Events

Back by popular demand! In 2024 our Virtual Book Club will run monthly from February – November, covering all of Jane Austen’s novels as well as her teenage works and letters. Bring your thoughts, ideas and observations… bring tea and quotes and questions… expect stimulating discussion and debate!

Join us for our Virtual Book Club – a lively online space in which we will discuss all things Jane Austen!

This session will focus on Jane Austen’s youthful, spoof-Gothic novel, Northanger Abbey.

We’ll get the ball rolling with questions, ideas and provocations about the novel and then it’s over to you – as a group we’ll share thoughts, theories, favourites and best-bits.

Whether you love the book, audiobook or a film or stage adaptation, join us to share your love of this internationally beloved story. Why does it matter to you? What have you learned from it? Which bits always make you cry? Which characters do you adore, admire or despise?

Grab a cup of tea and join us for an hour of blissful discussion with fellow Jane Austen fans around the world!

Details:

Date: Thursday 12 September 2024

Time: 7pm – 8pm (BST)

Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets: £6.50 

 This event will take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join the tour in the run up to the event. 

 If you are joining as a group or household, please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

Timings are given in UK time (GMT) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time. 

Please note – ticket sales for this event will close at 5.00pm GMT the day before.

This early-morning entry slot is intended for people who would prefer a quieter and calmer environment to experience the House. It is suitable for individuals or families with members who have sensory processing differences, autistic spectrum conditions or other sensory needs.

During this time we will reduce capacity in the House so there will be fewer visitors. We will also make some changes to reduce sensory input, including turning off all audio and video screens in the House. If there are other changes that would make your visit easier, please contact us to let us know in advance.

As part of our early opening, you will be able to explore the House and garden, and have the opportunity to take part in some family friendly activities.

The Historic Kitchen will be reserved as a quiet area for those needing to take a break. In good weather you may also wish to sit in the garden, which is very peaceful.

You can check out the layout of the House in advance by looking at our virtual tour.

Quiet visits will be offered on the first Wednesday of each month, where possible.

Back by popular demand! In 2024 our Virtual Book Club will run monthly from February – November, covering all of Jane Austen’s novels as well as her teenage works and letters. Bring your thoughts, ideas and observations… bring tea and quotes and questions… expect stimulating discussion and debate!

Join us for our Virtual Book Club – a lively online space in which we will discuss all things Jane Austen!

This session will focus on Jane Austen’s final unfinished novel, Sanditon.

We’ll get the ball rolling with questions, ideas and provocations about the novel and then it’s over to you – as a group we’ll share thoughts, theories, favourites and best-bits.

Whether you love the book, audiobook or a film or stage adaptation, join us to share your love of this internationally beloved story. Why does it matter to you? What have you learned from it? Which bits always make you cry? Which characters do you adore, admire or despise?

Grab a cup of tea and join us for an hour of blissful discussion with fellow Jane Austen fans around the world!

Details:

Date: Thursday 10 October 2024

Time: 7pm – 8pm (BST)

Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets: £6.50 

This event will take place on Zoom.

📩 Please provide a valid email address, the link to join this event will arrive in your confirmation email. Please check your junk and spam mailboxes and contact us if you haven’t received it after 24 hours.

 If you are joining as a group or household, please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

Timings are given in UK time (GMT) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time. 

Please note – ticket sales for this event will close at 5.00pm GMT the day before.

Join Professor Corinne Fowler for a very special event, drawing on her acclaimed book Our Island Stories: country walks through Great Britain and tying into our special year celebrating the 210th anniversary of the publication of Mansfield Park. 

We’ll begin with a fascinating talk about Jane Austen and her family’s connections to the British Empire, before setting out with the group on a 3km ramble in the fields and woods around Chawton that Jane Austen knew so well, learning how the British countryside was shaped by imperialism. Corinne’s account of our rural history is at once affectionate, honest and unflinching, revealing the hidden histories of our beloved landscapes. 

This event ticket includes House entry so you can also enjoy our Mansfield Park exhibition before or after! 

~ 

Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra would frequently take walks from the cottage in which she lived out her final days, now known as Jane Austen’s House at Chawton.  

In 1993, around 176 years after Austen’s death, the academic Edward W. Said wrote a landmark essay called “Jane Austen and Empire” about her novel Mansfield Park. Said’s piece sparked what remains an ongoing debate about Austen’s attitude to transatlantic slavery. Said believed that Mansfield Park failed to take an ethical position on the links between sugar plantations and the handsome houses and splendid grounds of English country estates. He argued that the novel’s protagonist, Fanny Price, ultimately embraced the worldview of her uncle Sir Thomas, whose Antiguan plantations funded his rural retreat. Many disagree with Said’s view, pointing to Austen’s abolitionist sentiments and her partiality for William Cowper, who wrote anti-slavery poems. Others feel that Said underestimated Austen’s aversion to polemical writing about the issue, and that he failed to grasp the widespread support for abolition among women of Austen’s generation.  

This talk explores the range and variety of the Austen family’s connections to empire: to Antigua, colonial wars and her sailor brothers’ links to both colonial wars and anti-slavery activity as well as Jane Austen’s references to slavery in her novels. It also explores new evidence which has since come to light which might help us resolve some of the questions raised by Said all those years ago.      

Details:

Date: Friday 11 October 

Time: 11am – 12.45pm 

Location: This event takes place at Jane Austen’s House. Find us

Tickets: £16.50 

☕ The event will include refreshments including tea or coffee and biscuits. Please let us know of any dietary requirements upon booking.  

🥾 The walk is off-road along footpaths and unfortunately is not suitable for those with mobility issues or need to use mobility scooters or wheelchairs.  

☂️ Please wear sturdy, sensible footwear and bring a bottle of water and sun cream or a raincoat – depending on the weather! 

🎟️ This event ticket includes access to Jane Austen’s House and garden on the event day.  

About Corinne Fowler: 

Corinne Fowler is Professor of Colonialism and Heritage in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. In 2020 Corinne co-authored an audit of peer-reviewed research about National Trust properties’ connections to empire, which galvanized the heritage sector to address its colonial stories and became a major media story. The report won the Museums and Heritage Special Recognition Award, 2022 and an Eastern Eye Award 2023. Before this, Corinne directed Colonial Countryside: National Trust Houses Reinterpreted, a child-led history and writing project (2018-2022), resulting in a book of commissioned writing called Colonial Countryside (Peepal Tree Press, July 2024) which was funded by Arts Council England. Corinne’s new book Our Island Stories: Country Walks Through Colonial Britain was published on 2 May 2024 by Penguin Allen Lane. 

Join us for a guided walk through of our beautiful virtual tour discovering the history of Jane Austen’s House!

VISIT JANE AUSTEN’S HOUSE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME!

Join us for a very special Virtual Guided Tour of Jane Austen’s House, exploring this special building and discovering its secrets!

Whilst today we think of the House in terms of its significance to Jane Austen, it has many more stories to tell. Already 300 years old when Jane Austen moved in, over its long life it has been used as a farmhouse, a coaching inn and tenement housing, as well as being the home and workplace of a one of the world’s most beloved novelists.

On this fascinating tour, you’ll learn about the origins of the building, its development over time, acquisition by the Knight family in 1769, and its murderous history as a village pub.

We’ll move on to explore the life of the House after the Austen women – who lived here and what are their memories? And of course, discover the fascinating story of the founding of the museum by dedicated Austen fans, who couldn’t bear to see her old home falling into disrepair. How did a rusty old iron grate kick-start the story of the museum, and how did the House become a war memorial?

This event will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Museum in 1949, bringing the story right up to date, from late 15^th century right up to the present day.

Details:

Date: Saturday 19 October 2024

Time: 6-7 pm (BST)

Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets: £6.50

 This event will take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join the tour in the run up to the event. 

If you are joining as a group or household, please buy one ticket for each person attending. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

Timings are given in UK time (Greenwich meantime) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time. 

Please note – ticket sales for this event will close at 5.00pm GMT the day of the event.

Back by popular demand! In 2024 our Virtual Book Club will run monthly from February – November, covering all of Jane Austen’s novels as well as her teenage works and letters. Bring your thoughts, ideas and observations… bring tea and quotes and questions… expect stimulating discussion and debate!

Join us for our Virtual Book Club – a lively online space in which we discuss all things Jane Austen!

Our last session of the year will focus on Jane Austen’s Letters, collected and edited by Deirdre Le Faye. This unique collection brings together all of Jane Austen’s known surviving letters, offering an unparalleled and irresistible insight into Jane’s life from 1796, when she was 20 years old, to May 1817, just weeks before her death at the age of 41.

The bulk of the letters are to Jane’s beloved sister Cassandra, with others written to family and friends, as well as the odd business letter. Through her letters, we can glimpse Jane Austen herself – her voice ungilded by fiction. They are intimate and gossipy, observant and informative, bringing alive her family and friends, her surroundings and contemporary events.

We’re not expecting you to have read them all! We’ll choose a couple of letters to get us started and share them in advance, but we’re also keen to hear about the letters that you loved reading as you dip into this glorious collection.

As always, we’ll get the ball rolling with questions, ideas and provocations about the texts and then it’s over to you – as a group we’ll share thoughts, theories, favourites and best-bits.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for an hour of blissful discussion with fellow Jane Austen fans around the world!

Details:
Date: Thursday 14 November 2024
Time: 7pm – 8pm (GMT)
Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!
Tickets: £6.50 

 This event will take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join the tour in the run up to the event. 

 If you are joining as a group or household, please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

Timings are given in UK time (GMT) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time. 

Please note – ticket sales for this event will close at 5.00pm GMT the day before.

This early-morning entry slot is intended for people who would prefer a quieter and calmer environment to experience the House. It is suitable for individuals or families with members who have sensory processing differences, autistic spectrum conditions or other sensory needs.

During this time we will reduce capacity in the House so there will be fewer visitors. We will also make some changes to reduce sensory input, including turning off all audio and video screens in the House. If there are other changes that would make your visit easier, please contact us to let us know in advance.

As part of our early opening, you will be able to explore the House and garden, and have the opportunity to take part in some family friendly activities.

The Historic Kitchen will be reserved as a quiet area for those needing to take a break. In good weather you may also wish to sit in the garden, which is very peaceful.

You can check out the layout of the House in advance by looking at our virtual tour.

For this Quiet Visit, the House will be dressed for Christmas!

Enjoy an evening away from the bustle of Christmas preparations and step back in time to enjoy a magical evening at Jane Austen’s House.

Join us for a unique, candlelit guided tour of the House and discover Jane Austen’s story, told by an expert guide, using the House itself and objects from the collection to set the scene.

Walk through rooms Jane and her family knew and loved, discover their Christmas traditions and family pastimes, and enjoy the House dressed up for Christmas.

We’ll finish with warming drinks and the chance to raise a glass to our favourite author!

DETAILS:

Friday 6 Dec: 5.30pm – 6.30pm & 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Time: Tours begin at 5.30pm, 6.00pm.

Duration: 1 hour

Location: This event takes place at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. Find us

Tickets: £25

 Capacity for each tour will be kept low to allow for the best possible experience. 

⏰ Each tour will begin promptly.  Please make sure you arrive in good time to join the group. Latecomers may not be admitted.

🍷 The tour will finish with a glass of mulled wine or apple juice, and mince pies. Please let us know of any dietary requirements upon booking.

Enjoy an evening away from the bustle of Christmas preparations and step back in time to enjoy a magical evening at Jane Austen’s House.

Join us for a unique, candlelit guided tour of the House and discover Jane Austen’s story, told by an expert guide, using the House itself and objects from the collection to set the scene.

Walk through rooms Jane and her family knew and loved, discover their Christmas traditions and family pastimes, and enjoy the House dressed up for Christmas.

We’ll finish with warming drinks and the chance to raise a glass to our favourite author!

DETAILS:

Saturday 14 Dec: 5.30pm – 6.30pm & 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Time: Tours begin at 5.30pm, 6.00pm.

Duration: 1 hour

Location: This event takes place at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. Find us

Tickets: £25

 Capacity for each tour will be kept low to allow for the best possible experience. 

⏰ Each tour will begin promptly.  Please make sure you arrive in good time to join the group. Latecomers may not be admitted.

🍷 The tour will finish with a glass of mulled wine or apple juice, and mince pies. Please let us know of any dietary requirements upon booking.

Our virtual birthday party has quickly become a much-loved annual tradition!

This year you can again join us online, along with fans from across the globe, for a brilliant birthday celebration.

Party guests will be treated to fabulous music, fascinating talks, beautiful readings and all sorts of fun and games in the spirit of Jane Austen and her family.

We’ll be joined by some very special guests to be announced. Keep an eye on our socials or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear!

Regency attire strongly encouraged!

Details:

Date: Monday 16 December

Time: 8pm – 9pm (GMT)

Location: This event will take place online. Join in from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets: £10

✉️ This event will take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join the party in the run up to the event. 

💵 Please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

🎫 When purchasing your ticket, you will see an optional donation to Jane’s Fund, a  fund set up to help restore and protect Jane Austen’s precious home. This donation is entirely optional but we hugely appreciate any support we receive. Thank you!

📹 This event will be recorded for ticket holders to watch again later. The recording will be available for up to three months.

This is a birthday party so it’s a great excuse to get dressed up… Gowns and bonnets at the ready!