Sense & Sensibility Festival Tickets On Sale!

Throughout 2025, we’ll be hosting a series of festivals to celebrate Jane Austen’s special anniversary year.

In May, we’ll be welcoming the change of season with our Spring Fling: Sense and Sensibility Festival, running from the 1st to the 11th of the month and tickets are on sale now! The festival will feature a programme of special events, including themed tours, walks, workshops, pop up talks and late views.

Visitors to the House can explore engaging exhibitions, enjoy free pop-up talks or drop into a free writing session or sewing group.

The festival features unique performances including Reading Aloud: An Evening of Sense and Sensibility, which takes inspiration from Jane Austen’s own habit of reading her own works to family and friends, performed in the atmospheric Drawing Room. Or for a musical twist, don’t miss our Festival Finale: Sense and Musicality, a one-of-a-kind event starting with a look at musical artefacts from the museum collection followed by an intimate concert performed by acclaimed musicians.

Join the festivities wherever you are in the world with a virtual talk or tour! As well as a special S&S themed Virtual Tour and Virtual Book Club, we’ll be hosting a double-bill of Regency Dress History talks by two of our favourite dress historians – Amber Butchart and Hilary Davidson – with a discount when you book both talks!

Enjoy a series of fantastic in-person talks and hands-on workshops, from a fascinating exploration of Jane Austen in 41 Objects by Professor Kathryn Sutherland to a Spring Walk and Poetry Workshop, Mindful Calligraphy, Embroidery and more!

The festival will also feature candlelight tours, an exclusive, early-morning guided tour celebrating sisters throughout Jane’s life and her novels and Objects Up Close: Music and Painting, a special event examining objects from the museum collection relating to music and artworks. In the House you’ll also be able to  view Cassandra the Artist, a small display of Jane’s sister Cassandra’s artworks in the Drawing Room.

There’s something for everyone! See below for the full festival line-up and to book tickets! 

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Thursday 1 May
10am: Piano practice
11am: Drop-in Writing Session (FREE)
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)

Saturday 3 May
10am: Piano practice
10:30am: Spring Walk and Poetry Workshop
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
3pm: Chawton Guided Village Walk
5:30pm & 6pm: Sense and Sensibility Candlelight Tour

Sunday 4
10am: Piano practice
11am: Talk: Living (and ageing) with Jane Austen
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
3pm: Talk: Marianne’s Mind: Jane Austen and Romanticism
6pm, 7:45pm: Reading Aloud: An Evening of Sense and Sensibility

Monday 5 May
10am: Piano practice
1.30pm: Workshop: Mindful Calligraphy with Laura Edralin
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
8pm: Virtual Sense & Sensibility Tour (ONLINE)

Tuesday 6 May
10am: Piano practice
11am: Drop-in Sewing Circle (FREE)
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
7pm: Virtual Book Club: Sense and Sensibility (ONLINE)

Wednesday 7 May
9am: Quiet Visit
10am: Piano practice
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)

Thursday 8 May
10am: Piano practice
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
8pm: Virtual Talk: Regency Textiles and Fashion with Amber Butchart (ONLINE)

Friday 9 May
10am: Piano practice
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)

Saturday 10 May
10am: Piano practice
9am: Guided Tour: Sisters in Life and Literature
11am: Objects Up Close: Music and Painting
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
3pm: Talk: Jane Austen in 41 Objects by Kathryn Sutherland
8pm: Virtual Talk: “But he talked of flannel waistcoats” by Hilary Davidson (ONLINE)

Sunday 11 May
10am: Piano practice
10am: Workshop: Story Journalling through Embroidery
2pm: Pop-up Talk: Cassandra’s Paintings (FREE)
6pm: Festival Finale: Sense and Musicality

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!