Chawton and Alton: tours to discover Jane Austen's most beloved places
ID: GYG923525-1444697
Category:
Country: United Kingdom
Duration:
02:30 hours
Description
Walk with me along the route Jane Austen used to take between Alton and Chawton and discover the many places related to her life in the village where she wrote her masterpieces.
It is a truth universally acknowledged 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. Here, the remarkable author of such masterpieces as Pride and Prejudice and Emma spent the last eight years of her life and found her artistic vein again before her untimely death on July 18, 1817.
On this approximately two-and-a-half-hour tour in Italian, I will take you on a discovery of the places that shaped Jane Austen's life in this beautiful part of the Hampshire countryside and accompany you along the path she herself used to travel when she went from Chawton to Alton to shop or visit friends.
The tour starts at the Alton train station and follows the Jane Austen Trail to Jane Austen's House in Chawton. The route is about 2 miles long and is a pleasant flat walk of about an hour. Along the way there are many places and buildings associated with Jane Austen mentioned in her letters or by people close to her.
Once at Jane Austen's House, we will continue the tour to discover the delightful village of Chawton where the writer spent eight happy years with her mother, sister Cassandra and best friend Martha Lloyd.
This tour is a true 'full immersion' into Jane Austen's world in Chawton and Alton and will introduce you to so many of the places that inspired her novels, as well as give you a taste of what life is like in an English village from my own experience of living in the very village of Chawton where I have lived for several years.
The year 2025 is the right year to visit Chawton because it is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth and there are many cultural events planned in the village organized by Jane Austen's House and Chawton House.
The walk is not strenuous but I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for the unpredictable English weather.
The tour passes mainly on sidewalks but, in a couple of sections, also on grassy and dirt areas and may not be suitable for people in wheelchairs. For more information, contact me at email ciao@passionecampagnainglese.com
After my tour is over, you can visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House:
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 250th anniversary celebration of Jane Austen's birth, so many visitors from all over the world are expected this year.
In Chawton there is a pub, The Greyfriar, which is across the street from 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 eat light meals, homemade cakes or enjoy a cream tea or cappuccino.
Children under 8 do not pay for my tour.
I look forward to you experiencing a day together in the footsteps of Jane Austen!
Highlights
- A 'full immersion' into Jane Austen's world in two of her most beloved places
- The only tour of Chawton and Alton led by an Italian who lives in Chawton
- A perfect day trip from London to explore the English countryside.
- Find out what life is like in an authentic English village along with the people who live there.
- A tour suitable for everyone that combines history, culture and lifestyle.
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The tour involves a slow-paced hike from the train station in the Hampshire town of Alton to the village of Chawton, with several stops at points of special interest, so a moderate level of physical fitness is required.
The route is about 2 miles long and is entirely flat.
Given the well-known unpredictability of the English weather, it is helpful to wear clothing suitable for sudden changes in the weather.
Meet in the sidewalk at the exit of the Alton train station, left side coming out of the main entrance.
The guide will have a black clipboard in hand with the English Countryside Passion logo.
INCLUDED
- Two-and-a-half-hour guided tour in Italian from the small town of Alton in Hampshire, southern England, to the village of Chawton along the Jane Austen Trail led by a resident guide in the village of Chawton.
- Sharing of experiences and anecdotes of local life.
- Information and anecdotes about the many places related to Jane Austen's life that exist between Alton and Chawton and in Chawton village.
- Information on what to visit and where to eat based on the personal experience of those living in the area.
NOT INCLUDED
- Provision of food or drinks.
- Provision of technical clothing, boots, umbrellas or rain capes.
- Transfers to or from public transportation arrival and departure stations (e.g., trains or airports).
- Private transfers to and from tour participants' places of overnight stay.
- Reservations on behalf of tour participants for parking lots, tourist sites, pubs, restaurants, cafes, overnight places etc.
- Admission to Jane Austen's House (it is recommended to book admission tickets in advance on the house website https://janeaustens.house/).
- Admission to Chawton House (tickets can be purchased on site at the house entrance).
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
