Step into Jane Austen's England: A Guide to the Best Places to Visit in 2025

Jane Austen's House

Start your journey at Jane Austen's House in Chawton, Hampshire, now a museum dedicated to the celebrated author. Austen spent the last eight years of her life here, writing Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion. Other novels — Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey — were published while she lived here. Chawton House, just 10 minutes' walk through the village, was the home of her brother, Edward. Built in 1580, the grand manor house and its gardens are now open to the public.

In July, a Regency-themed country fair will take place in the nearby village of Steventon, on the site of the rectory where Jane Austen was born.

Regency splendor in Bath

The city of Bath, in the west of England and 90 minutes by rail from London, will be the epicenter of celebrations. The city features in many of her novels, and The Jane Austen Centre is hosting various events, including dance balls and the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the natural hot springs that gave the city its name have been a popular attraction since Roman times. Visit Thermae Bath Spa to take a dip and experience the warm, mineral-rich waters for yourself.

Stately homes

The English countryside is dotted with grand stately homes, many open to visitors and accessible by tour or public transport. This year, several of these estates are celebrating their connections to Jane Austen. Many of these have direct ties to Austen herself, who visited or drew inspiration from them. Others have starred as filming locations in various TV and cinema adaptations of her novels.

The Vyne, for example, is a large Tudor mansion near Basingstoke, west of London. Jane and her sister Cassandra are believed to have attended dances at the house. To commemorate Austen's anniversary, The Vyne will offer an exhibition and tour of the house from late March. Families can enjoy Regency Easter adventures and, a little later in the year, a literary trail.

Austen briefly stayed at Stoneleigh Abbey in Warwickshire, which is said to have inspired Mansfield Park's Sotherton Court. Austen is thought to have woven descriptions of the house and estate into her novels.

For stately homes that provided the setting for many scenes in adaptions of Jane Austen's novels, check out the magnificent Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, Stourhead in Wiltshire, Basildon Park in Berkshire, the village of Lacock in Wiltshire or Claydon House in Buckinghamshire.

Lastly, a visit to Lyme Park in Cheshire allows you to stroll alongside the lake and imagine Colin Firth, as the smoldering Mr. Darcy, emerging and bumping into a startled Miss Bennet.

The Elder, Bath - A sumptuous yet informal dining experience, seated in a series of elegant and atmospheric dining rooms.

The Greyfriar, Chawton - 16th-century village inn serving classic pub fare amid rustic, exposed beam and brickwork interiors.

The Cavendish, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire - Set in picturesque 18th-century stables, the Cavendish serves high-quality lunches featuring seasonal produce from the estate and local providers.