This year marks a very special year for Bath and its famous former resident Jane Austen, born in 1775. From dressing up with fellow Jane Austen fans as one of her much-loved characters, learning more about Jane’s connection to Bath with special talks, tours and trails or exploring Bath locations used in screen adaptations of Jane’s novels. We’ve highlighted ways to celebrate 250 years of one of the world’s most renowned authors – follow in Jane’s footsteps and imagine the Regency-era Bath she vividly brought to life on the pages of her novels.
Discover our Jane Austen self-guided audio tour
Festivals, events, performances & exhibitions
Jane Austen Festival
Friday 12 – Sunday 21 September
On December 16th 1775 Jane Austen was born in Hampshire. To celebrate this momentous year in Austen history, the Jane Austen Festival will be holding extra special events throughout 2025 and the September Festival. The Grand Regency Promenade will take place on Saturday 13 September.
Jane Austen Balls
31st May, 28th June, 13th December
The Jane Austen Festival will hold 3 balls next year – a Persuasion nautical-themed ball on 31 May, followed by a Sanditon seaside-themed ball on 28 June, the first time the festival has hosted two summer balls in its history. The third will be a special Yuletide Birthday Ball on Saturday 13 December at the Pump Room Restaurant.
Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel
Friday 6th June
The Jane Austen Festival will hold 3 balls next year – a Persuasion nautical-themed ball on 31 May, followed by a Sanditon seaside-themed ball on 28 June, the first time the festival has hosted two summer balls in its history. The third will be a special Yuletide Birthday Ball on Saturday 13 December at the Pump Room Restaurant.
Austen’s After Hours at Bath Abbey
Various Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from April – September
On this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath. From an American millionaire to an innkeeper, doctor, actor, and musician, their fascinating stories are all linked to the Austen family. Enjoy a drink as you step back in time and experience the Abbey in a whole new way.
The Jane Austen Centre
Open daily
Learn about, dress like and even eat like Jane Austen at the interactive and immersive centre dedicated to the author, which looks at her life and the impact of Bath on her writing. No visit is complete without ‘Tea with Mr Darcy’ in the Regency Tea Room.
Illustrating Austen at The Holburne Museum
September 2025 – January 2026
The Holburne Museum will offer audiences the chance to see the artwork behind their favourite Austen novels. Centring around Austen’s stories and the characters she created, Illustrating Austen will demonstrate how our favourite characters came to life on the page and have evolved through the years, reflecting the changing times and new audiences.
‘The Most Tiresome Place in the World’: Jane Austen & Bath
5th July – 2nd November
In 2025 No.1 Royal Crescent will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a new temporary exhibition, ‘The Most Tiresome Place in the World’: Jane Austen & Bath. Jane Austen had a complicated relationship with Bath. The scandals and shallowness of the city fuelled her cynicism and wit, and nothing escaped her scathing pen. And yet she wrote very little while living in the city. Letters, contemporary responses and the only manuscript she wrote in Bath will reveal the highs and lows of her time here, as this exhibition exposes how turbulence and loss cast a long shadow over Jane Austen and Bath.
An Audience with Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen
Thursday 27 May
Acclaimed historian Lucy Worsley leads us into the life of one of English literature’s most cherished figures. For these live, beautifully illustrated talks, Lucy discusses the world of the beloved author of timeless classics such as Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.
Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) at The Theatre Royal Bath
14th – 19th April
Direct from its triumph in the West End, the award-winning Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story. Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate production.
Jane Austen Week at Topping & Company
23th – 29th June
Topping and Co. is thrilled to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a week of captivating literary events dedicated to the iconic author and her enduring legacy including talks from Gill Hornby on her book Elopement, Hillary Davidson who will delve into Austen’s wardrobe and share her expertise on Regency fashion and Kathryn Sutherland will explore Austen’s world in 41 objects including contemporary memorabilia inspired by her legacy.
Austen Lost & Found with The Natural Theatre Company
Multiple dates throughout 2025
Bath’s Natural Theatre Company will be performing their immersive ‘Austen Lost and Found’ theatre show throughout the year using the city itself as a stage. Join them for witty walkabout performances exploring Jane’s life, creative ideas, and adventures.
Film Bath Pride & Prejudice screening in Bath Abbey
13th September
Step into the world of Jane Austen and experience the timeless romance of Pride and Prejudice like never before, in the breathtaking setting of Bath Abbey.
Pride & Prejudice screening in Bath Forum
19th September
Step out of the pages of Austen and straight into Bath’s own art-deco picture-palace as we bring Pride & Prejudice back to the big screen in the glorious surroundings of The Forum.
Walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen with Visit Bath’s free audio walking tour
Free experience
Focusing on Jane Austen and her life in Bath, the tour takes in the highlights of the city and includes extracts from Jane Austen’s novels and letters, which describe Bath as it would have been in its Georgian heyday. The tour takes approximately one-and-a-half hours but stop at any point to visit a museum or go into a café or shop.
Jane Austen and Austentatious Bath with In and Beyond Bath
Availble Monday – Friday throughout 2025
This special day tour curated by In and Beyond Bath will take in locations in the Cotswolds, Lacock and Bath connected to Jane. The 8-hour itinerary includes lunch and a cream tea.
The Jane Austen Bath Photo Tour
Available daily
This tour focuses on Jane Austen’s various lodgings in Bath, the places mentioned in Northanger Abbey and the locations used in various films of her novels. The tour will also take in other historic and picturesque buildings en route.
Food & drink experiences
Afternoon Tea at PLATE
The Bird Bath, 18-19 Pulteney Road, Bath, BA2 4EZ
Encapsulate the very best of British tradition with a divine afternoon tea. Indulge in a mouth-watering selection of sweet treats, dainty pastries and scones with lashings of West Country cream & jam.
Sally Lunn’s
4 North Parade Passage Bath, BA1 1NX
Sally Lunn’s is one of the oldest houses in Bath (c.1482) and serves one of the most famous local delicacies – the original Sally Lunn bun. According to legend, Sally Lunn, a French refugee, arrived in 1680 and established her bakery. No Jane Austen-inspired trip to Bath is complete without indulging in a bun!
