2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, one of England’s greatest novelists, so it’s the perfect time to explore the places she lived and the locations that inspired her work. Great West Way®, a popular touring route between London and Bristol, has put together a wonderful new itinerary to celebrate this landmark occasion. 

Jane Austen (1775-1817) is famous worldwide for her novels of romantic fiction set amongst the English gentry, and where better to start your tour than in the World Heritage City of Bath with a visit to the Jane Austen Centre. The centre offers a snapshot of life in the Regency period and explores how living in this magnificent city affected Jane Austen’s life and writing. The costumed guides take visitors on an entertaining and educational journey. Dress up using their extensive collection of dresses, bonnets and coats or have a go writing with a quill pen and ink!

Jane Austen Centre in Bath

Jane Austen lived in a number of properties in Bath, including 25 Gay Street, close to the Jane Austen Centre, and at No 4 Sydney Place, opposite Sydney Gardens, the Georgian pleasure gardens which featured in her letters and several of her novels. For an insight into life for the wealthy and their servants in 18th century Bath, don’t miss No 1 Royal Crescent. Each room is an exquisite example of Georgian interior design with authentic furniture, paintings, textiles and carpets.

Royal Crescent, Bath (credit: greatwestway.co.uk)

The Pump Room in Bath, with its Corinthian columns, glittering chandelier and spa fountain embodies what was once the heart of the Georgian social scene and today this incredibly preserved building is perfect for a traditional English afternoon tea.

The nearby town of Trowbridge is home to Parade House, a beautifully furnished Grade 1 Listed Georgian Townhouse. Pre-booked visits include a tour of the Regency themed rooms and a ‘Bridgerton style afternoon tea experience’ in the Ballroom. Requested experiences include costumed performances by the Jane Austen Dancers of Bath and Georgian or Regency costume hire for visitors.

National Trust Stourhead, where Pride & Prejudice was filmed

Take a detour to visit National Trust Stourhead House and Gardens in Wiltshire, a breathtaking 18th century landscaped garden and Palladian mansion with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples. Stourhead was the filming location for the Pride & Prejudice adaptation of 2005, where Darcy made his first unsuccessful proposal to Elizabeth at the folly - Temple of Apollo - in the pouring rain.

The beautifully preserved National Trust village of Lacock in Wiltshire is a must see. This historic idyll, which dates back to the 13th century, stands in for the village of Meryton in the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice. Delightful Iford Manor Gardens near Bradford on Avon, and grand Bowood House near Calne, both appeared in Sanditon. 

Bowood House in Wiltshire featured in the TV series Sanditon (credit: greatwestway.co.uk)

The 1995 film of Sense and Sensibility was partly filmed in London, as well as featuring locations in Salisbury - just off the Great West Way route. National Trust Mompesson House in Salisbury, a magnificent 18th century townhouse, starred as Mrs Jennings’ London townhouse.

Next stop is Winchester Cathedral, the final resting place of Jane Austen. Jane is buried in the north nave under a memorial stone, which mentions ‘the extraordinary endowments of her mind’. To celebrate the 250th anniversary, a new life-size outdoor memorial statue of Jane is being made.

Winchester Cathedral

For the first time, during the summer of 2025, visitors will be invited to step inside the house in Winchester, 8 College Street, where Jane Austen spent her final days. Winchester’s official tourist guides will be running special themed tours on ‘Jane Austen’s Winchester’ and offering costumed drama walks called ‘My Dear Cassandra’. There will also be a new Jane Austen trail around the city which will highlight key locations.

Journey on to Chawton, near Alton in Hampshire, where Jane lived from 1809-1817. Jane’s brother owned Chawton House, but offered Jane, her sister and mother a cottage in Chawton Village, now known as Jane Austen’s House. It was here that Jane revised previous drafts of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey and created Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion. Now an unparalleled museum of her life and works, it is the most treasured Austen site in the world, featuring her furniture and writing table, personal letters, jewellery, paintings and clothing.

Jane Austen’s House (credit: Visit Hampshire)

Nearby Chawton House, referred to by Jane as the ‘Great House’, is also open to the public and houses an extensive collection of early women’s writing, with regular events and exhibitions. The house features Austen heirlooms, such as the dining table at which Jane would have enjoyed family meals, and the gardens are open for visitors to stroll through the grounds.

Detour off the route to the village of Steventon in a quiet corner of Hampshire, where Jane Austen was born and spent her childhood. In 1823, five years after Jane’s death, the Rectory where the Austens lived was demolished. The family home would have faced the road to Steventon Church and today the only sign of the Rectory that remains is a small grassy clump in a field, where the well is located.

Jane Austen’s Schoolroom in Reading (credit: Reading Museum)

Return to the route to visit the town of Reading to see the Abbey Gateway, overlooking the Forbury Gardens, which is a substantial part of what remains of Reading Abbey. The Abbey Gateway was once part of the Reading Ladies Boarding School which was famously attended by Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra.

A few miles to the west of Reading is National Trust Basildon Park, a gorgeous 18th century mansion, which famously was the star of the 2005 blockbuster film of Pride & Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. Throughout 2025, Basildon Park has a special exhibition on film and TV series filmed there, including The Crown, Bridgerton and of course Pride & Prejudice.

National Trust Basildon Park (credit: REDA)

To mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, a number of Regency themed events will be taking place. This includes the 2025 edition of the Jane Austen Festival, which runs from Friday 12 September to Sunday 21 September, and is the largest Jane Austen Festival in the world. The festival begins with the Regency Costumed Promenade, which fills the streets of Bath with over 500 people in Regency dress and is followed by a varied programme of events inspired by the works of Jane Austen including guided walks, costumed balls, theatrical performances, talks and more.

Pride & Prejudice filmed at Basildon Park (credit: Alex Bailey Universal Pictures 2005)

Many of the locations associated with Jane Austen lie on or within easy reach of the Great West Way®, a popular touring route which follows 500 miles of navigable routes between London and Bristol, roaming through idyllic countryside, quaint villages and ancient towns. Why not explore more of this delightful part of England?

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour following in the footsteps of Jane Austen, please do contact our friendly team today.

With thanks to Great West Way®.