Persuasion & Poetry Festival tickets now on sale!

Throughout 2025, we are hosting a series of festivals to celebrate Jane Austen’s special anniversary year. In September, our autumnal festival will celebrate Jane Austen's last published novel with a packed programme of talks, walks, workshops and performance.

Our Persuasion & Poetry Festival will run from 12 – 21 September and offers a packed programme of events from talks and tours to workshops, special events and performance. At the heart of the festival is Jane Austen’s last completed novel, Persuasion – a most mature work full of poetry, autumnal wistfulness and longing. We hope you can join us for some festival events – either here in Chawton or online!

The Festival programme kicks off on 12th September with a poetry evening at local bookshop Goldfinch Books, starring fabulous guest poet Rachel Long. Poetry continues into the weekend with an inspiring poetry workshop and talk by Maura Dooley– award winning poet, Austen lover, and former Poet in Residence at Jane Austen’s House. We’ll be hosting inspiring creative workshops including Botanicals of the Regency led by Geanina Grigore, and Mindful Painting by Kristina Kivu, which promise to be inspiring and relaxing – and a lot of fun!

There will also be some festival favourites, from our popular free Sewing Circle and Drop in and Draw events, to a magical Reading Aloud of scenes from Persuasion in the Drawing Room.

The Festival line up includes a series of wonderful talks – from a Drawing Room lecture by acclaimed novelist Salley Vickers to talks on Jane Austen’s Garden by Molly Williams, how the natural world features in Persuasion by Professor Michael Greaney, Letters and Ephemera in Persuasion by book creator Barbara Heller, and a dive into the darker side of Regency England with menswear historian Mark Wallis. Lucinda Hawksley will lead an intimate Persuasion salon and will also host an in conversation event with novelist Emily Howes.

On the last day of the Festival, take advantage of our Full Day Pass which covers House entry and four talks!

For our global audience there are some exciting online events, including a virtual talk with Molly Williams and Jessica Roux discussing their new book Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels, and a fascinating exploration of Jane Austen’s development as a writer by Collins Hemingway.

We’re also excited to announce a House Takeover by the Regency Wardrobe! Created by fine artist Stephanie Smart, this installation will see exquisitely created wardrobe items – from gowns and coats to hats, gloves and shawls – all created from paper and thread, displayed in each room of the House. The installation will run from 9 September to 16 November, and during the Festival, Stephanie will join us for an exclusive talk on how the work was created and a tour of the installation itself.

Visitors will be able to visit our 2025 exhibition Austenmania!, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Austen adaptations of 1995, and families of all ages will enjoy following our free Poetry Trail around the House and garden.

See below for the full festival line-up and to book tickets!

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Friday 12 September
10am: Piano Practice
10.30: Workshop: Mindful Art
7.30pm: Poetry evening at Goldfinch Books

Saturday 13 September
10am: Piano Practice
10.30: Poetry workshop with Maura Dooley
3pm: Talk: Jane Austen’s Love of Poetry
6pm: Drawing Room Talk: The Difficult Miss Austen

Sunday 14 September
10am: Piano Practice
11am: Talk: Bringing Jane Austen’s Garden to Life
2pm: Workshop: Botanicals of the Regency
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
7pm: Virtual Tour: Persuasion

Monday 15 September
10am: Piano Practice
11am: Objects in Focus with the Folio Society
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
3pm: Village Walk

Tuesday 16 September
10am: Piano Practice
11am: Sewing Circle
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
2.30pm: Garden Tour
8pm: Virtual Talk: Jane Austen’s Garden

Wednesday 17 September
10am: Piano Practice
11am: Drop in and Write
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion

Thursday 18 September
10am: Piano Practice
11am: Drop in and Draw
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
8pm: Virtual Talk: Jane Austen’s Development as a Writer

Friday 19 September
10am: Piano Practice
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
3pm: Village Walk
6pm: Reading Aloud: Persuasion
7.30pm: Reading Aloud: Persuasion

Saturday 20 September
10am: Piano Practice
11.30: Talk: The Lawless Land of Jane Austen
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
2.30pm: Talk: The Regency Wardrobe
4.30pm: Tour: The Regency Wardrobe

Sunday 21 September
10am: Persuasion Salon
12pm: In Conversation with Emily Howes
1.45pm: Talk: The Nature of Persuasion
2pm: Pop up talk: Persuasion
3.30pm: Talk: Letters and Ephemera in Persuasion