Visit Jane Austen’s House in Chawton on an easy day trip from London.
Few writers have captured the imagination of readers around the world quite like Jane Austen. And with this year marking the 250th anniversary of her birth, there’s no better time to plan a literary pilgrimage to England in her honor. You might be surprised to discover just how much of Austen’s world can be found right in London. It’s also the perfect starting point for day trips to her home in Chawton, the peaceful village where she wrote all of her novels, and to Bath, whose elegant streets and social whirl inspired her writing. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or new to her world, this is the year to follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps!
Day Trip to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton
Jane Austen wrote her novels at a small desk tucked away in a corner of the dining room.
For a true Austen enthusiast, there’s something magical about stepping into Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. This peaceful Hampshire cottage is where she lived for the last eight years of her life and wrote or revised all of her novels. Walking through the rooms, you can almost picture her daily routines and the rhythm of family life mixed with the quiet determination of her writing. Some of the smallest details are the most moving, especially seeing her tiny twelve-sided writing table, which is surprisingly modest in size for the literary world it helped create.
Outside in the cottage garden, sit on a bench surrounded by flowers and imagine Austen herself finding inspiration in this same setting. The entire experience feels intimate, from personal memorabilia to quilts that Austen worked on with her mother and sister to family stories. Of course, there’s a charming shop, perfect for Austen-inspired keepsakes.
Make a day of it by planning time to also visit Chawton House, once owned by Austen’s brother Edward, now a museum and library devoted to women’s writing. And for a fittingly English interlude, you’ll find the welcoming pub The Greyfriar just across the street.
A quiet moment of inspiration in the garden at Jane Austen’s House.
Getting There from London:
Reaching Chawton from London is easier than you might expect. Take the train from London Waterloo to Alton, the nearest station, which usually takes just over an hour and offers a pretty ride into the Hampshire countryside. From Alton, you’ll want to plan ahead: there’s often no taxi waiting at the station and Uber isn’t reliable, so it’s best to pre-book with a local company such as Wilson Taxis.
If the weather is fine, it’s also possible to walk—about 35–40 minutes—following Alton’s historic high street, once part of the St. Swithun’s Way pilgrimage route from Winchester to Canterbury. This walking guide from Jane Austen’s House has all the details. It’s a charming stroll, especially as you approach the village of Chawton with its thatched-roof cottages.
Be sure to book tickets to Jane Austen’s House in advance, especially during the summer months when demand is high. With a little planning, a day trip to Chawton makes for one of the most rewarding literary pilgrimages from London.
Day Trip to See Jane Austen’s Bath
Spend a day in Bath exploring how the charming city inspired Austen.
With its honey-colored Georgian architecture, incredible Roman Baths and graceful Abbey, Bath is a city that seems to come to life straight from the pages of a Jane Austen novel. But for Austen admirers, the real joy is that Bath is the backdrop of her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Though she only lived here for a few years, from 1801–1806, the city left a vivid mark on her life and writing. You can almost see her heroines strolling the streets, gossiping over assemblies and musing on matters of the heart. Simply wandering Bath is enough to make you feel part of her story.
Visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Bath is a must for fans.
A highlight for fans is the Jane Austen Centre, where Austen’s time in Bath is brought to life through exhibits, costumed guides and engaging stories. It’s the perfect place to deepen your connection to the city as Austen knew it. And because no Austen outing is complete without a touch of indulgence, you can finish with afternoon tea in the Centre’s Regency Tea Room, where tiered trays of cakes and scones await – a treat even the most discerning heroine would approve of.
Getting There from London:
Getting to Bath from London is simple thanks to the fast train from Paddington Station, which takes about 90 minutes. Arriving at Bath Spa station, it’s just a short walk or quick taxi ride to the city center, with the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the Georgian terraces all close at hand. The city is wonderfully compact and best explored on foot, leaving you free to admire its graceful streets and perhaps imagine bumping into a Captain Wentworth just around the corner.
Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey
Small plaque for Jane Austen (lower left) in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Closer to home during your London stay, you’ll also find a tribute to Jane Austen in the celebrated Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. While Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, her memorial tablet here is a fitting recognition of her place among Britain’s greatest writers. Surrounded by Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Wordsworth and many more, it’s a moving stop for any Austen admirer – and a wonderful reason to visit the Abbey.
For an even deeper experience, consider the Westminster Abbey: Britain Through the Ages tour, which brings the Abbey’s remarkable history to life—from royal coronations to literary legends—and leaves you with the feeling that you’ve walked through centuries of history.
Austentatious Fun in London
And after all that earnest literary sightseeing, it’s only right to let your inner Jane Austen fan cut loose. Enter Austentatious, the award-winning comedy smash that’s been delighting West End audiences since 2022. Each night, the quick-witted cast dream up an entirely new “lost” Austen novel based on a title shouted out by the audience. Performed in Regency costume with live music, it’s a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud romp that reveals Austen’s world is as ripe for satire as it is for swooning.
Jane Austen in London
A blue plaque marks where Jane Austen stayed at 23 Hans Place in Lonond. (credit)
If your London wanderings leave you wanting to know more about Jane Austen’s time in the city, Jane Austen’s House in Chawton has curated a delightful online exhibition Jane Austen in London. Inspired by a letter she wrote to her sister Cassandra in September 1813, it follows her lively two days in the capital staying at her brother Henry’s house at 10 Henrietta Street. Find out what she did, from shopping on Bond Street for bonnets to evenings at the theater in Covent Garden. Even if you can’t make it to London in person, the exhibition offers a glimpse of Austen’s Regency world at your fingertips.
Or if you’re planning a trip to London, be sure to take a stroll by 10 Henrietta Street, which is just around the corner from Covent Garden, to spot the green plaque commemorating her stay. You’ll also find another Jane Austen plaque at 23 Hans Place in Knightsbridge, where she stayed with her brother Henry again from 1814-1815.
A Most Agreeable Stay in London
Enjoy a holidau surrounded by literary touches at our charming Austen vacation rental in Kensington.
And when you are ready to follow in Austen’s footsteps, our London vacation rentals bring the city’s literary charm right to your doorstep. From elegant apartments in historic neighborhoods to welcoming spaces just steps from cultural highlights, every stay is designed to make you feel part of London’s story. After all, it is a truth universally acknowledged that every London journey deserves a stay as memorable as the city itself. Discover yours with London Perfect!
