Did you know that in 2025 we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, one of my favourite British authors. She is as popular as ever and we are looking forward to having the opportunity to celebrate her life and works this year. We are already hooked on Miss Austen, the tv adaptation of Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, and we are looking forward to finding out about all of the events happening this year.
Exploring Jane Austen’s House in Chawton
A few years ago we decided to visit Jane Austen’s house is Chawton. This was the house gifted to her, her sister and mother by her brother Edward Austen. She lived in it from 1809 until her death in 1817. In 1949 the house opened to the public and today it is a thriving museum and a wonderful place to visit.
The house sits on a large plot looking out onto the main street of Chawton. Today it is decorated as Jane Austen would have known it, with numerous outbuildings and gardens to explore. During our visit we visited the bakehouse and outbuildings before exploring the garden.
The garden was even bigger in Jane Austen’s day but today you can explore the herb border, rose beds, shrubbery and lawn.
There were some simple games which the children could play and use up their energy. They enjoyed this part of our visit!
Big Brother took the opportunity to make a little lavender bag, just as the Austen sisters would have made to keep their clothes smelling sweet.
Then it was time to explore the house. It has been decorated as it might have been when the Austen family lived there. So you can see the room she may have shared with her sister Cassandra, as well as the room where she wrote Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. There is also plenty of space for exhibitions and you can see some of Jane’s possessions, manuscripts and items associated with her.
Jane Austen’s house in Chawton is a great place to start celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth. We found plenty to see and do and it was a great way to introduce the children to Jane Austen. We combined our day out with a trip on the Watercress Line, another fun experience for the kids!
Our ticket was valid for a free return visit for one year.
There is free parking in the public car park opposite, beyond the pub car park.
We stopped for refreshments in Cassandra’s Cup, across the road from Jane Austen’s House.
Jane Austen’s House can be found at:
Jane Austen’s House
Chawton
Hampshire
GU34 1SD
You may be interested in other places to visit connected to Jane Austen:
Winchester and Jane Austen’s grave in Winchester Cathedral
The Vyne (where Jane Austen attended a ball)
Bath and the New Assembly Rooms
This sounds like a lovely museum to explore with kids.