It is a universally recognised truth that Jane Austen loved the English countryside and that Chawton and the nearby town of Alton were two of the places where she was happiest.
On this tour, which takes about two and a half hours, I will take you to the places that shaped Jane Austen's life in this beautiful part of the Hampshire countryside, and I will accompany you along the route that she herself used to take when she went from Chawton to Alton to shop or visit friends.
The tour is available in Italian or English (not simultaneously).
The tour departs from Alton train station and follows the Jane Austen Trail to Chawton. The route is about 3 km long and is a pleasant, flat walk of about an hour. Along the route, there are many places and buildings associated with Jane Austen that are mentioned in letters written by her or by people close to her.
Once in Chawton, we will continue the tour to discover the charming village where the writer spent the last eight years of her life with her mother, her sister Cassandra, and her close friend Martha Lloyd before her untimely death on July 18, 1817.
This tour is a true 'full immersion' in the world of Jane Austen in Chawton and Alton and will introduce you to many places that inspired her novels, as well as give you a taste of what it's like to live in an English village based on my experience of living in the village of Chawton, where I have lived for several years.
2025 is the right year to visit Chawton because it's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and there are many cultural events planned in the village by Jane Austen's House and Chawton House.
The walk is not challenging, but I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate for the unpredictable English weather.
The tour is mainly on pavements but, in a couple of sections, also on grassy and dirt areas and may not be suitable for wheelchair users.
After my tour, I recommend visiting Jane Austen's House or Chawton House:
Jane Austen's House: janeaustens.house
Chawton House: chawtonhouse.org
The visit to Jane Austen's House must be booked in advance on the house's website because admission is limited and, with the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth in full swing, many visitors from all over the world are expected this year.
In Chawton there is a pub, The Greyfriar, which is opposite Jane Austen's House, and two tea rooms: Cassandra's Cup, located next to the pub, and The Old Kitchen inside Chawton House. In both, you can enjoy light meals, homemade cakes, or a cream tea or cappuccino.
Children under 8 years old can join my tour for free.
I look forward to spending a day with you following in the footsteps of Jane Austen!
