2024 Jane Austen Festival Minibus & Walking Tours
Jane Austen's Bath - minibus tour
9:00 - Friday 13th, Monday 16th, Wednesday 18th, Friday 20th & Sunday 22nd September
A combination of walking and driving visiting outdoor locations in Austen's Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Includes Charlcombe, described by Jane 'as being sweetly situated in a little green valley', and finishes with the best view of Bath from that 'Noble Hill'.
For this event you will travel in a small luxury 21st Century minibus driven by your tour guide Adge Secker.
Meet: 9:00 outside the Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, BA1 2NT
"Carriages" to Meryton & Longbourn - minibus tour
13:15 - Friday 13th, Monday 16th, Wednesday 18th, Friday 20th & Sunday 22nd September
Starting with a driving tour of Austen’s Bath, then onto the village of Luckington to visit the St Mary with St Ethelbert Church and walk in the footsteps of the P&P 1995 cast. Next Lacock – a village trapped in time and the location for Meryton & Highbury. Then back to Bath to finish with the best view of Bath from ‘that Noble Hill’.
For this event you will travel in a small luxury 21st Century minibus driven by your tour guide Adge Secker.
Meet: 13:15 outside the Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, BA1 2NT
In Pursuit of Jane Austen - minibus tour to Hampshire
8:15 - Sunday 15th, Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th, & Saturday 21st September
All-day minibus tour to Hampshire tracing Jane's footsteps and life. First her birthplace Steventon, then Chawton where much of her writing took place. Visiting Winchester, King Alfred's capital of England and Jane's final resting place in the cathedral. Meander with guide Adge through the ancient streets, impressive Peninsula Barracks and castle ruins. An unforgettable and atmospheric tour.
For this event you will travel in a small luxury 21st Century minibus driven by your tour guide Adge Secker.
Meet: 8:15 outside the Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, BA1 2NT
Lost & Found - theatrical walking tour
Saturday 14th September - 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 & 16:00
Sunday 15th September - 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 & 15:30
Saturday 21st September - 11:30, 12 noon, 12:30, 13:00 & 13:30
The Natural Theatre Company returns with their hilarious immersive walking tour show Lost & Found. Another lost Jane Austen novel has been unearthed in Bath, revealing more recognisable plotlines, familiar characters and just a little bit of nonsense. Immerse yourself in wooing, weeping and wagers as we wander around Bath, and watch this joyful story come to life around you!
Meet: at the top of Gravel Walk opposite No1 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LW
Jane Austen & Bath - walking tour
Sunday 15th September - 10:00
14:30 - Wednesday 18th & Sunday 22nd September
Saturday 21st September - 10:30
Oh! Who could ever be tired of Bath?’ So said Jane Austen’s character Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey, which (along with her novel Persuasion) is set in Bath. Through family links and having visited and lived in the city, Austen knew Bath very well indeed. Come and find out more on this walking tour led by Mr Knightley of The Jane Austen Centre.
Meet: outside the Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, BA1 2NT
Whether the Weather be fine or whether the weather be not - walking tour
Monday 16th September - 10:00
Georgian Bath was designed for city walking. Come with Bath Parade Guides to experience city living in the 18th century and hear about the importance of weather [the British pre-occupation!] in daily life, in the plots of her novels, and for Jane Austen herself.
Meet: outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
Jane Austen's Bath Homes - walking tour
Tuesday 17th September - 10:00
Mrs Austen, accompanied by Jane, came to Bath in 1801, looking for suitable accommodation to rent; eventually living at four different addresses in the city.So where did Jane Austen actually live? Walk with Bath Parade Guides to find the locations of her Bath homes and other houses associated with her. The tour ends at 4 Sydney Place, opposite the Holburne Museum where refreshments are available.
Meet: at the entrance to Green Park Park, Green Park Buildings, BA1 1HZ
Ghost Walk
Tuesday 17th & Thursday 19th September - 19:45
Take a leisurely night-time stroll through the haunted streets of Bath - listen to eerie stories of murder, mystery, mayhem, and ghosts. Including tales of execution areas, haunted pubs, the old hospital, theatre and, of course, the dualling ground where so many met a grisly fate. A scary and fun evening out!
Meet: outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
Romantic chic lit or radical writer? Will the real Jane Austen please stand up! - walking tour
We all know what Jane Austen wrote about don’t we? There are 6 novels which are essentially variations of the same plot; where following twists and turns, a few misunderstandings, all comes good in the end and our heroine gets her man. Add some poking fun at society of the day, and essentially, we have a nice bit of romantic comedy. Yet have we misread the books? What if there are far deeper themes highlighting society’s ills and failings. Come along with Bath Parade Guides to find out about hidden references to slavery, women’s rights, evolution, and other pressing matters of the day.
Meet: outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
Beastly Bath - walking tour
Wednesday 18th September - 17:30
A light-hearted, unconventional walk through the city's history. Including descriptions of some of the more sordid and disagreeable aspects of C18th life plus original Georgian remedies are demonstrated on this mischievous stroll! See all the main sights including the Pump Room, Circus and Royal Crescent.
Meet: outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
Our Grand Walk to Weston - walking tour
Thursday 19th September - 10:00
Join this workshop and learn to assemble and fit a toile mock-up of this Drawstring Spencer (pattern 123) from Fig Leaf Patterns. The printed pattern will be supplied for you.
When booking please choose from either the size 8-18 or 18-28 pattern, using your high waistband measurement as a guide. All attendees will need to bring their own fabric scissors and dressmaking pins. You will also need to supply your own cheaper fabric for the toile, and own fashion fabric and lining fabric.
Meet: outside No1 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LR
The Gothic Novel - walking tour
Friday 20th September - 10:00
Were you a fan of the Friday night horror movies, Frankenstein, Dracula, the Fall of the House of Usher? Dark tales that included the paranormal, omens, innocent maidens locked in dark and gloomy castles. Well Jane Austen certainly would have been a fan. The gothic novel has its roots in the 1700s and was all the rage. Jane would have been familiar with The Castle of Otranto and the Mysteries of Udolpho and we can see the influence of the latter in Northanger Abbey. Join Bath Parade Guides to discover how this genre developed.
Meet: outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
*To book tickets click on the underlined date of the talk to find that specific day's events.