Break out your finest Regency-era dress and book a flight, pastoral England is the place to be this season. Jane Austen’s beloved works draw tens of thousands of tourists each year to the places where she lived, worked, and died—but in 2025, even more fans from across the world will be flocking to the southwest of England to celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth. It’s poised to be total fan mania (the New York Times naming ‘Jane Austen’s England’ the number one place to visit in the world for 2025) with even more balls, exhibitions, festivals, set tours, workshops, and tributes than you can shake a roll of satin ribbon at.
For those making the trek to this literary mecca, one can spend the night at Austen’s brother’s regal former townhouse in London, then on to Austen’s own house in Chawton, which will feature an exhibition and themed festivals. In July, the Jane Austen Country Fair in Steventon will be buzzing with excitement, as will its neighboring Winchester, which boasts a lineup of literary readings, guided walks, access to Winchester College and a new statue at Winchester Cathedral, her final resting place. Further down in Southampton, you can see Austen’s traveling writing desk and enjoy the irreverent hit show Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of).
People in costume march through Bath in 2024’s Grand Regency Costumed Promenade.
And then there’s Bath, where Austen lived for six years in the early 1800s. The city, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its Palladian architecture and Roman baths—settings straight from Austen’s novels. There, the 16th annual Jane Austen Festival, a 10-day event that will take place from September 12 to 21, is poised to put on more than 80 events across the city to celebrate the iconic author’s birthday, including regency-themed murder mystery nights, a Grand Regency Costumed Promenade through the city, talks and lectures, and a series of costume balls (oh the scandalous gossip!). And if you’re feeling extra Austentacious, you can go further afield on a bus tour to sites used as locations for Austen film adaptations, including stately homes like Wilton House, Chatsworth House, and Lyme Park, as well as charming villages like Lacock.
So, dear traveler, let us whisk you away to the enchanted world of Jane Austen’s literary legacy, where your own Mr. Darcy just might possibly be waiting, if not some high-class LARPing. Read on to see the 10 top events you don’t want to miss. Here’s to 250 years of pride, no prejudice.
Attend a Regency-Themed Murder Mystery Night
Two costumed attendees greet guests in front of The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa.
Gentle reader, step into a world of intrigue at a Regency-themed murder mystery dinner hosted at the famed The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. Guests will be invited to dine alongside iconic characters from Pride & Prejudice and Emma, uncovering clues between courses to solve an unthinkable crime. The evening begins with drinks in the library, followed by a lavish dinner in the hotel’s luxurious suite.
“Written by actress and playwright Theresa Roche, this theatrical experience blends drama and deduction, as beloved Regency-era figures—including Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Mr. Elton—deliver shocking twists, dramatic scenes, and tantalizing clues,” the invitation reads. “With Elizabeth Bennet’s fate hanging in the balance, guests must unravel the mystery before the final course is served.” Regency attire is strongly encouraged.
Have High Tea With Your Besties
A group of friends enjoy afternoon tea.
One simply cannot celebrate Austen without having high tea and a scone or two. You’ll find tea houses in nearly any town you visit across the English countryside, but Bath offers an exceptional selection of places to put your pinkies up. The iconic Pump Room, set in the heart of the city, combines history with luxury, serving tea beneath sparkling chandeliers with views of the Roman Baths. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa presents a serene setting with its picturesque gardens and grand interiors, perfect for a refined afternoon tea experience. For a quirkier, yet equally charming option, Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House offers tea alongside their famous buns in one of Bath’s oldest buildings.
Meet Your Mr. Darcy at a Regency-Era Costume Ball
Costumed participants attend an Austen-themed ball during last year’s Jane Austen Festival in Bath.
For those, like the eccentric Mr. Collins, who have been complimented for their lightness of foot, England is rolling out the red carpet with several Austen-inspired balls that promise to whisk you straight into the Regency era. Step into the past at the annual Regency Ball in Bath, where fans dressed in period attire gather to dance. If you’re seeking elegance with a view, the grand Ball at the Chawton House Estate, Austen’s brother’s former home, is a must-attend. For a more immersive experience, the Royal Pavilion Grand Regency Ball will be set in a stunning former Royal residence in Brighton, while you swirl to live music in a ballroom worthy of Mr. Darcy’s approval. The Yuletide Birthday Ball and Regency Week Ball are also to come later in the year. Each ball will be filled with traditional dances, lavish costumes, and plenty of Austen-era charm.
Costumed participants attend a soiree at the Roman baths in Bath during the Jane Austen Festival.
The full Jane Austen festival program schedule has yet to be released, but the organizers also teased that there will be a large-scale, outdoor, Sense and Sensibility-themed event on September 14. “The contents of this one will be kept secret for a little while longer however,” they wrote on the website.
Attend an Austen-Themed County Fair
Antique ribon and costumes in a regency-themed county fair.
Jane Austen was born in the Rectory in Steventon in 1775. Although the actual building no longer stands, a Regency-themed Country Fair will take place on the actual site on June 5 as part of the Jane Austen 250 celebrations. Alongside performances by the Hampshire Regency Dancers and Mayfly Morris, there will be demonstrations of country arts and crafts as well as Jane Austen themed talks and performances and traditional side shows and stalls.
Sleep in the Townhouse Inhabited by Austen’s Favorite Brother
Eliza’s room in Henry’s Townhouse.
Eliza’s room in Henry’s Townhouse.
Few experiences beat sleeping in a room that Austen once inhabited. As the residence of her beloved brother, Henry, this charming Georgian townhouse, No. 24, played a pivotal role in Austen’s life, where she often stayed during her visits to London. The house, located just steps from Hyde Park in central London, is now a boutique hotel named Henry’s Townhouse. Each of the six bedrooms has been named after a member of the Austen family and was individually designed as a glamorous reimagining of the Regency period, creating a truly unparalleled way to connect with Austen. The rooms start at £595 per night per room or £4950 exclusive use for up to 12 guests to do full takeover.
This editor had the pleasure of staying in Eliza’s room recently, which I would say was fit for a duchess. It is swathed in dusty rose-striped wallpaper with a four-poster bed covered in pleated, lace-tipped fabric. A painting that dates back to the 1800s hangs above a vintage vanity, while a hidden television is hung beside a very British mini-bar. Breakfast is offered on the ground floor in M. Halavant’s Pantry, a paneled Georgian inspired kitchen and dining room that feels as comfortable as it is first-class. I just might never return to a chain hotel again.
Attend an Austen-Themed Chamber Concert
Also in Steventon, Jane Austen’s Words and Music Chamber Concert on June 8 promises to be a captivating celebration of the beloved author’s life and work. Held in the village where Austen spent her formative years—in her family’s very own chapel, this concert blends live classical music that Austen herself would have known and enjoyed with readings from her novels and letters.
Tread the Very Room Where Austen Wrote Pride and Prejudice
The room that Jane Austen spent much of her time writing her novels at the writing desk in the corner by the grandfather clock.
There are two places fans of the author shouldn’t miss. The first is a visit to her home during the last eight years of her life, Jane Austen’s House in the quaint village of Chawton in Hampshire. It is in that cottage living with her mother and sister that Austen wrote and published all six of her globally beloved novels–Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. There, visitors can see her original writing table, letters and personal belongings.
Throughout 2025, the house’s stewards will be hosting a series of festivals to celebrate Jane Austen’s anniversary year. Tickets are now on sale for the Spring Fling: Sense and Sensibility Festival (May 1-11) and the Emma Festival (July 12-20). Each festival will feature themed tours, walks, performances, workshops, pop-up talks, late views and more. Tickets for the remaining festivals, Persuasion & Poetry (September 12-21) and Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration Week (December 13-21) will be on sale soon.
Throughout the year, the house will be showing two new exhibitions. First, Jane Austen and the Art of Writing, a permanent exhibition that explores Austen’s creative writing process, features objects that directly inspired her writing, and displays a rare collection of first editions of all six of her novels. And second, Austenmania!, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the iconic Austen adaptations of 1995, from the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice to Clueless, featuring production shots, original cinema posters and press cuttings as well as two original Pride and Prejudice transmission scripts and handwritten production notes. This will run throughout 2025. Both are free with the house’s entry.
Also further down the lane in the village, is Chawton House, the grand Elizabethan manor that belonged to Jane’s brother, Edward Knight. It’s an elegant house that Jane knew very well. The estate now serves as a research center for early women’s literature, with beautifully preserved rooms and a historic library containing the works of early women’s writers from 1600 to 1830.
Enjoy a Retelling of Pride and Prejudice at the Theater
If you’re game to trek farther south, you can book a night out at the theater that you certainly won’t forget. Following its triumphs in the West End where it won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is showing in Southampton at the Mayflower Theater in June as part of the Jane Austen 250 events. This innovative production reimagines Austen’s most iconic love story with a clever blend of comedy, music, and irreverent charm. The performance is a delightful experience, full of unexpected twists, modern touches, and witty banter that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish and transforms a timeless romance into an unforgettable night of theatre.
Tour the Cotswolds (and Beyond) on a Rabbie’s Jane Austen Bus Tour
Visit Bath, Avebury, and Lackock Village on a Rabbie’s bus tour.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of taking a Rabbie’s tour in the UK or beyond, know that this isn’t your tourist-trap run-of-the-mill tour. This editor hasn’t met a Rabbie’s tour guide she didn’t want to adopt into her own family. And when it comes to hitting all the Austen-focused sites, this is the easiest (and funnest) way to do it. Explore Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath, and Oxford on this two-day tour; check out Bath, Avebury, and Lackock Village on this day tour; get lost in the beauty of Chatsworth, thought to have inspired Pemberley, and the Peak District on this day tour; and for superfans, you can even get a custom, private tour that’s tailored to exactly what you want to see here.
Geek Out with an Austen Expert
Professor John Mullan leads Austen fans deeper into the author’s dialogue at last year’s Jane Austen festival.
Professor John Mullan is practically an institution in England. As an English professor at University College London (UCL), he’s a specialist in eighteenth-century literature; In other words, he’s a total Janeite. “I have always loved the lectures given by professor John Mullan,” writes an anonymous Reddit user (there are entire Reddit threads dedicated to him). “He knows that Austen lovers attending the lectures at the Bath festival are highly informed and is able to have a lot of fun and speak to a high level of detail.” He’ll be giving a lecture on April 7 at The Gainsborough Bath Spa in Bath, titled ‘What Matters in Jane Austen?’ Professor John Mullan Explains!. Mullan will be sharing challenging and entertaining analyses of Austen’s work and influence in what is sure to be an enlightening discussion.
Pay Your Respects at Austen’s Grave
A memorial just steps from Austen’s grave in Winchester Cathedral in Winchester.
The second and final place that shouldn’t be missed is, of course, Austen’s final resting place. Austen died at the age of 41 due to a mysterious illness and was laid to rest at Winchester Cathedral. Nestled in the historic cathedral’s north aisle, her simple yet elegant gravestone marks the resting place of one of England’s most beloved authors. Surrounded by the grandeur of the cathedral’s gothic architecture, the site evokes a sense of reverence and connection to Austen’s world. The inscription, originally focusing on her character and faith, has since been supplemented with a brass plaque acknowledging her literary contributions. The tranquil atmosphere invites reflection, making it a fitting tribute to the writer whose timeless works continue to resonate with readers around the world.
Just down the street at Winchester City Museum, a new permanent display will celebrate Jane, marking her final days. One can also visit the house she passed away at in Winchester, a short walk from the Cathedral, as well as a book shop she was known to have frequented, which is still in business today.
Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.
