16th December 2025 marks the 250th birthday of Jane Austen! Get your bonnets and Regency finery ready for a year filled with Jane Austen-themed parties and events to take part in. The most exciting being the Jane Austen Festival!
Not only did Jane Austen base two of her novels in Bath, but she is intrinsically connected to the city. Explore Jane Austen’s Bath here.
Take a look at the exhibitions and events that will be happening across the city throughout the year!
What’s on
Trials & Tribulations
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomThe 18th century ball was a dynamic space, a social whirl of dancing, cards, talking… and judgement.
A German Play in Mansfield Park
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomJane Austen’s work is widely read and enjoyed in German-speaking countries. Mansfield Park features the play Lovers’ Vows which was an actual play originally written in German.
Austen After-Hours
Bath Abbey BathOn this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath
Edmund Burke: A Gentleman, Statesman & Scholar
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomEdmund Burke, an Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher, proposed that the cultivation of virtues and the development of manners provided the possibility of moral stability in society and a just state, all of which set the scene for the Regency sense and sensibility.
The World of Jane Austen: All-Day Symposium
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomA full day of talks & discussion as part of BRLSI’s World of Jane Austen series.
Austen After-Hours
Bath Abbey BathOn this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath
What About War in Jane Austen’s Novels?
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomThe popular view is that public events are largely absent in Jane Austen’s novels, even though Austen (1775-1817) and Napoleon (1769-1821) were near contemporaries.
Mayor’s Guides Walk: An Introduction to Jane Austen
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomA two-hour guided walk with something for everyone!
Letters in the Age of Jane Austen
BRLSI 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomLetter writing in Jane Austen’s day was the only viable alternative to face-to-face communication.
Austen After-Hours
Bath Abbey BathOn this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath
Austen After-Hours
Bath Abbey BathOn this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath
WIG! The Pride NOT Prejudice Ball
The Pump Room Bath Searcys at the Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath, Bath & North East Somerset, United KingdomIn celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, WIG! proudly presents a dazzling night of South West drag excellence-set against the stunning backdrop of Bath’s historic Pump Room.
Exhibitions
Bath Abbey
5th April – 27th September
Austens at the Abbey
Immerse yourself in the fascinating connections the Austen family has to Bath Abbey through a brand-new exhibition. Through their memorials, discover the captivating stories of doctors, sailors, musicians, an actor and an international businesswoman who are all linked to Jane Austen and her family. The exhibition is included in Bath Abbey’s regular admission and offers a new and intriguing understanding of Austen’s world.
No.1 Royal Crescent
5th July – 2nd November
The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath
In 2025 No.1 Royal Crescent will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with the exhibition, The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath.
The Holburne Museum
11th September – 11th January 2026
Illustrating Austen
In the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen’s birth, our autumn display will offer audiences the chance to see the artwork behind their favourite Austen novels.
Centring around Austen’s stories and the characters she created, Illustrating Austen will demonstrate how our favourite characters came to life on the page and have evolved through the years, reflecting the changing times and new audiences.