I fell in love with Jane Austen when I was 17 with the first turning of the pages of Pride & Prejudice. My heart was captured by her words, but it was the discovery that Austen has a sister named Cassandra that truly deepened my affection into a lifelong devotion.
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth, and after a visit last fall to Heckfield Place, a country estate that feels like stepping back in time into Austen’s world, I’m inspired to craft the ideal Austen itinerary through Great Britain.
It’s only fitting to celebrate Austen’s birthday with a literary escape through England, a journey that encompasses the places that not only inspired her writing, but also the settings of the innumerable films and television series based on her books.
Born on December 16, 1775, in the Hampshire countryside, Austen’s England was a world of drawing rooms and carriages, quiet humor, and a steely resolve that shimmered beneath the veneer of all things polite society.
How her world still beckons, even now.
England is more than the backdrop to Austen’s novels, of course. It was her muse that inspired her landscapes and scenery, her canvas on which she wrote enduring stories of love and the human condition, and her legacy, which we still celebrate. From the Bath Assembly Rooms to the rolling hills of Derbyshire, these places shaped her characters and inspired readers across centuries. Exploring these places as a literary pilgrimage immerses you into the England that Austen knew and loved.
This journey steps directly into Jane Austen’s world. You’ll walk the same crescents she did in Bath, stand in the gardens that inspired Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley, and pause at the quiet gravesite that marks a life far larger than it first appears. Whether you’ve read all six novels or just watched a few adaptations, being in these places makes her stories—and her voice—feel personal and alive.
Austen’s England still lingers in its landscapes: graceful estates, winding garden paths, and villages where time seems to slow. These are the settings that shaped her imagination and continue to stir ours. And while I first fell for Pride & Prejudice, it’s Persuasion that holds me now—Anne Elliot’s story of second chances and lost love rediscovered.
This itinerary blends beauty, meaning, and just enough indulgence. It’s a celebration of Austen’s life—and a chance to reconnect with your own sense of wonder, romance, and possibility.
Jane Austen Birthday Itinerary: A 9-Day Literary Escape
From champagne in London to carriage-era trains, Georgian crescents, and quiet countryside reflection—this 9-day journey traces Austen’s life and legacy from London to Bath, the Peak District to Hampshire. You’ll visit the Assembly Rooms she once attended, wander through the landscapes that shaped her imagination, and explore the homes that brought her stories to life on screen.
At Chatsworth House—widely believed to be the inspiration for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley—you’ll stand in the same grand entrance hall that captured Elizabeth Bennet’s gaze in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice. At Wilton House, with its exquisite Palladian rooms and sweeping grounds, you’ll recognize backdrops from Sense & Sensibility, Bridgerton, and Emma.And in Lacock Village, where time seems to have paused, you’ll stroll streets used in countless period films, from Cranford to Downton Abbey.
This is a journey of grand estates and intimate museums, of literary landmarks and cinematic settings. With hand-selected stays—including The Lanesborough, Heckfield Place, and The Royal Crescent Hotel—you’ll experience Jane’s world in all its layered richness.
Walk where Jane walked. Toast to her genius. And experience England in all its storied elegance.
If there’s enough interest, I’d love to bring a small group along this November—an unforgettable girls’ trip filled with beauty, books, and just the right amount of mischief. This itinerary is my dream version of a Jane-inspired escape.
Take a look at all the delicious details. And if something here sparks your imagination, I’d be delighted to tailor a private journey just for you — whether it’s a solo adventure, a meaningful getaway with daughters or nieces, or a shared story with dear friends.
Because Some Stories Deserve Sequels
These optional three-day extensions let you continue your British adventure—choose just one, mix and match, or indulge in all three.
Each adds a new dimension to the journey, from royal palaces to literary towns and riverside strolls.
It’s your story—extend it however you like.
Optional 3-Day Extension: Blenheim, Oxford & Windsor
For those craving a deeper dive into stately splendor, royal legacy, and academic lore.
Begin with Blenheim Palace, a baroque masterpiece and the birthplace of Winston Churchill—its gilded halls and manicured grounds evoke an era of drama and pageantry. Then explore Oxford, where spires and cobbled streets inspired Alice in Wonderland and Brideshead Revisited, and where Jane’s world of wit and wonder still echoes.
You’ll retire each evening at Estelle Manor, a lavish retreat blending Jacobean bones with modern design and adventure — perfect for spa time or countryside pursuits.
Wrap with a day at Windsor Castle, the oldest continually occupied royal residence, rich in pageantry, royal ceremonies, and British tradition. End your stay with a farewell lunch near the castle and a final evening at leisure.
Optional 3-Day Extension: Hampton Court, Churchill & The West End
History, intrigue, and royal grandeur meet modern sophistication on this stylish London return.
Begin at Hampton Court Palace, where Tudor kitchens, a famed maze, and Baroque apartments invite you into another age. Then pause in Richmond for riverside beauty and pub fare before checking in at Raffles London at The OWO, a dramatic transformation of Churchill’s former war offices into one of the city’s most elegant new hotels.
The next day is for Churchill’s legacy—walk the underground war rooms, tour the Old War Office (now the stunning Raffles hotel), and dine at The Goring, a royal favorite. On day three, step into Greenwich’s maritime heritage, then return for a final West End performance or museum visit—perhaps the British Museum or Kensington Palace before departing.
Optional 1-Day Extension: Culture, Palaces & Restful Refinement
For those who want to linger just a little longer, this final extension offers a last sweep of British culture—from Kensington Palace and Diana’s legacy to the British Museum’s Enlightenment treasures. You’ll explore with elegance, staying again at Raffles or another five-star icon, and depart with the feeling of having truly lived inside a novel.
Ready to walk in Jane’s footsteps, champagne coupe in hand? Let’s plan your custom Austen birthday escape—luxury, literature, and landscapes await.
