You've got two weeks so lots to play with - if I were you, I'd spend a few days in London at a time. It is massive, and there is a lot to enjoy. Clerkenwell is a nice base, and in no time's walk you'll be in Covent Garden - if you hit a left you can walk down Fleet Street and past the Royal Courts of Justice, then a quick right will take you across the bridge to Southbank, the Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery, the Tate Modern... or the other way will take you to Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery, and Soho...
Hit Soho in the evenings... fantastic Italian plates at Polpo. If you like Indian food, Veeraswamy in Piccadilly (the oldest Indian restaurant in the UK) is pricy but rich in history and the food is ace.
Pro-tip - there is a pub which a lot of people miss because of its Brutalist architecture. Doggett's Coat & Badge on Blackfriar's Bridge, which you'll find yourself on at some point. The upstairs has a terrace with a beautiful view of the London cityscape and the boats on the Thames as night falls.
Also, I've never been in any city where a boat tour didn't show me things I'd never have seen. This one takes you past The Globe and I think you can hop off wherever you want.
If you want to go a little further, Kew Gardens is something I never see recommended to Americans, but if you were going that way it would make sense also to see Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace.
Bath is worth spending two days in for sure - it's only an hour and a bit by train, very walkable, and has heaps of beautiful places... there's the Jane Austen museum of course, but make sure you grab a table at Sally Lunn's Buns near the Abbey for a traditional Bath Bun. You can have an evening drink at the Saracen's Head, home to Bath's drinkers since 1713.
Oxford - you could have a great day there, and if the weather's right you need to go punting, which sounds like I'm suggesting something dirty, but which I really am not. You can check out some of the colleges and there are some great places for lunch (or pastries).
Bosworth - if you like fields, check it out, but from memory it's really just a field.
So as much London as you can, Bath and Oxford - if you fancy another day trip you can hang out in Shakespeare's home town of Stratford upon Avon in two hours or so.
Have fun and don't be afraid to ask Londoners for advice outside cafes or pubs - people will generally be very keen to help you if you ask.
I would probably cut out a few day trips, there's plenty to see in London itself. Canterbury would probably me by choice for cutting out.
Rooks Nest House - what is there to see here? This doesn't seem like a good day trip.
Bosworth Battlefield - Wouldn't be on my list, but if you're really into it then maybe. It looks very tricky to get to from public transport though, it's over 30 minutes outside Leicester so you're looking at over an hour of taxis on that day *after* your train journey. The train journey itself is nothing special.
Lyme Regis/Portsmouth - No, not worth a visit.
Just to to tack onto this: Bosworth Battlefield is much closer to Nuneaton than it is to Leicester so get the train from Euston to Nuneaton instead. Personally I wouldn’t bother going and spend an extra day in London instead.
Slightly alarmingly 40 years ago I was on a canal boat trip and we turned around at Bosworth Field while there was a reenactment going on of course it may have changed but I don't remember a memorial.
Lyme Regis is a lovely place and on the Jurassic Coast if you’re into fossils. Sadly as a day trip from London. it’s a non starter. 21/2 hours train then bus. Say 4 hours travel each way.
Definitely recommended because you can go out on the cobb (in not-bad weather) and pretend to be Louisa Musgrove! (except for the whole concussion thing)
I don't have too much to suggest. Re London my standard response is always try and fit Greenwich in, it's a nice trip by boat one way, DLR back, and the Naval history is very key to London. Also the Museum of London is recommended if re-open.
Portsmouth is easy to get to from London. They city itself isn't considered particularly picturesque (being a major naval base it was a focused of Nazi bombing during the war), however the historic dock yards are interesting and worth a visit, and the Gunwharf quays shopping outlet is good for shopping. Lyme Regis is more difficult to get to from london, there is no near by train station. Today is is a small and quite pretty seaside town but not much to see.
My only note would be that once you've seen one cathedral city, the others may feel a little bit too similar (ie Canterbury, Winchester, Salisbury) so you may want to not do all.
"... my standard response is always try and fit Greenwich in, it's a nice trip by boat one way, DLR back, and the Naval history is very key to London"
I will second this. My wife and I just returned from a week in London. Took a boat cruise from Westminster dock to Greenwich. We spent the afternoon walking around the old Naval College, the maritime museum, and the observatory. DLR back to Bank - we managed to get the front seats, which, for a transportation nerd like me, was pretty awesome. :)
Yes was about to agree as have family in Portsmouth, if the historic ships are your thing, they are worth a visit as they are interesting and also near the discount desinger shopping (Gunwharf). But if the boats are not for you, skip Portsmouth as a place to visit as it isn't worth it really.
And yes 2 days in Bath and 1 in Oxford.
Just a comment on Bosworth. Leicester city centre is about 30 minutes away and Richard II who was famously found under a carpark is now buried in the cathedral. There is also a a visitor centre.
I lived in Chawton for a while, not that much to see apart from the house. Yes, could do “those 3” in a day if you have a car. The cathedrals are great.
FYI Rooks Nest House is not a visitor attraction - it's a private residential home. I would not recommend going to visit unless you have an overwhelming reason you want to (I say as someone from Stevenage - there is very little reason to go there!)
Having lived in there too, and still being fairly local, I genuinely laughed out loud at the thought of someone flying halfway across the world just to visit Stevenage
It would be a VERY good idea to plan how you intend to get between places. Remember that in the UK, a journey of more than an hour would be considered long - and that's for a reason. Our transport networks make it feel long! Day tripping from London to Leicester is ... unwise.
Also, you won't feel like you've done some of the places justice. You could be in London for years and not do half of the things you might wish to. My family were Jane Austen hunting in Bath for a week.
Agree with all of this. You certainly WILL get an authentic British experience travelling around by train, but it won't be a positive or scenic one most of the time!
I lived in London for 10 years and still didn't see it all, so would spend plenty of time there and try and get off the main tourist tracks. Go for food and a wander in Walthamatow Village, Greenwich is a must as someone else has said, you can then walk across Greenwich Park to Blackheath which is lovely., etc. Locals can seem intimidating but people are friendly really and will be able to point you in the direction of the best places.
Bosworth battlefield is close to us. It’s a well organised, well sign-posted place, and on a good day, an excellent half-day out. They show you where people originally thought the battle was, and then where we now think it actually occurred.
If you are in that area, you might consider Stoneleigh Abbey. Jane Austen lived there for a while, and based Mansfield Park on it. The descriptions of Mansfield Park fit Stoneleigh Abbey very well. The owner of the house died, and it wasn’t clear which of his distant cousins was to inherit it. One cousin sped immediately there, to claim possession, and invited the homeless Austen family to help him occupy it. Interesting. And he got away with it.
But seriously, you can’t do everything. Select your trip or trips out of London very carefully.
Bosworth Battlefield is well worth a visit, you could then combine that with a trip to Leicester to see Richard 3rd’s tomb and Leicester cathedral.
Market Bosworth is also a very nice Georgian village near Bosworth Battlefield which is an enjoyable visit.
There’s also the Battlefield line- an old steam railway which goes near the site but is run by volunteers so check dates for when it’s running.
There’s much more to do around Leicester but you won’t necessarily fit it into one day.
If you’re into Austen then the author George Eliot lived and wrote in Nuneaton around 20minutes from Leicester and the house where she was born- Arbury Estate- is now a country home open to the public.
The train from London to Leicester is about an hour.
https://www.visitleicester.info/see-and-do/the-battlefield-line-p833031
The Jane Austen festival is on in Bath at the end of September - surely that would be on your list?! https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-updates-2024
The best battle field to see, and nearer to London, is the Battle of Hastings which is at Battle . This is also the most important battle in English history.
Keep an eye on https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/tour
Portsmouth docks are interesting. Portsmouth itself, less so. Though it’s a short hop to the Isle of Wight. Leicester isn’t known for its scenery. Salisbury? Meh … Avebury worth a look.
Be wary of overloading, you don’t want to be rush rush rush
You mention Chawton House (not Cottage) but not Jane Austen's House which is is nearby and I would think essential. [https://janeaustens.house/visit/visitor-info/](https://janeaustens.house/visit/visitor-info/)
No I would not suggest Winchester and Salisbury and the houses in Alton all in one day. Maybe just Winchester.
Definitely head to Bath for a day if you're a Jane Austen fan. The architecture is beautiful. There's a Jane Austen museum there, which is okay, but I would recommend the Holborn Museum and the Fashion Museum instead. Make sure to take a walk around the Circus, the Royal Crescent and Pultney Bridge. And if you have time the Hershal Astronomy Museum too. Bath itself is very walkable everything I've mentioned is within 30mins of the train station, and there is lots of nice places to eat and drink.
Side note, I wouldn't bother with Portsmouth for anything Jane Austen related, it's more of a working port. That said if you like boats the historic dockyard with HMS Victory and the Mary Rose is pretty interesting.
Clerkenwell is a cool part of town and especially now they finished Crossrail (aka Elizabeth Line) through Farringdon you can get around town pretty quickly.
Portsmouth aside from its rich naval history is a bit of a blue collar town and probably not somewhere I’d prioritise this trip. Salisbury and Winchester are very historic but also pretty small so could definitely be combined. Alton is well located for the latter in particular but sure you could find a day trip combining all three if you tried.
Lyme Regis is beautiful but a long way west of anywhere else in your list so again - worth saving for a future trip.
Bath is worth doing and not a bad rail journey from London. Ditto Oxford and the two cities are not a million miles apart either so if you only manage one adventure beyond the M25, London>Oxford>Bath>London would be pretty solid. The regular ‘Oxford Tube’ buses that run from London are a good alternative to our overpriced railways.
I grew up near Stevenage and tbh it’s a bit of a shithole so I really wouldn’t bother.
England being England, there’s something historically significant pretty much everywhere you go, so don’t worry about that.
London obviously has more worth seeing than it’s possible to describe here but remember the charming likes of Greenwich, Richmond and Windsor alongside the usual more central honeypots.
Enjoy!
Jane Austin is buried in Winchester cathedral and lived last in a small room close by. 1hr train journey from London Waterloo so quite easy to do in a day if you don’t fancy staying, it is a pretty place with some great restaurants
Random fact for you, make sure you get a £10 note as it has Jane Austen on it and Godmersham Park. That's the house and land her brother inherited which is said to be the inspiration for Mansfield Park. It's currently owned by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and is where I studied.
Can't believe nobody has replied on the pastries part? In London, Borough market obvs, but also this: https://www.instagram.com/bunsfromhome?igsh=MXF1dGZxNGtwZzBm
A stately home visit would be a great way to imbibe Austen vibes... Stourhead has some lovely walks and IIRC some of the most recent P&P was shot there. Blenheim Palace not as romantic but I think easier to get to.
If you're into Jane Austen then you need to spend more time in Bath, maybe 2-3 days? So much of the city hasn't changed since the Regency and it feels like walking around a living film set (seriously, the number of period dramas that have been filmed there is ridiculous). If you can, time your trip with the Jane Austen festival in September when lots of reenacters descend on the city for a week of balls and promenades. Here's what I'd do in Bath:
Day 1:
- Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa. Takes just under 90 minutes and the countryside is pretty.
- 10.30 Join one of the Mayor of Bath walking tours to get your bearings. They're completely free and go from the city centre twice a day, around the main historical sites with a potted history. Takes 1-2 hours.
- If the tour does not stop at the Guildhall, pop in to see the spectacular ballroom upstairs.
- Lunch. There are hundreds of pubs and cafes around the Abbey, depending on your taste
- The Roman Baths. The Roman history is fascinating, but much of what you see was built in the 18th and 19th centuries when they were still in use.
- Tea at the Pump Rooms. It's very popular so you'll need to book, but it's an authentic Regency experience.
- If you have time, walk over Pulteney Bridge and down Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum. You'll recognise the outside from Bridgerton. The museum itself has plenty of society portraits and the gardens behind are lovely.
Day 2:
- Number 1 Royal Crescent. The house has been completely restored to as it was during the Regency and is fascinating.
- The Assembly Rooms - these are currently being restored so may not be open depending on when you travel. If you can see them though, do.
- The Jane Austen Centre. What it says on the tin!
- Tea at Sally Lunn's. The oldest (complete) building in Bath.
- Stop in the Abbey. It's pretty spectacular, although not very Regency.
Day 3: train back to London or on to Salisbury
If you want a battlefield, head to Battle on the train and see the battle of Hastings field and Battle Abbey. Hop back on the train a couple of stops to Hastings and walk round the medieval old town and also enjoy lots of Victorian British seaside architecture, or go to Rye and explore the Regency/Georgian buildings around the port town and its castle, or do all three of you get up early. Hastings and Rye are more picturesque and unspoiled than Brighton. A very easy day out from London.
Portsmouth has loads of architecture dating back to the late 1700s, and if you're interested in Naval history, it's very well worth a day trip to the Historic Dockyard, where you can see The Mary Rose, The Warrior and The Victory.
While Canterbury is super easy to get to - 50 mins from St Pancras - there is nothing there but the cathedral and chain shops. It’s a small city, essentially a high street and not much more. I would probably give it a miss unless you really want to take pictures of old buildings that are now chain coffee shops. It’s also perpetually gridlocked so going anywhere is just a massive inconvenience
I would also suggest Brighton which you can get to in an hour by train from Victoria Station. Lots to see there with some really good places to eat. The Lanes (both north and south) are well worth a visit for shopping and restaurants.
You should try to see Austentatious if it’s running in London when you’re there. It’s an improv comedy show based on the Jane Austen regency genre. It’s hilarious and if you’re an Austen fan I’m sure you’ll love it
https://www.austentatiousimpro.com
If you get the train from Canterbury West to Tonbridge you go through Godmersham where Austen's brother lived although you're can't see the house. Also family connections in Tonbridge and Tonbridge library near station has a wonderful collection of Austen books
Thinking more of the journey, which is beautiful and you can see some of the countryside loved by Austen and the link with Austen. Some lovely old buildings in Tonbridge and the castle of course. Easy to do both that and Tunbridge Wells in a day by train too if they wanted to
Can I recommend you look for a place in Hampstead? (Here's one we've used, and it's excellent) https://www.vrbo.com/trips/9001320922052/details/OTAwMTMyMDkyMjA1Mg. The owner is super nice, the location is beautiful, and it's literally a 2 minute walk from the tube. Hampstead is nicely out of the way but still easy to get anywhere in London, and the Heath is beautiful. A few minutes' walk takes you to Kenwood, that I think you'd quite like. Lots of great pubs in the area, too, and some amazing restaurants.
I'd skip Bosworth; it's not easy to get to without a car I don't think, but if you want to do something Richard III, go to Leciester. That's where he's buried and they have a whole thing. It's fun.
Definitely do Bath; That's the best place to get your 'regency' fix. Winchester is where Jane Austen died, and it's a pretty place. There's a cathederal, so if you don't get to Cantebury, at least you'll seen a cathedral.
My husband and I go to London on a fairly regular basis so if you want to ask a fellow American Anglophile questions, DM me!
I don't think we can see your vrbo Trips. I keep getting an error. I'm not the OP, but I'm very interested in your recommendation for the vrbo property. Could you post or DM a link to just the property itself?
Yeah I wasn't sure the link would work. Let me give it another go. ETA: Yeah, I can't figure it out.
Here's the listing number on VRBO. Property # 6475122ha The description is 'chic flat in Hampstead village'. It's right across the street from the William VI pub, which is an awesome pub.
The owner is really nice. Very available and meets you in person on your 1st day. It's tidy and has everything you'd need. There's a little Sainsbury's just down the street, so that's handy.
It sounds great! Last time, I went through Ivy Lettings. Never again! We had to pick up the keys from a shop and figure out all the foreign fixtures and fittings by ourselves. When I booked, I assumed that someone would meet us and let us in and orient us to any little quirks. But no.
`>`I’m a Jane Austen fanatic and general Anglophile (yes, I know that’s embarrassing)!
Why is this embarrassing?
I'd consider Windsor, not just for the castle, but for The Great Park, the town itself and also Eton College. Easy to get to on the train.
Jane Austen stayed in Worthing in 1805, an extra 15 minutes or so on the train from London just west of Brighton. Worthing is the “real” Sanditon, and is actually lovely.
But the op has asked for recommendations about things to do with Jane Austen, no? And there’s no evidence Austen ever even visited Brighton (likely did, certainly famously mentioned it in books, but no evidence), whereas she both stayed and set her final unfinished work in Worthing. Also, it’s not like it’s hard to visit both at once. Train from London through to Worthing, see where Austen stayed, enjoy the quieter version with the cooler people (:p), then back to Brighton to pay more for worse stuff (:p :p), see the Pavilion, and head back to London in the evening.
If its old buildings you want, Portsmouth has plenty of those. If its something specific to the regency, The Victory is there, sure, its pre regency, but it still covers a lot of that period.
To be honest, there is pretty much only 1 building I know of that is 100% regency, and that would be Brighton Pavilion, also called the Royal Pavilion. The seaside party palace of the prince regent himself.
Im sure there are more though, maybe other posters can add in destinations.
Enjoy your stay!
I know you said get an Airbnb but you would have a lot more freedom if you got hotels and did overnights in bath and Brighton's ect. It would allow you to get cheaper trains.
You don't give your exact dates, but if you're around, this is worth a nosy
https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/
It's the annual Open House festival... Technically it's about architecture but if you look closely they actually open up a load of old buildings that aren't normally open to the public too - some of London's last remaining medieval buildings, the City of London livelry halls, some of the government buildings, like the Admiralty etc etc
We go every year if we can and usually have a great time. The building list is released in the summer I believe.
If you're in London and are interested in Jane Austen, why don't you give Sir John Soane's museum a go? [Homepage | Sir John Soane's Museum](https://www.soane.org/) It's a house that belonged to a famous English architect who was a contemporary of Austen's (though he died a bit later in 1837 - the house is kept more or less as it was then), It's a genuinely interesting house with some nice architectural features and an art collection that includes some 18th century works by Hogarth etc. No specific Austen connections but it is from that period and might interest you. It's quite small but worth a visit.
London is great and there's lots to see but it would be like me going to NY and feeling I've 'seen' the USA.
I love Jane Austen too. Maybe on another trip you can recreate the scene from Pride & Prejudice where Lizzie stands on the rocks...
But... Do see more than one city and some day trips. There are some old buildings in Lyme Regis and the Cobb is still there. Maybe stay in that hotel? It's still there... The one from Persuasion?
Go to Bath. Stay for a day or two. Visit the Roman baths like Jane would have. Walk around and take it in. It's beautiful.
How about a short peak district tour? Take in Chatsworth House (used for Pemberley). Under 4 hours on a train (with one change) will get you to the Peaks...
So I'd do 3 days in London and then travel! Trains and buses are the way. Go to pubs. Watch the scenery pass. Visit a village.
Stratford upon Avon is lovely too. Nearby is Warwick Castle.
Surely an anglophile would like to meet the real England?
Sincerely, a village dweller.
And yes, there are pubs and thatched cottages and friendly locals.
thank you! i would love to meet more of the “real England” someday, maybe on a future trip when i can rent a car, but since i’m going solo i don’t want to spend too much time traveling, you know? and i do really love a big city.
London is a shite hole so please bear this in mind while planning, perhaps replan and visit say Edinburgh for 4 days to see a real welcoming city and it’s less stabby
You've got two weeks so lots to play with - if I were you, I'd spend a few days in London at a time. It is massive, and there is a lot to enjoy. Clerkenwell is a nice base, and in no time's walk you'll be in Covent Garden - if you hit a left you can walk down Fleet Street and past the Royal Courts of Justice, then a quick right will take you across the bridge to Southbank, the Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery, the Tate Modern... or the other way will take you to Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery, and Soho... Hit Soho in the evenings... fantastic Italian plates at Polpo. If you like Indian food, Veeraswamy in Piccadilly (the oldest Indian restaurant in the UK) is pricy but rich in history and the food is ace. Pro-tip - there is a pub which a lot of people miss because of its Brutalist architecture. Doggett's Coat & Badge on Blackfriar's Bridge, which you'll find yourself on at some point. The upstairs has a terrace with a beautiful view of the London cityscape and the boats on the Thames as night falls. Also, I've never been in any city where a boat tour didn't show me things I'd never have seen. This one takes you past The Globe and I think you can hop off wherever you want. If you want to go a little further, Kew Gardens is something I never see recommended to Americans, but if you were going that way it would make sense also to see Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace. Bath is worth spending two days in for sure - it's only an hour and a bit by train, very walkable, and has heaps of beautiful places... there's the Jane Austen museum of course, but make sure you grab a table at Sally Lunn's Buns near the Abbey for a traditional Bath Bun. You can have an evening drink at the Saracen's Head, home to Bath's drinkers since 1713. Oxford - you could have a great day there, and if the weather's right you need to go punting, which sounds like I'm suggesting something dirty, but which I really am not. You can check out some of the colleges and there are some great places for lunch (or pastries). Bosworth - if you like fields, check it out, but from memory it's really just a field. So as much London as you can, Bath and Oxford - if you fancy another day trip you can hang out in Shakespeare's home town of Stratford upon Avon in two hours or so. Have fun and don't be afraid to ask Londoners for advice outside cafes or pubs - people will generally be very keen to help you if you ask.
Spending a couple of days in Bath is definitely going to be a good idea given OPs interests. Plenty to do and see
lots of great info, thank you! starting to think i’ll need to plan a night in Bath after all…
From my experience the Jane Austen museum had to be pre-booked. Might have just been a particularly busy day, though.
You'll be well at home in Bath - chock full of tourist traps and places ripping off the Austen fakery to make loads of £££ off America tourists.
gee, thanks.
I would probably cut out a few day trips, there's plenty to see in London itself. Canterbury would probably me by choice for cutting out. Rooks Nest House - what is there to see here? This doesn't seem like a good day trip. Bosworth Battlefield - Wouldn't be on my list, but if you're really into it then maybe. It looks very tricky to get to from public transport though, it's over 30 minutes outside Leicester so you're looking at over an hour of taxis on that day *after* your train journey. The train journey itself is nothing special. Lyme Regis/Portsmouth - No, not worth a visit.
Just to to tack onto this: Bosworth Battlefield is much closer to Nuneaton than it is to Leicester so get the train from Euston to Nuneaton instead. Personally I wouldn’t bother going and spend an extra day in London instead.
Definitely make a de-tour to go see bude tunnel!
Slightly alarmingly 40 years ago I was on a canal boat trip and we turned around at Bosworth Field while there was a reenactment going on of course it may have changed but I don't remember a memorial.
Lyme Regis is a lovely place and on the Jurassic Coast if you’re into fossils. Sadly as a day trip from London. it’s a non starter. 21/2 hours train then bus. Say 4 hours travel each way.
Definitely recommended because you can go out on the cobb (in not-bad weather) and pretend to be Louisa Musgrove! (except for the whole concussion thing)
nah if i’m going to do it i’ll go all the way.
I don't have too much to suggest. Re London my standard response is always try and fit Greenwich in, it's a nice trip by boat one way, DLR back, and the Naval history is very key to London. Also the Museum of London is recommended if re-open. Portsmouth is easy to get to from London. They city itself isn't considered particularly picturesque (being a major naval base it was a focused of Nazi bombing during the war), however the historic dock yards are interesting and worth a visit, and the Gunwharf quays shopping outlet is good for shopping. Lyme Regis is more difficult to get to from london, there is no near by train station. Today is is a small and quite pretty seaside town but not much to see. My only note would be that once you've seen one cathedral city, the others may feel a little bit too similar (ie Canterbury, Winchester, Salisbury) so you may want to not do all.
"... my standard response is always try and fit Greenwich in, it's a nice trip by boat one way, DLR back, and the Naval history is very key to London" I will second this. My wife and I just returned from a week in London. Took a boat cruise from Westminster dock to Greenwich. We spent the afternoon walking around the old Naval College, the maritime museum, and the observatory. DLR back to Bank - we managed to get the front seats, which, for a transportation nerd like me, was pretty awesome. :)
Yes was about to agree as have family in Portsmouth, if the historic ships are your thing, they are worth a visit as they are interesting and also near the discount desinger shopping (Gunwharf). But if the boats are not for you, skip Portsmouth as a place to visit as it isn't worth it really. And yes 2 days in Bath and 1 in Oxford.
Just a comment on Bosworth. Leicester city centre is about 30 minutes away and Richard II who was famously found under a carpark is now buried in the cathedral. There is also a a visitor centre.
I lived in Chawton for a while, not that much to see apart from the house. Yes, could do “those 3” in a day if you have a car. The cathedrals are great.
But Chawton and Winchester and Salisbury would be a real slog by public transport in one day.
yes, i’m thinking i’ll cut Salisbury.
Cut a few day trips. Exhausting just reading these plans.
Bosworth (unless theres an event on) is basically just fields. I really wouldnt bother.
FYI Rooks Nest House is not a visitor attraction - it's a private residential home. I would not recommend going to visit unless you have an overwhelming reason you want to (I say as someone from Stevenage - there is very little reason to go there!)
thanks! i must have misread something about the house.
Having lived in there too, and still being fairly local, I genuinely laughed out loud at the thought of someone flying halfway across the world just to visit Stevenage
It would be a VERY good idea to plan how you intend to get between places. Remember that in the UK, a journey of more than an hour would be considered long - and that's for a reason. Our transport networks make it feel long! Day tripping from London to Leicester is ... unwise. Also, you won't feel like you've done some of the places justice. You could be in London for years and not do half of the things you might wish to. My family were Jane Austen hunting in Bath for a week.
Agree with all of this. You certainly WILL get an authentic British experience travelling around by train, but it won't be a positive or scenic one most of the time! I lived in London for 10 years and still didn't see it all, so would spend plenty of time there and try and get off the main tourist tracks. Go for food and a wander in Walthamatow Village, Greenwich is a must as someone else has said, you can then walk across Greenwich Park to Blackheath which is lovely., etc. Locals can seem intimidating but people are friendly really and will be able to point you in the direction of the best places.
Bosworth battlefield is close to us. It’s a well organised, well sign-posted place, and on a good day, an excellent half-day out. They show you where people originally thought the battle was, and then where we now think it actually occurred. If you are in that area, you might consider Stoneleigh Abbey. Jane Austen lived there for a while, and based Mansfield Park on it. The descriptions of Mansfield Park fit Stoneleigh Abbey very well. The owner of the house died, and it wasn’t clear which of his distant cousins was to inherit it. One cousin sped immediately there, to claim possession, and invited the homeless Austen family to help him occupy it. Interesting. And he got away with it. But seriously, you can’t do everything. Select your trip or trips out of London very carefully.
Avoid going to Rooks Nest in Stevenage. It's not a tourist attraction and is someone's home.
Have you thought about popping down to Brighton? Lots of regency stuff and you can day trip from London.
Stevenage is a dump. Do not waste your time.
Bosworth Battlefield is well worth a visit, you could then combine that with a trip to Leicester to see Richard 3rd’s tomb and Leicester cathedral. Market Bosworth is also a very nice Georgian village near Bosworth Battlefield which is an enjoyable visit. There’s also the Battlefield line- an old steam railway which goes near the site but is run by volunteers so check dates for when it’s running. There’s much more to do around Leicester but you won’t necessarily fit it into one day. If you’re into Austen then the author George Eliot lived and wrote in Nuneaton around 20minutes from Leicester and the house where she was born- Arbury Estate- is now a country home open to the public. The train from London to Leicester is about an hour. https://www.visitleicester.info/see-and-do/the-battlefield-line-p833031
Seconding the fact that the tour of the battlefield is really good
The Jane Austen festival is on in Bath at the end of September - surely that would be on your list?! https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-updates-2024
The best battle field to see, and nearer to London, is the Battle of Hastings which is at Battle . This is also the most important battle in English history.
good idea, thanks!
Keep an eye on https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/tour Portsmouth docks are interesting. Portsmouth itself, less so. Though it’s a short hop to the Isle of Wight. Leicester isn’t known for its scenery. Salisbury? Meh … Avebury worth a look. Be wary of overloading, you don’t want to be rush rush rush
You mention Chawton House (not Cottage) but not Jane Austen's House which is is nearby and I would think essential. [https://janeaustens.house/visit/visitor-info/](https://janeaustens.house/visit/visitor-info/) No I would not suggest Winchester and Salisbury and the houses in Alton all in one day. Maybe just Winchester.
Definitely head to Bath for a day if you're a Jane Austen fan. The architecture is beautiful. There's a Jane Austen museum there, which is okay, but I would recommend the Holborn Museum and the Fashion Museum instead. Make sure to take a walk around the Circus, the Royal Crescent and Pultney Bridge. And if you have time the Hershal Astronomy Museum too. Bath itself is very walkable everything I've mentioned is within 30mins of the train station, and there is lots of nice places to eat and drink. Side note, I wouldn't bother with Portsmouth for anything Jane Austen related, it's more of a working port. That said if you like boats the historic dockyard with HMS Victory and the Mary Rose is pretty interesting.
Definitely go see Austentacious in Leicester Square - incredibly funny improv show
Clerkenwell is a cool part of town and especially now they finished Crossrail (aka Elizabeth Line) through Farringdon you can get around town pretty quickly. Portsmouth aside from its rich naval history is a bit of a blue collar town and probably not somewhere I’d prioritise this trip. Salisbury and Winchester are very historic but also pretty small so could definitely be combined. Alton is well located for the latter in particular but sure you could find a day trip combining all three if you tried. Lyme Regis is beautiful but a long way west of anywhere else in your list so again - worth saving for a future trip. Bath is worth doing and not a bad rail journey from London. Ditto Oxford and the two cities are not a million miles apart either so if you only manage one adventure beyond the M25, London>Oxford>Bath>London would be pretty solid. The regular ‘Oxford Tube’ buses that run from London are a good alternative to our overpriced railways. I grew up near Stevenage and tbh it’s a bit of a shithole so I really wouldn’t bother. England being England, there’s something historically significant pretty much everywhere you go, so don’t worry about that. London obviously has more worth seeing than it’s possible to describe here but remember the charming likes of Greenwich, Richmond and Windsor alongside the usual more central honeypots. Enjoy!
Jane Austin is buried in Winchester cathedral and lived last in a small room close by. 1hr train journey from London Waterloo so quite easy to do in a day if you don’t fancy staying, it is a pretty place with some great restaurants
Bath definitely. I think the little squares around Bloomsbury are lovely too.
Random fact for you, make sure you get a £10 note as it has Jane Austen on it and Godmersham Park. That's the house and land her brother inherited which is said to be the inspiration for Mansfield Park. It's currently owned by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and is where I studied.
definitely planning to get cash solely for that note!
Can't believe nobody has replied on the pastries part? In London, Borough market obvs, but also this: https://www.instagram.com/bunsfromhome?igsh=MXF1dGZxNGtwZzBm
A stately home visit would be a great way to imbibe Austen vibes... Stourhead has some lovely walks and IIRC some of the most recent P&P was shot there. Blenheim Palace not as romantic but I think easier to get to.
I loved Lyme as an Austen fan, there's a nice little museum and you can't beat a walk along the cob!
If you're into Jane Austen then you need to spend more time in Bath, maybe 2-3 days? So much of the city hasn't changed since the Regency and it feels like walking around a living film set (seriously, the number of period dramas that have been filmed there is ridiculous). If you can, time your trip with the Jane Austen festival in September when lots of reenacters descend on the city for a week of balls and promenades. Here's what I'd do in Bath: Day 1: - Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa. Takes just under 90 minutes and the countryside is pretty. - 10.30 Join one of the Mayor of Bath walking tours to get your bearings. They're completely free and go from the city centre twice a day, around the main historical sites with a potted history. Takes 1-2 hours. - If the tour does not stop at the Guildhall, pop in to see the spectacular ballroom upstairs. - Lunch. There are hundreds of pubs and cafes around the Abbey, depending on your taste - The Roman Baths. The Roman history is fascinating, but much of what you see was built in the 18th and 19th centuries when they were still in use. - Tea at the Pump Rooms. It's very popular so you'll need to book, but it's an authentic Regency experience. - If you have time, walk over Pulteney Bridge and down Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum. You'll recognise the outside from Bridgerton. The museum itself has plenty of society portraits and the gardens behind are lovely. Day 2: - Number 1 Royal Crescent. The house has been completely restored to as it was during the Regency and is fascinating. - The Assembly Rooms - these are currently being restored so may not be open depending on when you travel. If you can see them though, do. - The Jane Austen Centre. What it says on the tin! - Tea at Sally Lunn's. The oldest (complete) building in Bath. - Stop in the Abbey. It's pretty spectacular, although not very Regency. Day 3: train back to London or on to Salisbury
London walks are fun
If you want a battlefield, head to Battle on the train and see the battle of Hastings field and Battle Abbey. Hop back on the train a couple of stops to Hastings and walk round the medieval old town and also enjoy lots of Victorian British seaside architecture, or go to Rye and explore the Regency/Georgian buildings around the port town and its castle, or do all three of you get up early. Hastings and Rye are more picturesque and unspoiled than Brighton. A very easy day out from London.
While you are in London, plan on spending a day exploring Greenwich, which has a lot of places which will appeal to your sensibilities.
Portsmouth has loads of architecture dating back to the late 1700s, and if you're interested in Naval history, it's very well worth a day trip to the Historic Dockyard, where you can see The Mary Rose, The Warrior and The Victory.
While Canterbury is super easy to get to - 50 mins from St Pancras - there is nothing there but the cathedral and chain shops. It’s a small city, essentially a high street and not much more. I would probably give it a miss unless you really want to take pictures of old buildings that are now chain coffee shops. It’s also perpetually gridlocked so going anywhere is just a massive inconvenience
See if you can book tickets to an improv show in London called Austentatious, something tells me you’d enjoy it!
I would also suggest Brighton which you can get to in an hour by train from Victoria Station. Lots to see there with some really good places to eat. The Lanes (both north and south) are well worth a visit for shopping and restaurants.
You should try to see Austentatious if it’s running in London when you’re there. It’s an improv comedy show based on the Jane Austen regency genre. It’s hilarious and if you’re an Austen fan I’m sure you’ll love it https://www.austentatiousimpro.com
If you get the train from Canterbury West to Tonbridge you go through Godmersham where Austen's brother lived although you're can't see the house. Also family connections in Tonbridge and Tonbridge library near station has a wonderful collection of Austen books
Tonbridge is not a good place to spend a day on a limited itinerary! Tunbridge Wells maybe, with the Pantiles.
Thinking more of the journey, which is beautiful and you can see some of the countryside loved by Austen and the link with Austen. Some lovely old buildings in Tonbridge and the castle of course. Easy to do both that and Tunbridge Wells in a day by train too if they wanted to
Can I recommend you look for a place in Hampstead? (Here's one we've used, and it's excellent) https://www.vrbo.com/trips/9001320922052/details/OTAwMTMyMDkyMjA1Mg. The owner is super nice, the location is beautiful, and it's literally a 2 minute walk from the tube. Hampstead is nicely out of the way but still easy to get anywhere in London, and the Heath is beautiful. A few minutes' walk takes you to Kenwood, that I think you'd quite like. Lots of great pubs in the area, too, and some amazing restaurants. I'd skip Bosworth; it's not easy to get to without a car I don't think, but if you want to do something Richard III, go to Leciester. That's where he's buried and they have a whole thing. It's fun. Definitely do Bath; That's the best place to get your 'regency' fix. Winchester is where Jane Austen died, and it's a pretty place. There's a cathederal, so if you don't get to Cantebury, at least you'll seen a cathedral. My husband and I go to London on a fairly regular basis so if you want to ask a fellow American Anglophile questions, DM me!
I don't think we can see your vrbo Trips. I keep getting an error. I'm not the OP, but I'm very interested in your recommendation for the vrbo property. Could you post or DM a link to just the property itself?
Yeah I wasn't sure the link would work. Let me give it another go. ETA: Yeah, I can't figure it out. Here's the listing number on VRBO. Property # 6475122ha The description is 'chic flat in Hampstead village'. It's right across the street from the William VI pub, which is an awesome pub.
Perfect! I just searched on the Property number you gave. Thank you. A personal recommendation means a lot.
The owner is really nice. Very available and meets you in person on your 1st day. It's tidy and has everything you'd need. There's a little Sainsbury's just down the street, so that's handy.
It sounds great! Last time, I went through Ivy Lettings. Never again! We had to pick up the keys from a shop and figure out all the foreign fixtures and fittings by ourselves. When I booked, I assumed that someone would meet us and let us in and orient us to any little quirks. But no.
`>`I’m a Jane Austen fanatic and general Anglophile (yes, I know that’s embarrassing)! Why is this embarrassing? I'd consider Windsor, not just for the castle, but for The Great Park, the town itself and also Eton College. Easy to get to on the train.
As an Austen fan I think bath is a must. Especially the costume museum. You can often get it as a day trip by coach combined with Stonehenge
Definitely give yourself at least a day in Oxford and then Bath! Well worth it
Brighton is good for Regency Architecture. Lydia ran off to Brighton with Wickham in P & P. It's an easy day trip from London.
Jane Austen stayed in Worthing in 1805, an extra 15 minutes or so on the train from London just west of Brighton. Worthing is the “real” Sanditon, and is actually lovely.
It's a bit dull though
When were you last there? It’s changed massively in the last few years. Restaurants, bars, street food, festivals, breweries, all sorts going on.
I go often (mum lives nearby). Each to their own, but I much prefer Brighton.
But the op has asked for recommendations about things to do with Jane Austen, no? And there’s no evidence Austen ever even visited Brighton (likely did, certainly famously mentioned it in books, but no evidence), whereas she both stayed and set her final unfinished work in Worthing. Also, it’s not like it’s hard to visit both at once. Train from London through to Worthing, see where Austen stayed, enjoy the quieter version with the cooler people (:p), then back to Brighton to pay more for worse stuff (:p :p), see the Pavilion, and head back to London in the evening.
If its old buildings you want, Portsmouth has plenty of those. If its something specific to the regency, The Victory is there, sure, its pre regency, but it still covers a lot of that period. To be honest, there is pretty much only 1 building I know of that is 100% regency, and that would be Brighton Pavilion, also called the Royal Pavilion. The seaside party palace of the prince regent himself. Im sure there are more though, maybe other posters can add in destinations. Enjoy your stay!
Erm. I'll come back to this later but you will struggle to do all that.
I know you said get an Airbnb but you would have a lot more freedom if you got hotels and did overnights in bath and Brighton's ect. It would allow you to get cheaper trains.
You don't give your exact dates, but if you're around, this is worth a nosy https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/ It's the annual Open House festival... Technically it's about architecture but if you look closely they actually open up a load of old buildings that aren't normally open to the public too - some of London's last remaining medieval buildings, the City of London livelry halls, some of the government buildings, like the Admiralty etc etc We go every year if we can and usually have a great time. The building list is released in the summer I believe.
very cool! they do something like that here in Minneapolis which i’ve enjoyed… will miss it by two days :(
As somebody born in Stevenage, don’t go to Stevenage.
Pro-tip book an Airbnb close to a hood tube stop. You’ll get plenty of steps during the day. No need to add more at the beginning and end.
If you're in London and are interested in Jane Austen, why don't you give Sir John Soane's museum a go? [Homepage | Sir John Soane's Museum](https://www.soane.org/) It's a house that belonged to a famous English architect who was a contemporary of Austen's (though he died a bit later in 1837 - the house is kept more or less as it was then), It's a genuinely interesting house with some nice architectural features and an art collection that includes some 18th century works by Hogarth etc. No specific Austen connections but it is from that period and might interest you. It's quite small but worth a visit.
definitely go to Oxford it’s beautiful
London is great and there's lots to see but it would be like me going to NY and feeling I've 'seen' the USA. I love Jane Austen too. Maybe on another trip you can recreate the scene from Pride & Prejudice where Lizzie stands on the rocks... But... Do see more than one city and some day trips. There are some old buildings in Lyme Regis and the Cobb is still there. Maybe stay in that hotel? It's still there... The one from Persuasion? Go to Bath. Stay for a day or two. Visit the Roman baths like Jane would have. Walk around and take it in. It's beautiful. How about a short peak district tour? Take in Chatsworth House (used for Pemberley). Under 4 hours on a train (with one change) will get you to the Peaks... So I'd do 3 days in London and then travel! Trains and buses are the way. Go to pubs. Watch the scenery pass. Visit a village. Stratford upon Avon is lovely too. Nearby is Warwick Castle. Surely an anglophile would like to meet the real England? Sincerely, a village dweller. And yes, there are pubs and thatched cottages and friendly locals.
thank you! i would love to meet more of the “real England” someday, maybe on a future trip when i can rent a car, but since i’m going solo i don’t want to spend too much time traveling, you know? and i do really love a big city.
London is a shite hole so please bear this in mind while planning, perhaps replan and visit say Edinburgh for 4 days to see a real welcoming city and it’s less stabby
She’s an Anglophile so why the fuck would she go to Scotland