Tickets on sale for Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration!
Tickets for the last of our festivals celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth in 2025 are now on sale! Join us in December for talks, tours, workshops and performances!
Our year-long celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday comes to a heady conclusion in December, as we fill the House with a whirl of gaieties and events – from captivating talks and hands-on workshops to lively readings, object interactions and performance.
Step away from the bustle of Christmas preparations and enjoy the simplicity and calm of another age – walk, read and sew in Jane Austen’s footsteps – and celebrate Jane Austen’s extraordinary genius and remarkable literary legacy.
This Festival celebrates winter crafts, as we picture the Austen women sitting around the fire on a dark evening, sewing and telling stories by candlelight. We begin with a celebration of sustainable patchwork, inspired by the patchwork coverlet created by Jane and her mother and sister Cassandra from scraps of dress and furnishing fabrics, which can be seen on display in the House. Join acclaimed designer, quilt-maker and author Lauren MacDonald for a talk about her new book Piece by Piece and her own textile journey – quilts she has known and loved, and quilts she has created. In the afternoon, Lauren will lead a hands-on workshop on English paper piecing, using pre-loved fabrics.
We are also delighted to welcome back Helen Sill, beloved local artist and embroiderer, for a Mindful Embroidery Workshop Inspired by Jane Austen (with a Contemporary Twist!). Join Helen on the eve of Jane Austen’s birthday for a peaceful and soul-soothing morning of embroidery, and take away an embroidered sampler inspired by Jane Austen’s home and garden.
Throughout the Festival you can enjoy a range of fascinating talks. Look back over 500 years of history with a talk examining Jane Austen’s life and legacy, and another on the 250 years before Jane Austen’s birth, examining some of the historic events that informed Jane Austen’s world view, shaped the society she lived in, and made her the novelist we so admire. Global audiences will enjoy a virtual talk by superstar dress historian Hilary Davidson, examining and explaining The Words of Regency Dress – in celebration of her new book A Guide to Regency Dress: From Corsets and Breeches to Bonnets and Muslin.
Festival Favourites include our popular Drop in and Write session, and daily pop up talks. Another of our popular Objects in Focus sessions will explore Jane Austen through Time – led by an expert member of our Collections team, you’ll see a range objects from the collection up close, learn about their history and how we care for them.
A Celebration of Jane Austen is a festival highlight – join us for a unique event that moves through the House itself – starting with celebratory drinks in the Historic Kitchen before moving up to the Family Room for an exclusive show-and-tell of some of the most treasured objects in the museum collection, and then finally to the Drawing Room where a pair of talented actors will read aloud some of our favourite scenes and passages from Jane Austen’s letters and novels. You’ll leave aglow with festive cheer and even some Christmas treats to take away with you and enjoy at home.
On Tuesday 16 December, Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, the Festival draws to a close with a very special day of celebrations! Throughout the day the House will be animated with live music, pop up talks and object interactions. Visit our Silhouette Salon, write a birthday message to Jane and take home a unique memento to remember the day.
We’re also delighted to host two special performances of Yours Ever, Jane – a delectable two-act play created and performed by actress Sarah Finch, accompanied by a live musician. Through words, music and dance this production exudes Jane’s sharp wit and sense of fun and brings her inimitable characters to life.
On Tuesday evening the Festival concludes with our popular annual Virtual Birthday Party. Join us online for a brilliant and joyful celebration featuring fascinating talks, lively readings and all sorts of fun and games. Special guests this year include writer and rare book dealer Rebecca Romney, screenwriter Deborah Moggach (Pride and Prejudice, 2005), V&A Performance Curator Harriet Reed, and award-winning poet Robert Seatter. With performances by acclaimed actress Tamzin Merchant (Pride and Prejudice, 2005) and female-led theatre company Shake-Scene. Regency dress strongly encouraged – we love to see your elegant attire!
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME:
Friday 12 December
11am: Objects in Focus: Austen Through Time
12.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
2pm: Drop in & Write (FREE)
5pm: Twilight Tour: A Regency Christmas
Saturday 13 December
11am: Talk: Patchwork with Lauren MacDonald
12.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
1.30: Quilt workshop with Lauren MacDonald
5.30: A Celebration of Jane Austen
Sunday 14 December
9am: Guided Tour: A Regency Christmas
10.30: Austen Salon
12pm: Talk: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy
12.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
2pm: Talk: 250 years that made Jane Austen
8pm: Virtual Talk: The Words of Regency Dress (ONLINE)
Monday 15 December:
9am: Guided Tour: Jane Austen’s Life & Legacy
10.15: Workshop: Stitching a Garden Sampler
12.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
Tuesday 16 December
9am: Guided Tour: Jane Austen’s Life & Legacy
11.30: Performance: ‘Yours Ever, Jane’
11.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
12.30: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
1.30pm: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
2.15pm: Performance: ‘Yours Ever, Jane’
2.30pm: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
3.30pm: Pop up talk: Jane Austen 250 (FREE)
8pm: Jane Austen’s Virtual Birthday Party (ONLINE)
Full Day Passes are available for some days of the festival.
We strongly advise pre-booking your admission tickets to avoid disappointment. For more news and updates, sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
