A perfect day trip from London to discover an authentic English countryside village that has unique ties to one of the most famous writers in the world.
Chawton is a charming village in Hampshire, in the South Downs National Park, with fairy-tale thatched cottages, a beautiful park, and a romantic Gothic church.
But Chawton is above all the place where Jane Austen happily lived the last eight years of her life and wrote most of her novels, including the final version of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's House, located in the centre of the village, and Chawton House, the manor house inherited by Jane's brother, Edward, are universally considered the best places to immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary writer.
2025 is the perfect year to visit Chawton because it's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and the village is hosting many cultural events organised by Jane Austen's House and Chawton House.
On this 90-minute tour in Italian, I'll take you to discover the village that Jane Austen knew and loved, and I'll offer you a taste of what it's like to live in an English village, starting from my daily experience as a resident of Chawton.
The tour starts and ends in front of Jane Austen's House and leaves on time, so make sure you arrive in time so you don't miss the start.
The walk isn't demanding, but I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the unpredictable English weather. To check the weather, you can visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653293.
The tour is mostly on pavements, but there are a couple of short stretches on grassy and dirt areas, so it might not be suitable for people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
If the tour isn't available on your preferred date, contact me at the email address above. I'll try to meet your needs, as long as it's compatible with my work commitments.
After my tour, you can visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House. Here are the links to book:
Jane Austen's House: janeaustens.house
Chawton House: chawtonhouse.org
I recommend booking your visit to Jane Austen's House in advance because admission is limited and, with the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth promoted all over the world, many visitors are expected this year.
In Chawton, there's a pub, The Greyfriar, which is right in front of 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, excellent homemade cakes, or a cream tea or cappuccino.
Kids under 8 go free on my tour.
