate more to Jane’s time living at Bath rather than having links to her life, however, it’s a nice addition as it gives you an understanding of the Georgian period, fashions and what living in the city would have been like.

If you are a Jane Austen fan, I can recommend this exhibition as you can see Jane’s treasures and read her manuscript and letters she wrote from Bath.

They are very special, and at a small cost of £7 (or if you have an annual ticket, £2) it is definitely worth it.

No. 1 Royal Crescent

It’s been years since I visited No. 1 Royal Crescent, a Georgian House that was really the show-home for the Crescent. It was rented out for periods of time, especially in September and October which were the high seasons at Bath.

One fact I found fascinating, was that people bought the facade of The Circle and would then employ their own architect to complete the back of the house. Therefore, each house on The Crescent has a different layout inside – fascinating!

(If you want to take a look inside one of the houses, The Royal Crescent Hotel is in the middle of the row, and has a wonderful garden where you can sit for drinks).

Each of the rooms is currently showing a clip about Jane Austen and her time living in Bath projected on the walls. Some people in our group liked it, and others just wanted a quiet experience.

Portraits,, Royal Crescent Bath Exhibition ©Emma Darlington

You walk through the house starting on the ground floor then working your way up to the top floor of the house. You then go down the back stairs to visit the servants part of the house and the outdoor patio. The little boards have a QR code so you can look up each room of the house on your mobile as you go round.

Ladies Dressing Room Desk, Royal Crescent Bath ©Emma Darlington

The house shows you how a family with money would have lived here during the Georgian period, and Jane may have visited people living in similar houses, however, it lacked a little bit of feeling for me. This is probably because there was no connection to people that stayed in the house.

One thing I did love that the curator told me is that the wallpaper panels are held up with brass strips. When someone new rented the house, in the high season of September/October for example, they brought their own wallpaper to match their furnishings. When the seasons changed, they then rehung a different pattern (such as flowers in Spring)on the walls to lighten the room.

It may be better to visit on Fridays and Saturdays when there are volunteers in Regency dress giving people talks about Bath and Georgian life. My ticket is good for one year, however, so I may go back for the views from the bedrooms!

Love Bridgerton?

Bridgerton fans will see the exterior of No.1 Royal Crescent as the home of the Featherington family, of course, only the first house on the most iconic Crescent in the country would have been good enough for the social-climbing, flamboyant Featheringtons!

Private tours start from £17 per person – please email no1royalcrescent@bptrust.org.uk to enquire.

The Watsons

 TALK: What is The Watsons – the beginnings of a novel? A short story? An experiment lying between biography and fiction? Why did she keep it? Kathryn Sutherland is talking about Jane’s unfinished novel at the museum on 30 October – Buy Tickets

You can read Jane’s full copy of The Watsons manuscript at the King’s College Library Project

Events

You can find an updated list of events on the Jane Austen 2025 events page and the key exhibitions at Jane Austen 250.

Further Reading

Read more about Jane Austen’s Bath and Jane Austen 250.

I enjoyed reading The Watsons by Rose Servosa which you can find on her website.

You can find a comprehensive list of Jane Austen’s Letters in Deirdre Le Faye’s Book.

Thank you

Unlike Jane’s novels, this blog doesn’t make any pewter. If you enjoy reading the posts then please consider buying me a coffee. Thank you.

Jane Austen’s Bath and Jane Austen 250

The Ultimate Guide for Jane Austen Fans

For any Jane Austen enthusiast, a visit to Bath, England is an essential literary pilgrimage. 2025 is a special year celebrating ‘Jane Austen 250’, the 250 years since her birth in 1775. There are even more events and exhibitions taking place this year, as well as a larger-than-ever Jane Austen Festival in September.

Jane lived in Bath between 1801 and 1807, when the city was a bustling spa town, popular with fashionable society. She also set two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion in Bath, making the city rich with locations tied to both her real life and the fictional worlds she created.

The Georgian architecture that dominated the city when Jane lived in Bath has remained largely unchanged. The result is that you can walk around Bath today and imagine yourself transported back to Jane’s time, walk in her footsteps, and see the same sights and visit the same places she did.

It was however a place her writing stalled, and in a letter to Cassandra she wrote, “It will be two years tomorrow since we left Bath for Clifton, with what happy feelings of escape.” 

While she held deeper affection for other places like Chawton and Steventon, it’s the city of Bath that remains tied to her legacy. Thousands of fans flock here every year to visit the places she did and find out more about their most fondest author.

What A Jane Austen Fan To Do In Bath Today

I’ve explored Jane’s Bath many times and visit annually for the Jane Austen festival. Below are all the things that should be on your list as a Jane Austen fan in Bath, and how to make the most your time visiting this beautiful city.

1. Visit the Jane Austen Centre

Without a doubt, the top destination for Jane Austen fans in Bath is the Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street, a few doors down from where Jane once lived. Upstairs, you will find the Regency Tea Rooms, where you can sit down to ‘Tea with Mr Darcy’. It provides the perfect starting point for exploring Jane Austen’s Bath.

2. Parade your bonnet at the Jane Austen Festival

The Jane Austen Festival happens every September and opens with the famous Regency Costumed Promenade. This is followed by ten-days of to balls, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, dancing lessons, talks, walks, and more. While celebrating, visit No.1 Royal Crescent to explore a typical Georgian styled house that Jane would have visited. In 2025, they have a special Jane Austen Exhibition featuring The Watson’s manuscript pages and two letters that Jane wrote from Bath telling Frank about their father’s death.

3. Take the Waters  at the Pump Rooms

During the Regency era, visitors came to Bath seeking a cure for their ailments by ’taking the waters’. Jane visited the Pump Rooms often to see who had signed into the city visitors book kept in reception. Building began in 1789 and was completed a decade later.  You can also take a sip along with afternoon tea.

To celebrate Jane’s 250th anniversary, two of her handwritten poems are on display as part of The Roman Baths Museum collection.

The open pool on the rooftop of the Thermae Baths next door gives you a beautiful view of the city, and is the only natural spa in England.

4. Parade Around Town

Gravel Walk was the Lover’s Lane of Jane Austen’s day, the top of which is across the road from the Royal Crescent. Jane used the setting for a touching love scene in Persuasion. As you stroll down Gravel Walk, look out for the discreet door into the Georgian Garden on your left. It has been restored to how it would have appeared in Jane’s time.  

Further out is the Bath Skyline Walk which gives you wonderful views of the city.

5. Shop in Milsom Street

Milsom Street is where Jane shopped on a regular basis, and she mentions it by name in both of her Bath novels. In Northanger Abbey, General Tilney and his children stay on Milsom Street, a more fashionable address than Pulteney Street. In Persuasion, a sweet shop on Milsom Street is where Captain Wentworth and Anne Eliot first encounter each other after years of absence. 

6. See the Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens

When Jane lived in Bath, the Holburne Museum was the Sydney Hotel, a place she frequented for breakfast. For the 250th celebrations, there is a special exhibit titled Illustrating Jane Austen that focuses on the artwork featured in her novels. Jane Austen lived across the road at 4 Laura Place for a number of years (now a holiday rental). Behind the Museum is Sydney Gardens, where Jane mentions seeing a firework display in one of her letters.

7. Take Afternoon Tea and Bag A Bun!

A young Jane Austen writes in a mischievous letter about “disordering my stomach with Bath bunns.”   No doubt she liked them too much! You can find Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House where Jane bought her bun in the cobbled streets behind the Abbey.

8. Visit Bath Abbey

Jane would have known Bath Abbey well and often attended services. They have a series of Jane Austen themed events running each year, and outside you can find free and paid Jane Austen waking tours.

9. Visit Mr Austen at St Swithin’s Church

You will pass No.1 The Paragon where Jane stayed with her aunt and uncle on the way to St Swithin’s Church where Jane’s parents married in 1767. Mr Austen was buried in the church in 1801, and his gravestone has been moved outside so it can been seen when the church is closed. 

10. Take a trip to the theatre

Jane attended the original Theatre Royal and saw her most admired actresses, Sarah Siddons perform. The Theatre Royal Bath dates from 1805, and hosts a number of Jane Austen themed performances each year.

Further Afield: Explore ‘Meryton’

The beautiful village of Lacock provided the setting for Meryton in the 1995 BBC television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. The historic Lacock Abbey has monastic roots and was home to nuns The medieval Lacock Abbey with its medieval roots was a former nunnery (and also stood in for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series of films). 

Jane Austen Walking Tours

There are two self-guided tours of Bath I can recommend.

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. 

Lovely Links

Jane Austen Travel: Jane Austen Festival Bath 2024
TAGS

Jane Austen, Jane Austen 250, Bath, Jane Austen Festival, Bath Abbey, Assembly Rooms, Regency Dancing, Milsom Street, The Circle, Regency, The Crescent, The Octagon, Paragon, Green Park Buildings, Laura Place, Queens Square, Gay Street, Trim Street, Jane Austen Centre, Sydney Gardens, Holburne Museum, Parade Gardens.

Cassandra Austen Letter to Fanny Knight 24 July 1817

Fanny was Jane’s fondest niece the first born child of Edward Austen Knight, her brother

Jane Austen died in the early hours of 18 July 1817, at 8 College Street, Winchester, where she and her sister Cassandra had been lodging. As was the custom at the time, before the coffin was closed Cassandra cut off several locks of Jane’s hair for family mementos.

Jane was buried in the north aisle crypt of Winchester Cathedral early in the morning of 24 July, and in this letter of 29 July Cassandra tells her niece Fanny Knight about the funeral, and asks her how she would like the lock of hair to be mounted. 

Fanny’s reply, a few days later, was that she would like the lock of hair set in an oval brooch, with pearls, bearing Jane’s name and the date of her death.

~~~~~

My dearest Fanny,

Doubly dear to me now for her dear sake whom we have lost. She did love you most sincerely, and never shall I forget the proofs of love you gave her during her illness in writing those kind, amusing letters at a time when I know your feelings would have dictated so different a style. Take the only reward I can give you in the assurance that your benevolent purpose was answered; you did contribute to her enjoyment.

Even your last letter afforded pleasure. I merely cut the seal and gave it to her; she opened it and read it herself, afterwards she gave it to me to read, and then talked to me a little and not uncheerfully of its contents, but there was then a languor about her which prevented her taking the same interest in anything she had been used to do.

Fanny-Knight-by-her-aunt-Cassandra-Austen-sitting-at-a-table-writing
Fanny Knight, painted by her aunt, Cassandra Austen

Since Tuesday evening, when her complaint returned, there was a visible change, she slept more and much more comfortably; indeed, during the last eight-and-forty hours she was more asleep than awake. Her looks altered and she fell away, but I perceived no material diminution of strength, and, though I was then hopeless of a recovery, I had no suspicion how rapidly my loss was approaching.

I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself. I loved her only too well — not better than she deserved, but I am conscious that my affection for her made me sometimes unjust to and negligent of others; and I can acknowledge, more than as a general principle, the justice of the Hand which has struck this blow.

You know me too well to be at all afraid that I should suffer materially from my feelings; I am perfectly conscious of the extent of my irreparable loss, but I am not at all overpowered and very little indisposed, nothing but what a short time, with rest and change of air, will remove. I thank God that I was enabled to attend her to the last, and amongst my many causes of self-reproach I have not to add any wilful neglect of her comfort.

She felt herself to be dying about half-an-hour before she became tranquil and apparently unconscious. During that half-hour was her struggle, poor soul! She said she could not tell us what she suffered, though she complained of little fixed pain. When I asked her if there was anything she wanted, her answer was she wanted nothing but death, and some of her words were: “God grant me patience, pray for me, oh, pray for me!” Her voice was affected, but as long as she spoke she was intelligible.

I hope I do not break your heart, my dearest Fanny, by these particulars; I mean to afford you gratification whilst I am relieving my own feelings. I could not write so to anybody else; indeed you are the only person I have written to at all, excepting your grandmamma — it was to her, not your Uncle Charles, I wrote on Friday.

Immediately after dinner on Thursday I went into the town to do an errand which your dear aunt was anxious about. I returned about a quarter before six and found her recovering from faintness and oppression; she got so well as to be able to give me a minute account of her seizure, and when the clock struck six she was talking quietly to me.

I cannot say how soon afterwards she was seized again with the same faintness, which was followed by the sufferings she could not describe; but Mr. Lyford had been sent for, had applied something to give her ease, and she was in a state of quiet insensibility by seven o’clock at the latest. From that time till half-past four, when she ceased to breathe, she scarcely moved a limb, so that we have every reason to think, with gratitude to the Almighty, that her sufferings were over. A slight motion of the head with every breath remained till almost the last. I sat close to her with a pillow in my lap to assist in supporting her head, which was almost off the bed, for six hours; fatigue made me then resign my place to Mrs. J. A. for two hours and a-half, when I took it again, and in about an hour more she breathed her last.

I was able to close her eyes myself, and it was a great gratification to me to render her those last services. There was nothing convulsed which gave the idea of pain in her look; on the contrary, but for the continual motion of the head she gave one the idea of a beautiful statue, and even now, in her coffin, there is such a sweet, serene air over her countenance as is quite pleasant to contemplate.

This day, my dearest Fanny, you have had the melancholy intelligence, and I know you suffer severely, but I likewise know that you will apply to the fountain-head for consolation, and that our merciful God is never deaf to such prayers as you will offer.

The last sad ceremony is to take place on Thursday morning; her dear remains are to be deposited in the cathedral. It is a satisfaction to me to think that they are to lie in a building she admired so much; her precious soul, I presume to hope, reposes in a far superior mansion. May mine one day be re-united to it!

Your dear papa, your Uncle Henry, and Frank and Edwd Austen, instead of his father, will attend. I hope they will none of them suffer lastingly from their pious exertions. The ceremony must be over before ten o’clock, as the cathedral service begins at that hour, so that we shall be at home early in the day, for there will be nothing to keep us here afterwards.

Your Uncle James came to us yesterday, and is gone home to-day. Uncle H goes to Chawton tomorrow morning; he has given every necessary direction here, and I think his company there will do good. He returns to us again on Tuesday evening.

I did not think to have written a long letter when I began, but I have found the employment draw me on, and I hope I shall have been giving you more pleasure than pain. Remember me kindly to Mrs. J. Bridges (I am so glad she is with you now), and give my best love to Lizzie and all the others.

I am, my dearest Fanny,
Most affectionately yours,
Cass. Eliz. Austen

Further Reading

Image of letter from Cassandra Austen to Fanny Knight 24 July 1817 at JAHM

Anniversary of Jane Austen’s Death on 18 July 1817

Jane Austen Travel: Regency Week Alton and Chawton 2025

Regency Week is an annual event held in Alton and Chawton that runs for ten days every June

20-29 June 2025

“I had just left off writing and put on my things for walking to Alton, when Anna  and her friend Harriot called in their way thither, so we went together. 

~ Letter from Jane to Cassandra, Chawton, Thursday 6th June 1811

Jane lived in Chawton for the last eight years of her life, and it from here where she wrote and published her novels.

From Chawton, Alton is about a 15-20 minute walk and when they were at home, Jane and Cassandra walked into Alton almost every day. It was a small town where Jane posted her letters, shopped for small items, visited her apothecary, and visited friends and family.

Jane Austen Regency Week

I attend every year and have helped in the past make it one of the most enjoyable Jane Austen events on the calendar. What I love about Regency Week is its casualness and that it is held in the summer. I go to Bath each year to the Jane Austen Festival and love that too, although the outdoor nature of this event held in Jane’s local villages feels more like her.

There are the usual walks, talks, theatre shows, regency markets, dancing in the assembly rooms, crafting events, and more. All of which are found on the website. Events are added up until the event, so keep popping in to see what is happening. Also, check the website of Chawton House and Jane Austen House Museum, as they also run their own events during this week.

Wear good shoes that are comfortable. Although it’s on the flat there is usually quite a bit of walking and bring a cardigan or shawl and an umbrella. June in England can be showery so it’s better to be prepared.

In 2024, Regency Week ran from 21-30 June, and I can’t wait to see you in 2025 for Jane Austen 250, a special anniversary year. I hope these top tips will help you in planning and attending this delightful Jane Austen festival of events.

Ten Top Tips for Regency Week

1. Start shopping!

The first Saturday is market day, where you can buy even more regency accessories from the stalls on the High Street. It is fun to dress up in regency dress, and shop through the town as Jane did all those years ago.

2. Take a carriage ride

A carriage and horses took us for a trot around the town of Alton to see where Jane shopped, visited her family and friends, and left her letters at The Crown.  We also passed Henry’s bank and saw two of the houses that Frank rented, and could imagine Jane walking here every day to run her errands.

Carriage Rides Around Alton (Public Domain)

We returned to a busier high street, with military reenactments, ladies reciting Jane’s novels, and the children playing ball and catch in the street.

3. Go dancing

“There were more dancers than the room could conveniently hold, which is enough to constitute a good ball at any time.” ~ Letter from Jane to Cassandra, 9 January 1799

There are usually two dances held on the two weekends, the first a more formal recency dance and the second a country dance. The dances book up very quickly, so join the mailing list so you know when the tickets go on sale.

The Ball itself was crowded on the night, with little room to sit down, rather like the balls Jane attended. We certainly had a ‘good ball’ ourselves as the music was wonderful, the dancing seemed to go on for hours, and became a real workout for some!

4. Join the rehearsal

There is a rehearsal held on the afternoon before each ball in the evening. When I attended, the Regency Dance Rehearsal was held in the old Assembly Rooms on the High Street.

Some people had booked last minute tickets who were not attending in the evening so if you cannot get a ticket for the ball, ask at the booking office if you can go on the reserve list for the rehearsal.

We had a boisterous afternoon of lessons with a dance teacher (whose voice seemed to rise as the afternoon went on). She saw us all looping and hand-holding, circling and turning, usually going the wrong way. Her shouts of ‘top partners turn’ and then ‘no, not the bottom pair, the first two!’ made everyone laugh like naughty children.

5. Go for a walk.. In the Footsteps of Jane and Cassandra

I usually sign up for a few walks. Jane Hurst is a local historian who has written many books and is very knowledgeable about the area. This is a great way to find out more about the local area that Jane knew.

I also signed up to walk with Jenny and Wendy, and their lovely little dog Freddie. The theme was about sisters, in Jane’s novels, and in Jane’s family, and overall how close Jane and Cassandra were.

We saw where Jane wrote her novels, rode the donkey and cart, walked to church, and visited her friends, before dropping into Cassandra’s Cup for some tea.

6. Parade for literacy

There is usually a parade held through the village where everyone dresses up and walks together the walks that Jane took.

Jane went to church every Sunday, and we stopped to visit (statue) Jane at St Nicholas Church on Edward’s estate sat on her plinth. Jane is facing the gate at the top of the drive, and it looks like she is watching to see who is coming along the lane.

We paraded our finery from Chawton Cottage to the barn in the grounds of Chawton House, Edward’s fabulous estate.  

7. Sign up for special events – early

One of the most special events of 2024 was going to the barn and hearing talks about Jane Austen and her family. It was in aid of Caroline Knight’s charity, the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation  and we had a wonderful time listening to the winner of their Short Story competition about talking birds.  Read beautifully and quite funny!

The Austen family came out in support, and we all got to meet Jane’s cute little great, great, great, great, great, niece.. (is that too many or not enough greats?).

In 2025, there is a statue unveiling.. and seeing another lookalike of Jane Austen is always fun!

8. Go to church for Choral Evensong

On the Sunday evening, open to everyone of all faiths, there is a free event held at St Lawrence church in Alton. This is where Jane came to christenings of the children of her friends and family, including her brother Frank’s children and her friends, the Terrys and the Digweeds.

The beautiful voices of the choir performed a special service in memory of Jane Austen, and sang songs from her music book.

Jane Austen Service in St Lawrence Church Alton ©Emma Darlington

There is a very old collection box found on the wall, and it is humbling to think that Jane may have popped a few coins into the box.

9. See the sights

There are museums and churches you can visit, along with the usual Jane Austen places. There are plaques on the walls around the town that tell you about the residents, and the Willis Gallery and the Curtis Museum (named after a family member of Jane’s apothecary) are worth visiting and are free.

You can also see inside The Swan and The Crown where Jane posted her letters and and generally walk down the High Street keeping your head high. Although the shop fronts are modern and have changed, the upper floors of the buildings are basically how Jane would have seen them.

10. Book early for everything

We usually get the email notifications of what it happening and decide which events to attend. The first weekend has the market and the ball, although it gets booked quickly and is more popular than the country dance held on the second weekend.

We went to couple of book launches, a sewing circle, a tour of first editions.. etc. We caught up with our fellow Janeites and made new friends. We had a fabulous time and I can certainly recommend it.

Lovely Links

Jane Austen Regency Week is run by a group of volunteers and groups under Alton Community Association CIO (reg charity 1173885).

Both Chawton House and Jane Austen’s House Museum hold events during Regency Week, so it’s worth checking out what is happening – and some are virtual!

Quickstep Tips

TICKETS

Sign up for the email list and book early. If you book through the booking office in Alton you can save on booking fees. Tickets for the 2025 Jane Austen Regency Week are now on sale by calling Marie on 01420 85057. Email  marie@altoncommunitycentre.org.uk

Where to stay

It is difficult to find places to stay during Regency Week as Alton has just a few small hotels and a few scattered AirBNBs, so it may be better to stay in Winchester.

For local accommodation options see the JARW website page Places to stay. There are also some local rooms including a couple in the village of Chawton on AirBnB.

Yes, the reviews are true. The coach house hotels in Alton that Jane knew really are that interesting?!

Important – For single rooms, I found it unbelievable that hotels and AirBNB accommodation can provide a room without a window. It’s worth calling to ask and checking everything before you commit.

For hotels, in many cases, choosing 2 people to stay is the same price as 1 person, so check both and simply book for 2 people to ensure you get a better room.

For AirBNB, you will have to budget accordingly. There used to be two price points depending on one or two people staying which has now gone away. As a couple you will get a deal much better than a hotel room, as a single person, it will be expensive. Bring a friend and a sleeping bag (like camping). It works for us(!)

Transport

There is a train station at Alton, HAMPSHIRE (there are two Alton’s so when searching make sure you add the county).

If coming from London it is a straight journey of just over an hour, then either walk down the High Street into Alton or take a taxi directly to Chawton.

The train from Winchester to Alton makes you change a couple of stations so takes a lot longer and costs more. You can stay in Basingstoke at a push, although you will have to change trains and this also takes longer and costs more. To stay in Basingstoke it is cheaper, though not as nice, and the train and bus routes are not ideal. It’s better to take the bus from Basingstoke which is a good 45-50 minute journey, though direct.

If coming from Winchester, it is faster to take the bus that goes from the bottom of the High Street (down from the Tourist Information outside the park railings). It costs £2-3 and takes the direct route into Alton and takes around 20 minutes. Ask the driver where to get off for Chawton and double back on yourself to walk into the village. It is a good 15 minute walk from the bus stop to the edge of the village, and then another 5 minutes onward to the Museum. As entry to the Jane Austen House Museum is now timed, give yourself plenty of time.

If walking from Alton, it is a straight line to the village down the High Street and keep going. This will take a good 40 minutes and you be enlightened when you see the open green on your right. (Jane came to this green for the annual fair and mentions it in a letter). Go under the bridge and cross the roundabout to the road on the opposite side. Keep the houses on your right, and at the end of the row is a red post box (where the road forks up to the right). You are going left here under the underpass. You will see railings and a map board with steps going down. This will take you to the edge of Chawton village. Go straight on and you will see the pub and Cassandra’s Cup on your left and the Museum is on your right.

If driving, there is plenty of parking in Chawton village in the public parking across from Jane Austen House Museum, or on the road between the museum and Chawton House.

In Alton, there are two large public car parks behind the High Street which are clearly signed and low cost. There is also free parking for two hours in Sainsbury’s.