This is a post about Jane Austen’s 250th birthday celebrations in the UK.
Have you heard of Winchester, a really cute city near London (super easy to get to by train!) that’s famous for its Christmas markets? Well, I’ve been wanting to go there for AGES and finally did it last week. And what did I see? Jane Austen everything!
This year marks 250 years since Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. To celebrate, cities and villages connected to her life are putting on special festivals, exhibitions and Regency-inspired events. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into her world, Jane Austen’s 250th birthday is the perfect excuse to plan a trip. Here’s where to go and exactly what to expect.
Bath: The Centre of the Celebrations
Jane Austen lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806 and her time here inspired parts of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. In 2025, Bath is pulling out all the stops with the Jane Austen Festival and a series of themed exhibitions.
The Jane Austen Festival runs from 12–21 September 2025, filling the city with promenades in Regency dress, etiquette workshops, theatre performances and literary lectures. The highlight is the Grand Regency Ball at the Assembly Rooms, a candlelit evening where you can waltz in costume just as Austen’s characters would have. Tickets sell out fast, months in advance! Safe to say they’re sold out for this year but they already have 2026 and 2027 festival dates scheduled so keep an eye on their website.
Themed Hotel Stays
From July until 2 November, Bath’s museums are also joining in. No. 1 Royal Crescent is hosting an exhibition called “The Most Tiresome Place in the World”, exploring Austen’s love-hate relationship with Bath. Between 11 September and 11 January, the Holburne Museum hosts the “Illustrating Austen” exhibition looks at how her characters have been represented in art. The Jane Austen Centre remains the place to start with costumed guides, a waxwork of Austen and its Regency Tea Room.
If you’d like to make your stay immersive, several Bath hotels are offering themed packages. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa has a Jane Austen Experience with a guided walking tour, Regency afternoon tea and a commemorative gift. It’s available until 31 October. The Queensberry Hotel is running an Austen package that includes tickets to the Jane Austen Centre. And at the Gainsborough Bath Spa, you can book a six-day programme in October with lectures, tours and even dance classes.
How to get to Bath from London
Bath is about 1 hour 20 minutes by train from London Paddington. Trains run frequently and once you arrive, the city centre and festival venues are easily walkable.
Winchester: Austen’s Final Chapter
Jane Austen spent her final weeks in Winchester, where she died in 1817. She was buried in Winchester Cathedral, which is marking the anniversary with special services and exhibitions. A new statue of Jane Austen by Martin Jennings is also being unveiled in 2025 in the cathedral’s Inner Close, near College Street where she lived during her last illness.
In the cathedral itself you’ll find her grave, along with a memorial plaque and stained-glass window. Just outside, the medieval streets are perfect for wandering. Winchester also makes a good base for a Jane Austen pilgrimage because of its easy access to Chawton.
Where to stay:
Try the Hotel du Vin Winchester, a boutique stay in a Georgian townhouse near the cathedral. The Wykeham Arms, an 18th-century coaching inn is full of character and just steps from the cathedral. For something more budget-friendly, the Premier Inn Winchester is central and reliable.
How to get there:
Winchester is about 1 hour by train from London Waterloo, with frequent departures.
Chawton
For many fans, the most moving stop is Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, the cottage where she wrote Emma and Persuasion and revised Pride and Prejudice. The museum will have a special anniversary exhibition in 2025, with rare manuscripts and workshops. Across the street is Cassandra’s Cup, a cosy tearoom named after her sister.
Chawton is a small village with limited places to stay, so most visitors base themselves in Winchester or Alton. From Winchester, you can take a South Western Railway train to Alton (about 35 minutes, usually with a change at Woking). From Alton station, it’s either a 5-minute taxi or a 20-minute walk to Chawton. OR, better yet, take bus 64 from Winchester, get off at the Sports Centre and it’s a 16min walk to the house.
You can also visit Chawton House to walk around the beautiful house and gardens that belonged to Jane Austen’s brother and now hosts all kinds of events.
If you prefer to stay nearby, The Swan Hotel in Alton is a historic coaching inn and Alton House Hotel offers a more budget-friendly option.
Other Austen Locations
If you have more time, you can also visit:
- Steventon, Hampshire: Austen’s birthplace, where the family rectory once stood
- Lyme Regis, Dorset: setting for a famous scene in Persuasion, where Louisa Musgrove falls on the Cobb
- Godmersham Park, Kent: Austen’s brother’s estate, thought to inspire Mansfield Park (but possibly not, there’s talk it was actually Castle Ashby in Northamptonshire)
- Box Hill: one of my favourite hiking spots near London (easy to get to by train!), served as the setting for a disastrous picnic scene in Jane Austen’s Emma
Planning Your Austen 250 Trip
- When to go: September for the Bath festival; October and December also have special programmes.
- Base choices: Bath for immersive festivals, Winchester for history and proximity to Chawton.
- Transport: London to Bath via Paddington (1h20), London to Winchester via Waterloo (1h), Winchester to Chawton (36min bus)
- Book early: Hotels in Bath during the festival and tickets for the Grand Regency Ball, disappear quickly.
Final Thoughts
Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary is more than a milestone, it’s a rare chance to celebrate her life in the very places she lived, worked and found inspiration. Whether you’re promenading in Bath, visiting her grave in Winchester or standing in her writing room in Chawton, 2025 is the year to immerse yourself in Austen’s world.
This was a post about Jane Austen’s 250th birthday celebrations in the UK.
