Jane Austen’s London: A Literary Walking Tour
Step Into the World of Regency London
Jane Austen’s novels may be set in the quiet countryside of England, but London played a pivotal role in her life and works. From grand ballrooms to bookshops, from fashionable squares to hidden corners of literary inspiration, this immersive walking tour will take you through the London of Jane Austen—a city of romance, wit, and Regency elegance.
Highlights:
• Visit Henry Austen’s London home, where Jane often stayed.
• Walk through Mayfair, where Austen’s heroines attended society balls.
• See the bookshop where Austen’s novels were first sold.
• Discover the sites of Regency-era social gatherings, theatres, and fashionable shops.
• Explore Bond Street, where Austen’s characters indulged in shopping.
• End at a historic tea house, just as Austen herself would have enjoyed.
Tour Overview:
Your journey begins in Cavendish Square, the elegant neighborhood where Jane Austen’s favorite brother, Henry, lived and where Jane often stayed during her visits to London. This was a time of great personal and professional significance for her—while here, she oversaw the publication of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.
From here, walk through Mayfair, the heart of Regency high society, where Austen’s heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse, would have attended glittering balls in grand townhouses. Your guide will bring these scenes to life, sharing excerpts from Austen’s letters and novels.
Continue to Hatchards Bookshop on Piccadilly, London’s oldest bookshop and one of the first to sell Jane Austen’s works. Imagine the excitement of an early 19th-century reader picking up a copy of Pride and Prejudice for the very first time.
Next, stroll along Bond Street, the fashionable shopping district where Austen’s heroines, like Marianne Dashwood and the Bertram sisters, would have browsed for ribbons, gloves, and the latest muslins. Austen herself referenced Bond Street in her letters, noting its elegance and allure.
Pass by the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where Austen and her family attended plays during their London visits. Hear about the famous actors of the time and how theatre influenced Austen’s storytelling.
Your tour continues through St. James’s Square, once home to Almack’s Assembly Rooms, one of the most exclusive social clubs of the era. This was where young women of good standing—like Austen’s heroines—were introduced into high society and where potential suitors were scrutinized.
Finally, step back in time as you conclude your tour with afternoon tea at a historic London tea house, just as Jane Austen would have done. Enjoy a cup of tea and a selection of cakes while discussing the wit, romance, and enduring legacy of one of England’s greatest novelists.
A Tour Fit for an Austen Heroine
This experience is perfect for Jane Austen fans, literary lovers, and history enthusiasts who want to explore Regency London through the eyes of its most beloved writer. Whether you’re a devoted reader or simply curious about the past, this journey through Jane Austen’s London will leave you feeling as if you’ve stepped into the pages of one of her novels.
Price:
£1484 per group