Jane Austen Inspired Travel: A Trip to Chawton

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to walk in the footsteps of one of the world’s most beloved writers, a Jane Austen inspired journey to the lovely county of Hampshire might just be up your alley!

A pilgrimage to England is most assuredly on the list for every Janeite, but where should you go? If you’re looking for a lovely Jane Austen inspired day trip from London, look no further than the lovely village of Chawton.

Keep reading for more information on how to get there, food stops (important!) and a budget breakdown.

Jane Austen’s House in Chawton was her final home until her death in 1817. She moved to the cottage in 1809, when her brother Edward offered his sisters and mother a house on his estate. Edward had been adopted by the wealthy Knight family as a young boy and had therefore inherited the Chawton Estate, only a few minutes’ walk from the cottage. It was here that Jane revised her earlier novels, and even started some new ones: Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion.

Scenes of perfect English tranquillity run through your mind as you step foot in Chawton. I was fortunate enough to have visited on a beautifully sunny October day, something that added much dramatic creative licence in my mind as I strolled through lush green gardens, muddy paths along fields of grazing sheep, and wandering through quiet and romantic woodland. Cue Dario Marianelli’s Pride & Prejudice soundtrack. You get the picture…

If you choose to walk from Alton station to Chawton, you will come across some interesting buildings and places that have historical links to Jane and her family. Look out for the Alton Heritage blue plaques on buildings along the route for snippets of Austen history. You will be walking in Jane’s footsteps as this was a route that she regularly walked when she visited nearby Alton from the cottage, aptly named the Jane Austen trail. I was following trusty Google Maps as I went on, but there is also a lot of Jane Austen signage along the way to keep you on track and a lot of dreamy cottages with thatched roofs to look at. The walk is about 40-45 minutes from Alton station and, with a hot drink to warm me up on a brisk autumn morning, it was the perfect way to stretch those legs after sitting in one attitude on the train ride from London. Take a leaf out of Lizzie’s book!

“I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive…”

– Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice

But don’t do it if it’s an absolutely miserable day. Just don’t. You’ll end up like Jane after riding in the rain on horseback. With any luck, you’ll have a Mr Bingely to bundle you up warm and safe for a few days, but the reality is probably just a long and soggy day ahead of you. Rain always seems more romantic in books and movies!

Follow along with this Jane Austen Trail Walk: Alton to Chawton map.

Jane Austen’s House

I opted to visit Jane Austen’s House first with a 10am entry. Social distancing rules were in place (with some absolutely hilarious Jane-inspired signage – images below) and masks were mandatory on the premises. Once you signed in at the gate, you were free to explore at your own pace. There are about four separate sections to explore: the main house, the kitchens, the garden and the barn/gift shop. All lead back to the main courtyard so there is no need to do them in any particular order – perfect for spacing out if one area has a few people waiting.

One of the most gorgeous parts of the garden are the two circular benches that were commissioned by the Jane Austen’s House museum in 2017. Take a closer look to see the beautiful inscription in the stone. If you want to take a sneak peek, check out my Instagram Reel here or TikTok here.

“I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my life, & if it were indispensable for me to keep it up & never relax into laughing at myself or other people, I am sure I should be hung before I had finished the first chapter.”

– Jane Austen, Chawton, 1816

Fans of the film Becoming Jane will no doubt recognise a few pieces dotted around the house on display. As both a period drama fan and a film enthusiast, it was a very exciting moment to see the green silk dress that Anne Hathaway wore in the ballroom scene with James McAvoy – one of my favourite period costumes on screen.

The museum is littered with so many facts about Jane and her life at the cottage. It’s cosy enough to breeze through if you are short on time, but is also packed full of enough information to leisurely walk through and read at your own pace. You’ll be able to vividly imagine what life would have been life for Jane, Cassandra and their mother, and you’ll even see Jane’s writing desk tucked away in the corner of the dining room.

Before you leave, remember to head to the gift shop to turn your ticket into an annual ticket (at no additional cost).

Chawton House

Just a few minutes away is Chawton House. On a sunny day, it’s easy to imagine yourself as an Austen heroine, as you stroll along the fields from the cottage to the ‘Great House’, as Jane would call it. With the sun shining and the lambs grazing in the fields, it paints a picturesque image; one that would be complete with a dress, shawl and bonnet instead of the very modern clothes I was sporting. Even so, a girl can dream…

Chawton House is the ancestral home of the Knight family, dating back to Elizabethan times. One of the most interesting facts about Chawton House is that the condition of inheritance of the estate is to adopt the name “Knight” when there is no direct heir. This was the reason why Jane Austen’s brother became Edward Knight when he was adopted as his cousins’ successor when they realised that they would not have children of their own.

Things to look out for on your visit to Chawton:

• The crests that line the wall of the main room are the shields of all the heirs who gave up their given names and adopted the Knight name upon inheritance.
• You might spot some special first editions as you wander through the various exhibitions inside.
• Jane’s favourite reading spot in the house.
• A beautiful Jacobean staircase.

Finally, don’t forget to visit the library before you leave the house! All the books inside focus on women’s writing, with over 16,000 books in the collection. Some are on display in the library itself, others are in the research library upstairs, and a whole lot stored underground.

But wait…there’s more! Don’t forget that Chawton is an estate and, with an estate comes the beautifully tended grounds and gardens. Along the way, you might spot The Walled Garden and St Nicholas Church, where both Cassandra and Jane’s mother’s resting places are.

Food stops:

If you’re coming from Alton, there’s plenty of options along the high street for a sit down meal, or to provide sustenance for your walk to Chawton. At Chawton, Cassandra’s Cup is a traditional English tearoom and is located just diagonally opposite Jane Austen’s house. If you’re at Chawton House, visit The Old Kitchen Tearoom for a sandwich and some cake. At the time of visiting, they were running a takeaway service where you can purchase hot food and drinks from the stall at the exit of the house (after the library) and enjoy your meal on the grounds of the estate.

How to get there:

Direct trains run from London Waterloo to Alton station (about 1hr 17min). When you arrive at Alton, you can catch a bus or a taxi to the two houses, or you can take a lovely 45-minute walk through the town and along the Jane Austen trail if the weather is agreeable.

It is a short walk, roughly 5-10 minutes, between Jane Austen’s House and Chawton House.

Budget Breakdown:

With a Railcard, my travel costs came to £21.45 for the return tube to London Waterloo station and an Anytime Day Return ticket from Waterloo to Alton (pre-booked). Remember to add on any transport costs between Alton station and the two houses if you prefer not to walk (and to save yourself some time!).

Pre-booked timed entry to Jane Austen’s House (£9)* and Chawton House (House & Garden entry £10) totalled £19. Both of these tickets are valid for a year from entry, but you have to remember to validate the Jane Austen’s House ticket at the gift shop to take advantage of the offer.