Want to dress like Elizabeth or Mr Darcy? - Jane Austen Quickstep Travel Guide

Are you visiting England and need to hire a Regency costume?

You may have more choice by hiring your outfit from a theatre costume company. They are more likely to have a wider selection of Regency costumes and accessories from the period versus a generalist costume hire company.

Regency Dancing Painting — Regency Dancing (Image Courtesy of Jane Austen House Museum)

The Jane Austen Regency Week team have helpfully put together a comprehensive list of suppliers by region.

This list was found through search on the Internet so we cannot recommend or take responsibility for the quality of costumes or service. We recommend you make contact with the company first before visiting. Ask about their stock of Regency costumes, whether they offer a pick-up and return service, and if they work on ‘appointment only’. It may be better to choose a supplier further afield that has more stock and delivers than one closer to your home.

SOUTHERN ENGLAND
(Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire)
Carry On Costumes – New Milton, Hampshire
Corpus Christi Amateur Dramatic Society (CCADS) – Portsmouth, Hampshire
Costume Hire Direct – Petersfield, Hampshire (online only)
Costume Workshop – Isle of Wight, Hampshire
The Dressing Up Shop – Aldershot, Hampshire
Express Yourself – Southampton, Hampshire
Groundlings Theatre – Portsmouth, Hampshire
Hampshire Wardrobe – Chilcomb House, near Winchester, Hampshire
Kennet Amateur Theatrical Society – Thatcham, Berkshire
Plaza Theatre costume hire – Romsey, Hampshire
Wargrave Theatre Workshop – Wargrave, Berkshire
Wharf Theatre – Devizes, Wiltshire
Worn to be Wild – Alresford, Hampshire

LONDON & SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
(Kent, London, Surrey, East & West Sussex)
Angels Fancy Dress – Shops in Shasftsbury Avenue & Hendon, London (Film Costumers)
Attle Costumers – Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey
Bryan Philip Davies Costumes – Polegate, East Sussex
Compass Theatre costumes – Hillingdon, London
Costume Studio – Islington, London
Erith Playhouse – Erith, Kent
Guildburys Theatre Company – Guildford, Surrey (Theatrical hire only, so they say)
Harvey’s of Hove – Brighton, East Sussex
Henfield Theatre Company – Henfield, West Sussex
Larger Than Life Stagewear – Bromley, Kent
The London Theatre – New Cross, London
Miller Centre Theatre Company – Caterham, Surrey
National Theatre Costume & Props Hire – Kennington Park, London
Oast Theatre – Tonbridge, Kent
The Oasthouse Threatre – Rainham, Kent
Pranksters Theatre Company – Guildford, Surrey
The Questors Theatre – Ealing, London
South London Theatre – Norwood, London (see also their Facebook page)
Stage Costume – Dartford, Kent
Surrey Arts Wardrobe – Guildford, Surrey
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – Guildford, Surrey

EAST ANGLIA
(Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk)
Abbey Theatre – St Albans, Hertfordshire
Barn Theatre – Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Dereham Theatre Costumes – Scarning (near Norwich), Norfolk
Dress Circle Costumers – Witham, Essex
Felixstowe Musical Theatre – Felixstowe, Suffolk
Harlequin Costume Hire – Baldock, Hertfordshire
King’s Theatre – Newmarket, Suffolk
Leiston Film Theatre Costume Hire – Leiston, Suffolk
Norwich Theatre Royal – Norwich, Norfolk
Rickmansworth Players – Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
The Settlement Players / The Little Theatre – Letchworth, Hertfordshire
Sewell Barn Theatre – Norwich, Norfolk
Sheringham Community and Theatre Wardrobe – Sheringham, Norfolk
Spotlight Productions – Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire
Theatre Royal – Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

WEST COUNTRY
(Avon/Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset)
Bath Theatrical Costume Hire – Bath, Somerset
Blackmore Theatre – Exmouth, Somerset
Bristol Costume Services – Bristol, Avon
Dawlish Repertory Company / Shaftesbury Theatre – Dawlish, Devon
Farthingdale – Bath, Somerset
Flame Torbay Costume Hire (Military Costumes) – Torbay, Devon
Med Theatre – Mortonhampstead, Devon
Stage Style Costumes – Bristol, Avon
Swan Threatre – Yeovil, Somerset

WEST MIDLANDS
(Birmingham, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire)
Birmingham Costume Hire – Birmingham, West Midlands
Complete Costumes – Kidderminster, Warwickshire (postal service)
Conquest Theatre – Bromyard, Herefordshire
The Courtyard – Hereford, Herefordshire
The Crescent Theatre – Brindleyplace, Birmingham, West Midlands
Derby Theatre – Derby, Derbyshire
Garrick Theatre – Stockport, Cheshire
Malvern Theatre Players – Malvern, Worcestershire
Masquerade – Tibberton, Nr Droitwich, Worcestershire
The Priory Theatre – Kenilworth, Warwickshire
The Rose Theatre – Kidderminster, Warwickshire
Royal Shakespeare Company – Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Rugby Theatre – Rugby, Warwickshire
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre – Stafford, Staffordshire
Stageworld – Wolverhampton, West Midlands

EAST MIDLANDS
(Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland)
Concordia Theatre – Hinckley, Leicestershire
Looking Glass Theatre – Northampton, Northamptonshire
Venture Theatre – Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire

NORTHERN ENGLAND
(Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire)
Chads Theatre – Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Chester Costume House – Chester, Chestershire
Ilkley Playhouse Theatre Wardrobe – Ilkley, Yorkshire
Molly Limpet’s Theatrical Emporium – Woodseats, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Northern Costume Hire – Barnoldswick, Lancashire (postal service)
Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society – Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire
People’s Theatre – Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Royal Exchange Theatre costume hire – Manchester, Lancashire
Wetherby Musical Theatre Group – Wetherby, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire Playhouse – Leeds, Yorkshire
York Theatre Royal – York, Yorkshire