The Jane Austen fan’s comprehensive travel guide to Bath

As one of the most influential novelists in history, Jane Austen has left a remarkable legacy. One of her favourite places was Bath, England, where she lived from 1801 to 1806. This beautiful Georgian city provided inspiration for two of her six published novels, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, and there are several places you can still visit to connect with the beloved author. From the rooms where Jane attended balls to the gardens where she promenaded and the houses she lived, here’s how you can walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen on your trip to Bath.

“They arrived in Bath. Catherine was all eager delight; her eyes were here, there, everywhere, as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she felt happy already”. – Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey.

Experience it yourself: Elegance of Great Britain

Want to know where the elite came to party in Jane Austen’s time? It was the Assembly Rooms in Bath. Fashionable parties, balls, and concerts were thrown here all the time and it was the place to be seen, while dancing and courting the night away. Jane herself featured the Assembly Rooms in Persuasion, after being inspired by some of the balls she attended here. Today the parties are a thing of the past, but you can still see the original 18th-century crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling – the same ones that glittered over Jane. While you’re here, head to the Fashion Museum where you can try on an authentic corset and bonnet and marvel at the stunning Georgian dresses.

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The Pump Room was another trendy place to socialise in 19th-century Bath. Jane once described it as the place where ‘every creature in Bath was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionable hours’. Jane would often come here herself and it even features in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. High society would come here to dine, gossip, and benefit from the healing waters of the fountain – and you can do the same today.

Whether you want to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, or a quintessential afternoon tea, you’ll have a very regal time here, entertained by live musicians playing classical music. The Pump Room still has its Corinthian columns, dazzling chandeliers, and spa fountain, where you can draw a glass of the ancient thermal waters said to have healing properties. The water is pumped from the King’s spring water fountain overlooking the Roman Baths, where Romans once bathed in the mineral-rich water and Georgians began drinking it in the 17th century. Inside the Pump Room, look out for the Bath Chair, which was used to carry visitors to the waters.

Experience it yourself: Gems of Britain

Jane lived at five different properties during her time in Bath, but her longest stay was at 4 Sydney Place. She lived here for three years from 1801 to 1804 and spoke highly of it in her letters to her sister, Cassandra. This house is said to be where Jane wrote Northanger Abbey, while staring out her bedroom window at Sydney Gardens, where the high society of Bath gathered for balls, parties and concerts.

You can find the house by walking down Great Pulteney Street, the beautiful Georgian avenue often mentioned in Northanger Abbey. Turn left at the end of the street to reach the house, marked by a plaque. It’s now a hotel and you can even spend a night here in the house where Jane lived.

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As an avid walker, Jane loved to “take the air” in Sydney Gardens, located right next to 4 Sydney Place. The gardens are open to the public and it’s a great place to stroll among the flowerbeds and imagine what it was like in Jane’s time.

Jane also liked to take breakfast at the Sydney Hotel, which is now the Holburne Museum. You can do the same by enjoying breakfast in the museum’s lovely Garden Café, then wandering through the gardens on the Jane Austen Trail.

Experience it yourself: Best of Britain

Alexandra Park, formerly known as Beechen Cliff, is where you’ll find one of Jane’s favourite viewpoints in Bath. She mentions it in letters to her family and it also features in Northanger Abbey. If you want to get up close to the stunning panoramas, take the hiking trail up the staircase from Carlton Road to the park. It takes 20 minutes from the city centre but the views are well worth the effort.

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You can’t experience Jane Austen’s world in Bath without promenading along the beautiful Georgian streets. Some of the must-see sights include Gravel Walk, which was the Lover’s Lane in Jane’s time and the setting of the love scene in Persuasion. As you wander along Gravel Walk, look for the hidden door into the Georgian Garden. It’s been beautifully restored to how it appeared in Jane’s era.

You also have to stroll down Milsom Street, which featured in many of Jane’s novels. It was one of Bath’s busiest roads and you’ll see some of the original buildings and shop fronts that Jane herself would have walked past frequently, while shopping for hats and ribbons.

Experience it yourself: Britain and Ireland Explorer

During Jane’s first time in Bath, she stayed at No. 1, The Paragon in her aunt’s home. As her first introduction to the city and the place where she fell in love with Bath, any Jane Austen fan will want to get a look at this spot. You can stay at luxury The Paragon Georgian Townhouse, the building next door to where Jane lived in 1797 and 1801. With tall Georgian bay windows, it’s the perfect spot to soak up the views of Sham Castle and Bathwick Hill.

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Jane’s novels have been transformed into movies and TV shows many times and Bath has featured in several adaptations. You might recognise Bath Abbey, used as the filming location for the 1980s TV adaptation of Northanger Abbey. The show also featured The Assembly Rooms, while Bath Street also featured in the 2007 film Persuasion.

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If you really want to step into Jane Austen’s world in Bath, you’ve got to visit the Jane Austen Centre. Located on Gay Street, this immersive museum guides you through Jane’s life in Bath and how it impacted her writing. There are live presentations by the centre’s experts, walk-through exhibitions of her history and works, plus a costumed guide on hand to answer any questions throughout the experience.

See a lifelike waxwork of what Jane Austen really looked like and write a letter with an Austen-inspired quill. You can even dress up in glamorous pieces from the Georgian clothing collection, and feel as if you’d just walked into the set of Pride & Prejudice. Afterwards, enjoy some refreshments or afternoon tea in the Regency Tea Rooms.

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Every year in September, Jane Austen fans descend on Bath for the Jane Austen Festival. It’s a 10-day Georgian affair across the whole city with plenty of events to enjoy. There are lectures, readings, tours, concerts, theatrical performances, and more. Go promenading or attend elegant balls where you can learn traditional dances from the time period. Don’t miss the spectacular Grand Regency Costumed Promenade where participants dress in authentic Regency costumes and parade through Bath. The festival will be held from September 8 – 17 in 2023.