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.
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.
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.
