In Pursuit of Jane Austen - minibus tour to Hampshire

7:45 (return by 17:00)

Meet: Bath War Memorial, Royal Ave, Bath BA1 2PH

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 our bigger 21st Century minibus, accompanied by your tour guide Adge Secker.

Entrance tickets to Jane Austen's House in Chawton & Winchester Cathedral are included in your minibus tour ticket.

Tickets £130 (includes entrance fees)

Canal Cruise - Breakfast

9:00 (duration 4hrs 15mins)

Meet: Outside taxi rank entrance of Bath Spa Train Station, Dorchester Street, BA1 1SU

Embark on a tranquil Jane Austen inspired canal cruise along the Kennet and Avon Canal. Travel by train from Bath through the picturesque countryside, then join a local historian at Bradford on Avon for a guided walk to the marina.

Board the Barbara McLellan for a tranquil cruise to Avoncliff Aqueduct, with time to disembark and enjoy the views. A delectable breakfast is served on board.
Costumes essential.

Tickets £155 from Bath Theatrical Costume Hire

Breakfast with Beau Nash

9:15 (duration 2 hours)

Venue: Pump Room, Stall St, Bath BA1 1LZ

Step back into Regency splendour for a truly elegant morning as part of the Jane Austen Festival. Join us in the historic Pump Room for Breakfast with Beau Nash—a refined affair inspired by the famed Master of Ceremonies himself.

Doors will open from 9.15am, for you to begin your morning with a chilled glass of English Sparkling Wine or Bucks Fizz, alongside freshly brewed organic coffee or English Breakfast tea. The sounds of our resident pianist will fill the room as you partake of freshly baked breads and delicate breakfast pastries. Then indulge in a sumptuous traditional English breakfast, including char-grilled Wiltshire bacon, local Bath sausages and free-range scrambled eggs. Soak up the atmosphere as the Pump Room comes to life in true Georgian style—just as Jane Austen might have experienced it.

Costumes are warmly encouraged (though not required), offering a delightful opportunity to see and be seen in your Regency best. A morning of music, elegance, and hearty fare - just the thing to begin your day in proper Austen fashion.

Tickets £40 from The Pump Room

Tolls, trotters and equine trading in Regency England - talk

10:00 (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Elwin Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

A whistle stop tour through the trade and trading of harness horses and carriages and the taxation of vehicles on the Regency roads of England. Join Amy Bracey, Project Curator for The Carriage Foundation as she shares her expertise on Regency travel.

Tickets £13

Croquet Game

10:00 & 12 noon (duration 1hr 30mins)

Venue: Bath Croquet Club, Great Pulteney Street, Recreation Ground, BA2 4DS (entrance via Great Pulteney Street)

Spend 1 hour experiencing the Regency sport of "Pall-Mall" with an outdoor croquet game at Bath Croquet Club. Equipment and introductory instructions provided, enjoy a relaxed game of croquet, followed by post-match refreshments in the Croquet Pavilion. (Refreshments included in the ticket price)

Tickets £30

As Danced by Jane Austen - Regency dance workshop

10:00 (duration 1hr 30mins)

Venue: City of Bath Scouts, 7 Grove St, Bathwick, BA2 6PJ

Join the Jane Austen Dancers and try your hand at some of the popular dances from throughout Jane Austen’s lifetime. From the cotillions of her youth to the irresistible waltz.
This is aimed at all levels of ability. Please wear flat, non-slip shoes, light clothing and bring a drink (essential). No partner necessary. Period costume (no trains) welcome. You will need a good understanding of English to understand the dance calling.

Tickets £18

Beechen Cliff and the Bath Landscape - walking tour

10:00 (duration 2hrs 30mins)

Meet: Outside the main door of Bath Abbey, Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY

Climb in the footsteps of Northanger Abbey’s Mr. Tilney and Catherine Morland to the top of 'that noble hill, whose beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an object from almost every opening in Bath.' Availability allowed, this tour includes a stop to explore St Mary Magdalene's Chapel. Stout shoes and a sturdy constitution are required as there are numerous steps, but wonderful views.

Tickets £14

Bookbinding for Jane Austen - workshop

10:00 (duration 2hrs 30mins)

Venue: Lonsdale Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

Bookbinding for Jane Austen - rediscover the joys of making with your hands and engage with the ultimate portable technology: the book. But not just any book. The covers will be made using wallpaper faithfully reproduced from Jane Austen's house, Chawton. In this workshop, Kate will guide you step-by-step in the traditional craft of bookbinding. You will come away with a hardback book that you have made from scratch and all the basic bookbinding skills that will enable you to continue and elaborate at home.
This session is suitable for all (8+ children to be supervised). All materials and tools will be provided. Some of those tools are sharp!

Tickets £60

Oh Sew Quiet!

10:30 (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Central Library, 19-23 The Podium, Bath BA1 5AN

New for 2026… Oh Sew Quiet!
Quiet sewing drop-in session, bring your own hand-sewing project along.

While all are welcome at our Sew Chatty events, we know chitchat and sparkling conversation are not always the order of the day. If you need to sit down quietly and crack on with a sewing project (perhaps as a deadline draws near!), this is the sewing session for you. Bring along your hand-sewing project to work on, and enjoy sewing in companionable silence.

Graciously hosted in the hushed environs of Bath Central Library. Please be respectful of the quiet nature of this session."

Free drop-in event

Crafting Worlds: Women's Domestic Accomplishments in the Era of Jane Austen - talk

11:30 (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Elwin Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

In this talk Dr Freya Gowrley will discuss an array of Georgian crafts in and out of Austen. Focusing on needlework, she will chart good and bad varieties of women’s work, the relationship to education, and why so many women were shown embroidering in their portraits.

Tickets £13 

The Bath Novels - Book Club

12:00 noon (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Bath Central Library, 19-23 The Podium, BA1 5AN

Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were Austen’s first and last-written novels, and just happen to be set in our favourite city of them all! Come along and discuss the gothic thrills of Northanger Abbey, as well as the more mature, reflective writing of Persuasion.
Jane Austen Festival book clubs take place in small groups, with a list of suggested questions, however we also encourage participants to bring their own thoughts and questions along, and be ready to chat!

Our book clubs are drop-in sessions with no need to pre-register- we’ll try to accommodate as many people as we can.

Free drop-in event

Taking Tea at No.1 Royal Crescent

12:00, 13:45 & 14:45 (duration 2 hours each)

Venue: No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR

Come and join us at No.1 Royal Crescent on 18th and 19th September 2026 for a fabulous afternoon tea hosted by our friends at the Choux Box Patisserie. This event has three sessions, each lasting 1 hour. Your ticket includes time to explore the museum after the tea party. If you wish to visit our current exhibition, you can pay a reduced fee of £2.50 at our shop desk on the day of your visit. Menus will be added to the event page on our website in due course.
Regency costume very welcome but not mandatory.

Tickets £44.50 from No. 1 Royal Crescent

A Bookshelf Full of Austens

13:30 (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Elwin Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

First editions of Jane Austen’s novels rarely come on the market but when they do they command high prices. But what is a first edition? Is it possible to make money out of old and rare books? Does beautiful mean good or is a plain cover better? Jackie Herring will attempt to answer these and other questions as well as show some of her own very special collection of Austen editions.

Tickets £13 

Ladies & Gentlemen on Parade

13:30  (duration 3hrs 30mins)

Meet: Outside taxi rank entrance of Bath Spa Train Station, Dorchester Street, BA1 1SU

Exclusive to Jane Austen Festival: Regency Costumed Experience at Parade House!
Enjoy a unique Regency Costumed event at one of Wiltshire’s finest Georgian buildings. Dressed in your own Regency finery, you’ll be escorted by Mr Darcy on a short 18 min train journey through the beautiful scenic countryside to the magnificent Parade House in Trowbridge.
Your ticket includes travel, a House History Tour, a delicious Full Afternoon Cream Tea with a glass of Champagne in the grand Ballroom, Regency Parlour Games and Theatrical Entertainment.

Tickets £140 from Parade House Trowbridge

Canal Cruise - Afternoon Tea

13:30  (duration 4 hours 45 mins)

Meet: Outside taxi rank entrance of Bath Spa Train Station, Dorchester Street, BA1 1SU

Embark on a tranquil Jane Austen inspired canal cruise along the Kennet and Avon Canal. Travel by train from Bath through the picturesque countryside, then join a local historian at Bradford on Avon for a guided walk to the marina.

Board the Barbara McLellan for a tranquil cruise to Avoncliff Aqueduct, with time to disembark and enjoy the views. A delectable Afternoon Tea is served on board.

Costumes essential.

Tickets £155 from Bath Theatrical Costume Hire

Austen's Arcadia

14:00 (duration 1 hour)

Meet: In foyer of Theatre Royal, Saw Close, BA1 1ET

Jane Tapley follows the career of one of the earliest and greatest female writers of the 18th century, if not of all time. Hear about her quiet private life as an unmarried vicar's daughter and her personal struggle for independence, and how her novels gathered momentum and appreciation after her death. Talk followed by a Q&A.

Tickets £13 from Theatre Royal Box Office

Dorset Buttons: An elegant button for a more civilized age - workshop

14:00 (duration 1hr 15mins)

Venue: Lonsdale Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

Dorset buttons have been a staple for Hollywood costumers’ and were used in Little Women, Wicked, and Harry Potter! These hand-made buttons allowed women to earn a stable income at home and a good buttoner could make 3x the salary of a soldier!
In this hands-on workshop, we will explore the history of thread buttons originating from Dorset, England and you will learn this 400 year old craft as you make a set of your very own buttons that can be used on an outfit.

All supplies will be provided to make a complete set of 4 buttons. Additional kits will be available for those who wish to adorn additional ensembles.

Tickets £35

Regency Needle Case - Embroidery Workshop

14:00 (duration 2 hours)

Venue: St James Wine Vaults, 10 St James's St, Bath BA1 2TW

Create your own embroidered needle case inspired by historical Regency designs. In this beginner friendly workshop, you’ll stitch delicate motifs and learn several simple embroidery techniques before sewing your piece using beautiful Jane Austen inspired fabrics. You’ll begin a practical and elegant accessory to continue at home, perfect for your sewing kit.
All materials are provided - just come along, stitch, sew, and enjoy a little Regency charm.

Tickets £70

Crime & Punishment with John White - talk

15:30 (duration 1 hour)

Venue: Elwin Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

John White appears as ‘Thomas Turlis’ - the Hangman at Tyburn during the late 18th century. Equipped with the tools of his gruesome trade, he will take you upon a journey, through the 200 and more crimes for which death was the penalty; as well as detailing the processes of flogging and branding along the way! ‘Turlis’ is the master of his art and, be advised, ‘Turlis’ delights in detailing the nature of the punishments dispensed at his hands - it is not for the feint hearted!

Tickets £13

Draw back the Curtain

15:30 (duration 1 hour)

Meet: In foyer of Theatre Royal, Saw Close BA1 1ET

Join Jane Tapley, Special Events Organiser at the Theatre Royal, for an illustrated talk on the theatre in Georgian times and its influence on Jane Austen's novels. The talk will take place in Bath's Georgian theatre built in 1805, the year Austen left Bath for the delights of Clifton.

Tickets £13 from Theatre Royal Box Office

Fencing Workshop

15:30 (duration 1hr 15mins)

Venue: City of Bath Scouts, 7 Grove St, Bathwick, BA2 6PJ

Join a Fencing taster workshop with Bath Sword Club and enjoy a taste of the sport rumoured to be Mr Darcy’s favourite. Learn offensive & defensive stances, putting them into choreographed non-contact sequences to experience your own ‘duel’. Regency costume very welcome, but please be aware that protective safety equipment will be worn including a full head mask and glove. Flat shoes advised.

Tickets £25

Bling It On: Fobs, Cravats & Snuff Rings - workshop

15:45 (duration 1hr 15mins)

Venue: Lonsdale Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN

When planning your outfit, the accessories are just as important as the fabric. One of the most important accessories for a gentleman was the fob, which he would carry with him at all times. His fob was unique and as essential as a modern day smart phone. Join this one hour workshop where you will make your very own fob to use during the festival. Select from an array of ribbons, clasps, stones, and chain to craft a fob as unique as you are.
Fobs do not come with a watch and participants are encouraged to bring one to attach to their finished fob.
Ages 18+

Tickets £40