Jane Austen 250: UK Events & Film Locations You Can Reach by Train
Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775, and the wit and social commentary of her six completed novels remains universally popular today. In 2025 fans across the UK will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, with exhibitions and events; almost all of which you’ll be able to travel to by train.
Image credit: Paolo Chiabrando | Unsplash
Unlike many historical female authors, Jane Austen was appreciated in her lifetime with her first four novels seeing moderate success while she was still alive. She came from a relatively well-off background and once met the Prince Regent (George IV), who was said to have enjoyed reading her novels. Living in the late 18th Century, before the first passenger railways, Jane would have travelled the country by coach instead of train, but we feel sure she would have included train journeys in her novels if she had experienced them.
We’ve put together this Jane Austen by train guide to help you join in with the 250th anniversary celebrations. From Jane Austen film locations to themed Regency balls, there’s something in there for everyone; and all of it within easy reach of a train station.
1. Jane Austen film locations you can get to by train (and bus)
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours? Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
One of the great things about film making is that you get to choose fabulous settings in which to place your characters. Some famous Jane Austen film locations are places the author would have visited or mentioned in her novels, but others she might never have seen. You can visit many of them by train.
Chatsworth House
Image credit: Jessica Fadel | Unsplash
After Bath and the Royal Crescent, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is perhaps our most well-known Jane Austen film location. The nearest train station to Chatsworth is Matlock station from where you’ll need to take a bus if you don’t want a long walk. You can also take a bus from the Sheffield Interchange (across the road from Sheffield train station). As well as recognising Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, Chatsworth is also celebrating the 20-year anniversary of its grounds becoming those of ‘Pemberley’ in the 2005 Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice. Chatsworth’s ‘Celebrating Jane Austen’ event is happening over the weekend beginning June 13th and amongst other activities, promises drama, dress-ups and discussions.
Wilton House
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Whilst it is Chatsworth House we usually associate with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation, some of the interior scenes at ‘Pemberley’ were provided by Wilton House near Salisbury. At one point, Lizzie looks out of the drawing room window at Wilton to view the fountains at Chatsworth. Wilton House also features in the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility and the 2019 production of Emma. Wilton House is a 15-minute bus ride from Salisbury railway station.
Montacute House
Image credit: Ray Harrington | Unsplash
Splendid Montacute House was a Jane Austen film location for the 1995 Oscar-winning version of Sense and Sensibility. Fans of the novel might recognise it as ‘Cleveland’, country home of the Palmers. From Yeovil Pen Mill station, you can walk to the bus station and catch the South Petherton bus. When you get off the bus, don’t forget to admire the large square known as ‘the Borough’ as this also played a part in the film.
2. Jane Austen’s birthplace by train and bus
“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.” Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
Jane Austen was born in Steventon in Hampshire. Her father George was a rector. At the time of her birth and for much of her life, the family lived at Steventon parsonage. The village of Steventon is in a quiet corner of rural Hampshire and doesn’t have a train station. The nearest station is Overton, from where it’s a two-hour walk along lanes and across fields to Steventon. Or you could catch a bus from Basingstoke station, the journey to Steventon Village Hall will take about an hour.
The parsonage that was Jane Austen’s birthplace is no longer there; it was sadly demolished soon after the family left. You will, however, pass its location as you walk up the lane to Steventon Church where Jane’s father preached for 40 years. Inside the church, you’ll find a memorial tablet to Jane’s brother James.
The locals of Steventon Village have designed their own set of Jane Austen 250 celebrations to include a country fair, a words and music concert and a historical exhibition.
3. Jane Austen events and experiences near Bath Spa railway station
“The distance is nothing when one has a motive.” Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Although all of Jane Austen’s novels mention Bath, only two of them are set in the city. The author only lived in Bath for a few years herself, but she also visited as a young woman. She is reported as not liking the city, but it undoubtedly helped form her impression of the entertaining side of Regency life.
Bath at the time was a place where the fashionable and wealthy came to be seen, but Jane Austen also appreciated the scandalous and contradictory side of Bath society life that we all associate with her novels.
Whether you’re admiring Royal Crescent or exploring Pultney Bridge, Jane Austen will always be present when you visit Bath. But the great author didn’t live at the swankiest Georgian addresses, especially after her father died in 1805.
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Places Jane Austen lived in Bath
These Jane Austen addresses are all within easy walking distance of Bath Spa station. If you visit them in the order below, it will take you about an hour to walk past each one then back to the station.
· 27 Green Park Buildings – Not Jane’s favourite lodgings in Bath
· 25 Gay Street – This Bath location appears in Jane’s novel Persuasion
· No.1 The Paragon – Jane lodged here with her aunt and uncle
· St Swithin’s Church – Jane's parents were married here in 1764
· 4 Sydney Place – Jane's home for four years and now holiday accommodation
Jane Austen museums and attractions in Bath
You’ll find no shortage of Jane Austen memorabilia in Bath City centre and most of them are within short walking distance of Bath Spa train station. We listed some key attractions below. Visit them in the order given for a linear walk ending at magnificent Royal Crescent.
The Jane Austen Centre
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The Jane Austen Centre offers a gleeful snapshot of Regency life as well as the author’s own experiences and achievements. Meet some of Jane’s famous characters, dress up in Georgian costume, take a selfie with the author herself and taste some interesting Regency food. Pre-booking is highly recommended.
The Bath Assembly Rooms
The Bath Assembly Rooms are owned by the National Trust and currently closed for renovation. Exciting plans are afoot to highlight Georgian life in Bath through objects and characters as well as the building and its interiors. The Assembly Rooms were one of the few places where young men and women were allowed to mingle with relative freedom. Observations of both clandestine and public activities inside these walls could well have contributed to Jane Austen’s writing.
No.1 Royal Crescent
Image credit: Hilda Weges | Canva Pro
The Austen family didn’t live in Royal Crescent, but Jane did stroll there, and it has been used as a film location for adaptations of both Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. No. 1 Royal Crescent is a townhouse that has been carefully preserved to show what life was like for Georgian servants as well as how the wealthiest in society lived. Explore the whole house from the bedrooms to the scullery; and find out exactly what was hidden behind the screen in the dining room.
The good people of Bath have planned so many Jane Austen events for this anniversary, it would be impossible to list them all. We’ve chosen a few favourites to share below; all within walking distance of Bath Spa train station. Jane Austen is going to be even more popular this year than usual, so we recommend booking events (and train tickets) well in advance.
Family fun at Austens at the Abbey – Bath Abbey – Saturday 2nd August
It’s never too early to start enjoying historical fiction. This family Jane Austen event at Bath Abbey is set to be a real hit with the youngsters; with ink pens and dance cards, Regency dressing up and even dancing. Everyone will feel like they’ve been to the ball.
The Jane Austen Festival – various locations - 12th - 21st September
This is an annual event with additional festivities planned for this year’s celebrations. The festival kicks off with the popular ‘Regency Costumed Promenade’. Events for the 2025 Jane Austen Festival are still being planned but we do know there will be a total of three themed balls; two based on Jane Austen novels and one to celebrate her birthday in December.
Austen After-Hours – Bath Abbey – various dates
Enjoy a special after-hours Jane Austen themed event at Bath Abbey as costumed guides introduce you to some of Bath’s Regency residents. Enjoy a drink as you step back in time, listen to their stories and find out how each one of them is connected to the great author.
Topping & Company Booksellers – week beginning Sunday 22nd June
A visit to Topping & Company is an event in itself; with beautiful book displays, a coffee shop and even ladders to reach the higher shelves, this is independent book shopping at its finest. To celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, Topping & Company will be hosting a series of book-related events including a guided walk around Jane Austen’s Bath. Hear from authors whose writing has been heavily influenced by Austen, on a range of subjects from her most important literary themes to Regency fashion.
4. Visiting Jane Austen’s Hampshire home by train
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“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” Jane Austen, Emma
Alton station is the nearest train station to Chawton, the village where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years of her life. From the station, it’s just a 45-minute walk to Jane Austen’s House where you’ll be able to explore a collection of the author’s treasures at the same time as finding out what life was been like for her and her family. A particular highlight for 2025 will be the ‘Austenmania Exhibition’, which explores 30 years of Jane Austen novel adaptations.
Image credit: dmitrynaumov | Canva Pro
Nearby you’ll find Chawton House, where Jane’s brother Edward lived. Jane visited the house and grounds often and referred in her letters to it as ‘the Great House’. Today you can follow in the author’s footsteps and wander the house’s peaceful grounds, as well as take a guided tour of the house itself. To celebrate the 2025 Jane Austen anniversary, there will also be a special ‘Sisters of the Pen’ exhibition and performances based on the works of the author.
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5. Jane Austen locations near Winchester railway station
“The Lords and the Ladies were satine’d and ermined” Jane Austen, Winchester Verses
Although the author only stayed in Winchester for a short time, the historic town is proud of its Jane Austen connections. She lived 16 miles away in Chawton and came to stay in the town to seek medical treatment just before her death. Her last composition was a poem about the residents of Winchester whom she derides for preferring the races to their St Swithin’s day worship.
Winchester is a great location for Jane Austen fans at any time but during this special year of celebration, the town is also planning additional exhibitions and events.
Visit the locations in the order below for a circular walk.
8 College Street
This relatively unassuming house was where Jane Austen spent the final weeks and hours of her life. Until recently a private residence, the celebratory summer of 2025 will see it opened to the public for the first time. Displays and artefacts will tell the story of the author’s connections with Winchester and her last days there.
Winchester Cathedral
Image credit: Geoff Eccles | Getty Images
Jane Austen’s final resting place is in Winchester Cathedral, where a memorial stone in the floor marks her grave. There will be a special service in her memory on 16th October and events including an interactive family trail, special afternoon teas and a rare opportunity to view an original Austen poem manuscript are to take place from May onwards. In October, a new statue of Jane Austen will be unveiled in the Cathedral Inner Close.
Winchester City Museum (12-minute walk)
Not many of Jane Austen’s personal items survive but you’ll find a few on display at Winchester City Museum. As well as that, this summer of celebration will see the Museum hosting a Regency ball and fashion show as well as talks and a Murder Mystery event with some of Jane Austen’s characters taking central stage. And, if you’ve been wondering how authentic the Bridgerton Regency costumes really were, there’s even a talk to help you find out.
The Gallery in The Arc
From 26th July to 2nd November, The Gallery in The Arc in Winchester will be hosting the ‘Beyond the Bonnets’ exhibition, which tells the stories of real-life working women as well as those in Austen’s novels. In history and in fiction, these women were often footnotes to other characters, but Jane herself was a working woman and perhaps would have appreciated this focus.
Jane Austen might have lived a short life; she died in 1817 at the age of 41. But her works and comments on life as a woman have left significant legacy. It seems only right that we should celebrate her 250th anniversary. There are plenty of Austen locations and events to choose from, but they are going to be popular. We suggest booking early and hopping on the train to avoid any possibility of traffic queues.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Events
What is the Jane Austen 250th anniversary?
The Jane Austen 250th anniversary in 2025 marks 250 years since the birth of celebrated British author Jane Austen. The milestone is being commemorated with exhibitions, guided walks, Regency balls, and literary events across the UK.
When is Jane Austen’s 250th birthday?
Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775, so her 250th birthday will be celebrated on 16th December 2025. Events are planned throughout the year, especially in the summer and autumn.
Where are the main Jane Austen 250 events taking place?
Key events are being held in Bath, Winchester, Steventon, and Chawton, all of which have strong historical connections to Jane Austen and are accessible by train.
Can I visit Jane Austen’s House by train?
Yes, Jane Austen’s House in Chawton is reachable from Alton station, followed by a 45-minute walk or short taxi ride. It’s an essential stop for fans, featuring original manuscripts and period artefacts.
Is Bath hosting special Jane Austen events in 2025?
Absolutely. Bath will be one of the central hubs for Jane Austen 250 celebrations, including a costumed promenade, Regency-themed balls, and interactive exhibits at the Jane Austen Centre, Bath Abbey, and No.1 Royal Crescent.
Are there any guided Jane Austen walks or tours?
Yes, various locations such as Bath, Winchester, and Steventon are offering guided Jane Austen walks and self-guided trails that take visitors through the places Jane lived, visited, or wrote about.
Are Jane Austen 250 events family-friendly?
Many events, including “Austens at the Abbey” and hands-on museum activities, are family-friendly. Regency dress-up, storytelling, and crafts are perfect for younger fans.
How can I get discounted train tickets to Jane Austen locations?
Use the TrainSplit app to find cheaper split tickets and railcard discounts. You can also buy a digital railcard and store it in the TrainSplit app for seamless travel.
Where should I stay when attending events?
We recommend booking early via our trusted partner Booking.com to find accommodation near key Jane Austen sites like Bath, Alton, or Winchester.
Which Jane Austen film locations can I visit?
You can visit stunning sites like Chatsworth House, Montacute House, and Wilton House, all used in Jane Austen film adaptations and accessible via train and local bus services.
What is Jane Austen’s connection to Winchester?
Jane Austen spent her final days in Winchester, where she died in 1817. She is buried in Winchester Cathedral, which hosts special services and exhibitions in her honour during the 250th anniversary year.
What is Jane Austen’s connection to Steventon?
Steventon is Jane Austen’s birthplace and childhood home, where she wrote drafts of early novels. The original rectory is gone, but the church remains and will feature special events and walking tours in 2025.
Are there any literary festivals featuring Jane Austen in 2025?
Yes, several UK literary festivals, including the Jane Austen Festival in Bath and Winchester Writers’ Festival, will spotlight her work with themed panels, readings, and workshops.
What should I wear to a Regency ball or event?
Attendees often wear Regency-style costumes such as empire-waist gowns, gloves, and bonnets for women, and tailcoats or breeches for men. Rentals and costume guides are often available through event organisers.
Do I need to book Jane Austen events in advance?
Yes, many events such as Regency balls, walking tours, and museum exhibitions require advance booking, especially during peak summer dates or the December birthday weekend.
Can I follow a Jane Austen itinerary by train?
Yes! You can easily plan a Jane Austen rail itinerary using TrainSplit to visit Bath, Winchester, Alton (for Chawton), and London, all with well-connected train routes.
Are there online events or virtual tours?
Some institutions, like the Jane Austen House Museum and British Library, offer virtual talks and 3D tours for those who can’t attend in person.
What are the best books to read before visiting?
Start with Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion, all of which feature locations inspired by real English towns. Consider a biography like Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin for deeper insight.
Are pets allowed at Jane Austen sites?
Most indoor historic sites do not allow pets, but well-behaved dogs are usually welcome in outdoor areas and nearby walking paths. Always check the site’s specific policy before visiting.
Will the 250th anniversary be celebrated internationally?
Yes, Jane Austen societies and museums worldwide—in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan—are also hosting events, book clubs, and film screenings in 2025.
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