Travel to England and attend the many Jane Austen themed events in 2021 or enjoy zooming in from the comfort of your armchair
Here is a list of events that we love, and if you’re a Jane Austen fan – you will too.
In light of everything happening this year, most events have been rescheduled, moved online or involve limited seating and a ticket.
Can I suggest that you contact your hosts and reguarly check their website for updated information to see if you event is going ahead, and whether it has been moved online.
If you are daydreaming about the good old days, you can view past events from 2019 and 2020.
For events in the United States of America, the best resource is the Jane Austen Society event calendar you can find here.
And if you would like to see your event featured on this page, please email us here with the details.
January to March
Natalie Jenner: The Jane Austen Society Book Launch
Chawton House, Online Event
1 February 2021
To coincide with the paperback release, bestselling author Natalie Jenner speaks about ChawtonHouse as an inspuration for her debut novel, The Jane Austen Society – a fictional telling of the start of the Jane Austen Society in the 1940s. Natalie has kindly agreed to donate her royalties from book sales to support Chawton House.
Book Launch Natalie Jenner Tickets
Jane Austen’s London Virtual Walk
28 February 2021
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Jane Austen devotee in possession of the good fortune of a couple of free hours must be in want of this virtual walk.” This is a special walk, which came about because of a kind gift of a book – The Picture of London for 1809 Being a CORRECT GUIDE to all the Curiosities, Amusements, Exhibitions, Public Establishments, and Remarkable Objects in and near London.
Jane Austen’s Virtual London Ticket
April to June
Jane Austen, Schoolteachers and the Reading Ladies Boarding Schools
JASNA Online Event with the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
17 April 2021
This live and virtual event explores the role of schoolteachers during the late 18th century, focussing on the school in Reading, Berkshire, attended by Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra.
Celebrating William Cowper
Hosted by Chawton House with Jane Austen’s House Museum
25 April 2021
Online event celebrating the life of William Cowper. In January 2021, a very special copy of a first edition of William Cowper’s 1782 poems arrived at Chawton House after an absence of around a century. This copy was the copy owned by Edward Knight and kept in his library at Godmersham in Kent. Jane was already familiar with Cowper’s works, writing to Cassandra from Steventon in December 1798, ‘My father reads Cowper to us in the evening, to which I listen when I can.’ Described in Henry Austen’s biography of his late sister as one of her favourite moral writers in verse, Cowper’s influence is clear in her novels.
Book here for William Cowper tickets
Man Up! Exhibition
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire
14 May to 27 June 2021
Chawton House’s 2020 exhibition highlights stories of women who stepped into male roles. By picking up a pen, pistol or sword, they broke with convention to survive and thrive. This exhibition has been temporarily closed, so please check their website before setting out.
Dining with Jane Austen: Food in Regency England
Webinar
19 May 2020
A look at food scenes in Jane Austen’s novels, and the dishes that Jane and her family would have eaten during the Georgian and Regency eras. Look at memorable scenes from Jane Austen’s novels that took place at balls and dinners, including an imagined virtual dinner party with Elizabeth Bennett’s elusive Mr. Darcy himself
Dining with Jane Austen Tickets
Clueless Outdoor Cinema
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire
23 May 2021
Starring Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd, follow the matchmaking efforts by the shallow, rich and socially successful Cher. Inspired by Jane’s novel Emma.
Book here for Clueless Tickets
Austen Wednesdays
Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton, Hampshire
Starts 2 June 2021
Welcome to Austen Wednesdays – a digital programme of talks and in conversation events from Jane Austen’s House introduced by Lucy Worsley. This event invites architect Sam Causer to discuss the history of the redevelopment of Jane Austen’s House. Sam has been working on various phases of repair and research into Jane Austen’s House since 2019.
Pride and Prejudice Workshop Tickets
Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton, Hampshire
2-4 June 2021
For 12 – 16 year olds. A mini-series of online workshops for young people – fully active and interactive! Together we’ll dive head-first into the world of Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen’s most famous novel. We’ll use movement, improvisation, discussion and debate to get to know the story, characters and context – and we’ll have a lot of fun along the way!
Pride and Prejudice Workshop Tickets
Jane Austen and The East India Company
Part of the Pear Tree 200 Project
19 June 2021
Online Study Day as part of the Pear Tree 200 Project (now moved online). Dr Cheryl Butler, Sarah Lewin, John Mealeer and Professor Emma Clery discuss the Pear Tree in the fashionable 18th century and the East India Company.
Jane Austen Pear Tree 200 Project
Jane Austen Virtual London Sense & Sensibility
Online Event
20 June 2021
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Jane Austen devotee in possession of the good fortune of a couple of free hours must be in want of this virtual walk.” This is a special walk, which came about because of a kind gift of a book – The Picture of London for 1809 Being a CORRECT GUIDE to all the Curiosities, Amusements, Exhibitions, Public Establishments, and Remarkable Objects in and near London.
Jane Austen’s London Virtual Walk Ticket
Outdoor Theatre: Jane Austen and the Cheltonians
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire
25 June 2021
Award winning play by West End playwright Caroline Summerfield in the beautiful grounds of Chawton House.
Jane Austen Outdoor Theatre Tickets
Jane Austen Regency Week – CANCELLED
Alton, Hampshire
19 to 27 June 2020
A 9-day annual festival held in Alton and Chawton, and each day there are Jane Austen themed talks and walks taking place. Carriage rides, stalls, talks, music, walks, as well as a Regency Ball in the evening celebrate Jane’s life and her novels. Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled this year.
July to September
Outdoor Theatre: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
Midelney Manor, Midelney, Langport, TA10 0LU
2 July 2021
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen’s witty and romantic masterpiece is one of the best-loved stories of all time, dealing with the most important questions in life Will Mrs Bennett manage to offload her numerous daughters in record time? Will Lizzy and Darcy get together? Will creepy Mr Collins just go away please?
Jane Austen Outdoor Theatre Tickets
Medical Men in Jane Austen’s Novels
Jane Austen Society UK & Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution
15 July 2021
Live virtual event with Dr Hilary Aitken discussing the medical men in Jane Austen’s novels, the role of medical men in the Regency period, and the doctors that Jane encountered in her life.
Jane Austen’s Medical Men Tickets
Jane Austen Picnic Experience
Online Cookery Course
17 July 2021
Enjoy two hours of Regency cookery and make your own Jane Austen picnic, inspired by historic recipes, with Paul Couchman, The Regency Cook. Make a delicious pork or vegetarian raised pies, construct a Salamagundy salad, make some rout cakes and put together a delightful syllabub to create a picnic Jane Austen would have been proud of.
Mamma Mia! Outdoor Cinema
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire
30 August 2021
Starring our own favourite Mr Darcy, Colin Firth and Meryl Street. Inspired by Jane’s fondness for music and romance.
Book here for Mamma Mia tickets
Outdoor Cinema: Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire
5 September 2021
Jane Austen’s most popular novel depicted onscreen, starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen.
Pride and Prejudice Outdoor Cinema Tickets
Jane Austen Festival Bath
Bath
10-19 September 2021
The Jane Austen Festival sees ten wonderful days of celebrating all things Austen in the beautiful Georgian city of Bath. Special events include a Regency Costumed Mask Ball a Costumed Promenade along the Close, and a Ghost Walk around the city.
October to December
Austentatious
Fotune Theatre, London
29 November 2021
Returning to the West End, Austentatious are dedicated to bringing her lost novels to life using nothing but their skill, wit and a title suggested by the audience.
Jane Austen’s Emma
London
13 December 2021
Explore the Regency and discover the best seller of 1815! Emma was Jane Austen’s last book published during her lifetime in the month of December 1815. Some say it was her best. This walk is a celebration of that book.
Jane Austen’s Birthday
Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton, Hampshire
16 December 2021
To celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday, her Chawton Cottage home usually hosts a series of activities through the day to celebrate this special occassion.
Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration
Jane Austen’s House Chawton
Online
18 December 2021
This special Christmas version of our popular Virtual Guided Tour will include festive readings and stories, Georgian Christmas traditions and much frivolity. Hosted by an expert guide from Jane Austen’s House, we will show you around the House and outbuildings.
Christmas With Jane Austen
Online
19 December 2021
We look at the traditions of Christmas during the Regency period and how Jane Austen might have celebrated it. It will give some background to Jane Austen’s life and her knowledge of London. We used her novels and her letters to find out what she might have done at Christmas, but also at how Christmas was kept in this period, and the range of Curiosities, Amusements, Exhibitions, Public Establishments, and Remarkable Objects in and near London available to enjoy.
A Georgian Christmas with Jane Austen Tickets
Christmas Fayre at Chawton House Library
Chawton, Hampshire
December 2021 (date tbc)
Enjoy this unique chance to do a spot of Christmas shopping and soak up the festive atmosphere of Chawton House. Browse the stalls selling handmade and local produce, enjoy a festive treat in the Old Kitchen Tearoom and meet Father Christmas in his grotto. There will be plenty of Yuletide activities to keep the family entertained including decorating shortbread with your favourite festive scene.
