Jane Austen turns 250 this year, and England is rolling out the Regency red carpet to celebrate. So, if your 2025 travel plans include Britain—Bath, in particular—you might encounter larger-than-usual crowds at Austen hotspots … and a surplus of people sporting high-waisted gowns, petticoats, and long white gloves.
Austen is one of England’s most famous authors, having published widely adored novels like “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Emma”. As a woman writer in an era dominated by men, she turned the literary pages of social norms by writing strong, independent heroines who often mirrored her own views. (The first version of “Sense and Sensibility” didn’t list Austen as the author; it just said: “By a Lady.”) Even though her books are set in Regency-era England, they still resonate with readers today, thanks to their brilliant blend of realism, romance, and memorable characters. “Pride and Prejudice” alone has inspired countless film and TV adaptations, from multiple BBC shows to “Bridget Jones’ Diary”.
Austen’s actual birthday is December 16, but England is celebrating throughout 2025 with special events and programs around the country. If you’re just bouncing between major destinations like London, York, and the Cotswolds, this likely won’t impact your travels. But if you’re heading to any of the following Austen-related places, it’s good to be aware and plan accordingly.
Bath is Austen mecca, with various “Austen Points” scattered across town and multiple initiatives dedicated to the city’s “most famous resident.” (Austen lived in Bath for five tumultuous-yet-foundational years around 1800 and set two of her novels here.) The Jane Austen Center is a museum that contains no historical artifacts but is still a hit with Austen fans, offering visitors the chance to try on Regency-era costumes, play parlor games like Spillikins, and even go all-out at “Tea with Mr. Darcy.”
The Center also organizes Bath’s annual Jane Austen Festival, which unfolds genteelly every fall with costumed promenades and parties. Beyond its primary dates (Sept. 12 to 21 this year), the festival is celebrating Austen 250 with a pair of book-themed balls—complete with traditional dance training—on May 31 and June 28, and a heavily indulgent “Yuletide Birthday Ball” in December. Whether you fancy a dance or are merely going to be in Bath around those times, anticipate heavy crowds (and long queues at your favorite local Regency-era tailor).
Beyond Bath, a trio of remote sites in southern England—the Jane Austen House, Steventon, and Winchester Cathedral—are also ports of call for Austen die-hards. Located about 1.5 hours southwest of London (on the way to Southampton), these aren’t as convenient as Bath—but each is a 30-minute drive from one another, creating a handy triangle of pilgrimage sites that can easily be done in a day.
The best is the Jane Austen House, in the village of Chawton. This is a museum in the building where she lived her final years (when, importantly, she wrote most of her novels). The house sports a good collection of artifacts including personal letters, first editions of her books, and her (very small) writing table—and this year is celebrating her birthday with a year-long “Austenmania” exhibit.
Steventon is where Austen was born. It doesn’t normally offer much other than her childhood church, but this year it’s throwing multiple celebratory events including a fair, an art exhibition, and a handful of concerts. Winchester Cathedral, meanwhile, is worth a visit regardless of its Austen ties: It’s the longest medieval cathedral in the world, boasts perfectly preserved Gothic architecture, and is never crowded. Along with Austen’s grave, the Cathedral honors the author with numerous plaques and an impressive memorial stained-glass window—and will be erecting a life-size statue of her this October.
Then there’s Chatsworth House, a regal estate up in the Midlands, near Nottingham. This was supposedly Austen’s inspiration for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley mansion in “Pride and Prejudice” (and was the location used for the 2005 film adaptation starring Keira Knightley). It doesn’t hold as much Austen heritage as the other sites, but it’s still fun to visit—and will likely be popular with Jane-iacs this year.
And then there will be balls. Throughout the country, throughout the year: From those book-themed-bashes in Bath, to a festive winter ball at Chatsworth House, and many in between. If you travel with a flowery headpiece or black top-hat, feel free to join in—otherwise, at least you’ll know why so many people in Regency attire are flooding England’s cobbled streets and rickety pubs.
