IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JANE AUSTEN

Day 1 Arrival in London

Arrive in London today where you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in a private vehicle. Your base for the next three days is Henry's Townhouse in Marylebone, home of Jane's favourite brother. The hotel has been beautifully decorated in Regency style but with all modern comforts, and tasteful Austen references throughout. The balance of the day is at leisure for you to recover from your journey or perhaps take a stroll around Marylebone and nearby Mayfair.

Overnight: Henry's Townhouse

Day 2 Explore Literary London

After breakfast at your hotel you will be joined by your private guide and embark upon a half-day walking tour of Jane Austen's London. Discover atmospheric venues such as Bloomsbury and Covent Garden, institutions such as Twining's Tea, Jane's preferred venue to shop on Bond Street, and her plaque on Hans Place. Your expert guide will add further insight and help bring to life the streets and buildings mentioned in the author's work that formed the literary landscape of London during Jane's literary heyday.

Overnight: Henry's Townhouse

Day 3 Departure to Hampshire, Steventon discoveries

Travel west from London today to the county of Hampshire, on a full-day tour with your driver and guide. One of the highlights today will be the opportunity to visit The Vyne, a former Tudor palace that was converted to a resplendent family estate during the 17th century. Jane Austen connections are rife within the walls and exquisite grounds of The Vyne, and special Austen-themed events take place throughout 2025 to mark 250 years since Jane's birth.

Continue on to Steventon, birthplace of Jane Austen. Pause first at the meadow which originally housed the Rectory where Jane grew up. Though the house itself was demolished five years after the author's death, the surrounding countryside remains largely unchanged. The serenity here allows moments of quiet contemplation of the landscapes that Jane and her siblings would have enjoyed during their formative years. (It is said that early drafts of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility were first penned by Jane at Steventon.) You will then visit St Nicholas Church in Steventon where Jane's father was rector. Here, the church where the Austen family worshipped each week has changed very little, with family memorials evident inside and in the churchyard. Even the yew tree where George Austen kept the keys to the church still stands. Your day concludes at Heckfield Place, a glorious Georgian manor house perfectly located in Austen country, and your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Heckfield Place

Day 4 Jane Austen’s Home at Chawton, and final resting place in Winchester

Today begins with a visit to Chawton, and the Hampshire cottage Jane called home for the final eight years of her life. All six of Jane's novels were either written or revised here at Jane Austen's House. After ample time to explore the house and its prized collection of Austen artefacts, you may wish to remain in the area for a pub lunch.

This afternoon your guide will escort you to the historic city of Winchester. In the north nave of Winchester Cathedral you will find Jane Austen's grave. Jane moved to Winchester for medical treatment in the final months of her life, and family connections ensured a beautiful final resting place within the cathedral's hallowed walls.

Overnight: Heckfield Place

Day 5 Visiting the Great Estates

Bidding farewell to Heckfield Place you will travel west today, into Wiltshire, and the picturesque village of Lacock on the edge of the Cotswolds. Many prestigious productions have counted Lacock and its abbey among their filming sites, including the movie adaptations of Downton Abbey and two editions of Harry Potter. Jane Austen aficionados will find Lacock most familiar from the much-loved 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, where Lacock serves as the main town of Meryton. The village also features in scenes from the 1996 movie adaptation of Emma.

This afternoon, contrast atmospheric Lacock with the extraordinary Palladian House and landscaped gardens of Stourhead. The Temple of Apollo looks out over Stourhead's magnificent gardens, and may be familiar as the venue of Mr Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth Bennett in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. Darcy aside, Stourhead's gardens are a delight to explore, marked by a shimmering lake and Palladian bridge. The last destination of the day is Regency Bath, and the Royal Crescent Hotel, located on a street Jane Austen would have been very familiar with. If time allows, you may also make a stop at Great Chalfield Manor on your journey to Bath. This 15th century manor house was used as the setting for Anne Elliott's home in the 2007 adaptation of Persuasion.

Overnight: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Day 6 Exploring Bath

The wonders of Bath await today, and a fascinating walking tour with your private guide. You will not only visit sites pertinent to Jane Austen, but there will also be opportunities to learn more about Georgian England and the important role Bath played in the social sphere of Jane Austen's world. Visit No 1 Royal Crescent, a splendid museum that showcases life in Georgian times, and home to a special Jane Austen exhibition during the second half of 2025. Though not strictly part of Jane Austen's world, the Roman Baths are also an unmissable attraction during the time in the city. Pause for lunch or afternoon tea in the Pump Room, frequently mentioned in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. You may then wish to round off your afternoon with a visit of Bath Abbey.

Overnight: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Day 7 Departure Day

This morning, check out of Royal Crescent Hotel, from where you will be transferred to London's Heathrow Airport.

Option (1): Add an additional night in Bath to explore more of this picturesque city.

Option (2): Extend your tour to Derbyshire to visit the Chatsworth Estate, the inspiration for Pemberley. Nearby Buxton is also another fine example of a Regency Spa town.

Overnight: Home