Despite only publishing six novels, Jane Austen’s influence has lasted centuries. From ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ to ‘Clueless’, ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ to Bollywood’s ‘Bride and Prejudice’, those novels continue to have huge cultural impact. Suffice to say, Jane Austen is a historic figure worthy of big celebrations. And this year, we’ve got the perfect excuse.
2025 marks 250 years since Jane’s birth. Her actual birthday is December 16, but festivities are happening across the country throughout the year. It’ll be such an Austen-packed yet that ‘Jane Austen’s England’ was named the number one place to visit in the world by the New York Times for 2025.
If donning your finest gown for a Regency ball, exploring exclusive exhibitions or gathering to watch the wonderful array of Austen adaptations sound up your street – keep reading. So, here’s where to go to get involved.
Bath
Here’s a fun fact: Bath is mentioned in all six of Jane Austen’s novels and is the main setting of two of them. It’s basically the Jane Austen capital. So it makes sense that the city is hosting a vast array of revelries to mark her birthday.
There’s an entire Jane Austen Festival happening in September, though the full details are still under wraps. So far, we know that there will be a big costumed promenade through the city on September 13 and a programme of Austen-inspired gala balls.
There’s a ‘Persuasion’-themed balls on May 1 and another based on the unfinished novel, ‘Sanditon’ on June 28. Later in the year there will be a ‘Sense and Sensibility’-themed soirée and Yuletide Jane Austen Birthday ball, both at Bath Pump Rooms. You can keep an eye out for tickets going on sale for all of those here.
Hampshire
Winchester Cathedral is Jane Austen’s final resting place. It plans to commemorate her by exhibiting the manuscript of her poem ‘To the Memory of Mrs Lefroy’ for the first time and unveiling a new statue. No. 8 College, where the author spent the final weeks of her life, is opening to the public for the first time and Gallery in the Arc is putting on an exhibition titled ‘Beyond the Bonnets: Working Women in Jane Austen’s Novels’.
Elsewhere in Hampshire, Jane lived at Chawton House for the final eight years of her life. So, naturally, anniversary celebrations are being held there too. Its programme includes an ‘Austenmania!’ exhibition, a re-enactment of the first ever reading of Pride and Prejudice more than 200 years ago and a number of talks, guided tours and workshops based on individual novels. Explore Chawton House’s full programme here.
Reading
At nine years old, little Jane Austen was sent away to school in Reading for 18 months. Two centuries later, her former school room in Reading’s Abbey Quarter is opening for a series of 250th anniversary events. There will be guided visits of the school room every Saturday from April to October, which can be booked online in the spring.
Just outside of the city, Basildon Park, which was used as a filming location for ‘Pride and Prejudice’, is holding a festival all about the novel. It’ll include a free trail through the house, writing workshops, sewing sessions and live performances.
Southampton
Yep, Jane lived in Southampton for a brief time, too. Her links to this city are lesser-known, but it’s where she supposedly celebrated her 18th birthday and later lived from 1806 to 1809. Celebrations here have already kicked off with a major exhibition at God’s House Tower showcasing Austen’s travelling writing desk.
From March, there will be another Austen-inspired exhibition at SeaCity Museum and in June, visitors will be able to watch a comedic retelling of Pride and Prejudice at Mayflower Theatre
Throughout the year, Austen fans can also download a free walking map that takes you to eight locations with a connection to the author.
Derbyshire
Chatsworth House, which featured as Mr Darcy’s country estate in the 2005 ‘Pride and Prejudice’ movie, is hosting a winter ball inspired by the novel. The soirée will conclude Chatsworth’s Austen250 programme, which also includes an outdoor film screening, expert talks, live opera and craft workshops.
Keep up to date with all the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ ball details here and explore all the estate’s other Austen events here.
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