London to Jane Austen's main sites: Private day trip

Charming Steventon is the birthplace of Jane Austen, and visitors will instantly be immersed in the peaceful surroundings that inspired the settings in many of her works.

What to see

• Steventon Church, featuring a memorial tablet to James Austen, Jane’s oldest brother
• The site of the former rectory where the Austen family lived, and the lime tree planted there by James

Literary history

• Jane Austen lived in Steventon for the first six years of her life, until the family moved to Bath in 1801
• Austen’s father was Rector of Steventon for 40 years

Take note

• While the Austens’ old home is gone, the lanes surrounding it are intact and worth strolling for those who share Elizabeth Bennet's love of walking

Chawton is the ultimate destination for those hoping to step into the rolling hills, charming cottages, and elegant manors of a Jane Austen novel.

What to see

• Austen’s House, where she lived and wrote classics like “Pride and Prejudice,” now a museum displaying some of the author’s belongings, including her writing table
• Chawton House, owned by Jane’s brother, and housing a women’s literature library and romantic gardens
• St. Nicholas Church, where Jane’s mother and sister are buried

Literary history

• Jane Austen moved here in 1809 with her mother, sisters, and friend Martha Lloyd
• Works written or revised here include: “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park,” and “Emma”

Take note

• Book tickets for the Jane Austen house well in advance, here: https://janeaustens.house/

Close out your day of literary exploration by visiting Jane Austen’s final resting place in historic Winchester.

What to see

• Winchester Cathedral, where Austen’s burial site is marked with a memorial stone and plaque
• The “Jane Austen Trail,” commemorating the author’s final weeks in the city

Literary history

• Austen spent her final weeks receiving medical care at 8 College Street before passing in 1817
• Her last writing is thought to be “Venta,” a short poem about Winchester written to her sister

Take note

• Winchester Cathedral tickets should be purchased online in advance: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/welcome/book-your-visit/