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Jane Austen is one of the most revered and well-known English authors of the early 19th century and her 7 novels entitled Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Susan, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park have remained exceptionally popular ever since. Austen’s novels are largely based upon the romance and social etiquette of the Regency period in which she lived but nevertheless still continue to provide a strong resonance in today modern world through her description of social courtship, love and marriage.
This tour is designed to appeal to those who are already very familiar with Jane Austen’s works as a writer, through reading her books or for those who may have only a general interest through watching one of the many television or film productions based on her work. The tour is over a 3 day period and promises to be first and foremost an experience of the places she was familiar during her lifetime as well as some of those we associate with her novels in film, whilst also providing a unique insight into the life of this great novelist. During our “Austen-tatious” tour we will also visit 3 of the most beautiful cities in England, 2 of it’s most impressive cathedral churches and one of it’s grandest country houses.
In September the highlight of this excursion will be a lavish promenade of Regency costume through the city of Bath in which those joining our tour will be encouraged to participate and fully support. The tour guides will attempt to capture the spirit of the event by dressing in authentic Regency costume and very much hope that our guests would take the opportunity of taking an active part in the proceedings of what promises to be a fantastic colourful celebration of Jane Austen’s life. Although unable to provide costumes directly, Old School Tours will be happy to provide you with assistance to acquire a suitable costume to make your day a truly memorable one.
This special tour in September will run in two groups with the first starting in Winchester on the 14th September and finishing on the day of the parade whist the second group will begin on the 17th September with the promenade day and finish at Winchester.
The itineraries for the groups will be as follows;
(Go here to see Full Description Page for further details of each day)
Itinerary for Group A
This group meets on Wednesday evening in the city of Winchester and begins our tour with a relaxing dinner and includes that night’s accommodation!
Day 1
In the morning we explore this ancient capital of the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Wessex and visit its Norman cathedral with a library containing over 4,000 rare books, including several illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages. The cathedral is one of the most historically important and grandest in England and fittingly provides the last resting press for our Jane Austen. In the afternoon we travel to Jane Austen’s former home at the village of Chawton which were the happiest and contended of her life and where she wrote and completed the majority of her novels. The house is now a museum and includes an extensive collection of family mementos and documentary material, including copies of letters. From Chawton we go on to her childhood home at the village of Steventon and visit the church in which she was babtised and which her father George Austen was the local vicar of the parish.
Day 2
In the morning we visit Wilton House the stately home of the Earls of Pembroke, its palatial 17th century interiors providing film-makers the perfect setting for films such as, “Sense and Sensibility”, “Mrs. Brown”, “Pride and Prejudice” and most recently being the film “The Young Victoria”. In the afternoon we will explore the nearby historic city of Salisbury and in particular its beautiful Medieval cathedral. Later that afternoon we travel to the pretty Cotswold village of Lacock near Chipenham which has been used as the backdrop for a number of television and film productions of Jane Austen novels as well as those by other classical authors. We will be joined by Group B tonight for a special themed dinner, wear your Regency costume if you have one!
Day 3
After viewing the Royal Crescent we will visit the Jane Austen Centre at 40 Gay Street in Bath which houses a permanent exhibition telling the story of the novelist Jane Austen and the influence that living in Bath may have had upon the subject of her books. She paid two long visits to the City towards the end of the eighteenth century, and from 1801 to 1806 the novelist lived in Bath when her father obtained a clerical position. Austen’s intimate knowledge of Bath at a time when it was a fashionable meeting place for Georgian high society are reflected in two of her novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion”, which are largely based upon the social circles that existed in Bath at that time. Despite the passing of many years, the townscape is still very much as Jane Austen would have known it and continues to attract visitors from all over the world. After exploring the many places associated with Jane Austen in this beautiful Georgian City, we take a sedate boat trip on the River Avon. In the afternoon the group attend a formal dinner together with Group B in honour of the authoress.
For those undertaking the Jane Austen Special Tour on 14th – 17th September 2011, on our last day in Bath we participate in a colourful cavalcade of Regency costume “The Jane Austen Parade” and later that day explore the many places associated with Jane Austen in this beautiful Georgian City followed by a boat trip on the River Avon. In the afternoon attend a formal dinner together with Group B in honour of the authoress and our tour ends here (accommodation is not included this night).
Itinerary for Group B
This group meets on Friday evening and begins our tour with a special themed dinner along with Group A (wear your Regency costume if you like!) and includes that night’s accommodation!
Day 1
In the morning we explore this ancient capital of the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Wessex and visit its Norman cathedral with a library containing over 4,000 rare books, including several illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages. The cathedral is one of the most historically important and grandest in England and fittingly provides the last resting press for our Jane Austen. In the afternoon we travel to Jane Austen’s former home at the village of Chawton which were the happiest and contended of her life and where she wrote and completed the majority of her novels. The house is now a museum and includes an extensive collection of family mementos and documentary material, including copies of letters From Chawton we go on to her childhood home at the village of Steventon and visit the church in which she was babtised and which her father George Austen was the local vicar of the parish.
For those undertaking the Jane Austen Special Tour on 17th -19th September 2011, we begin our tour in Bath with a colourful cavalcade of Regency costume “The Jane Austen Parade” and later that day explore the many places associated with Jane Austen in this beautiful Georgian City followed by a boat trip on the River Avon. In the afternoon attend a formal dinner together with Group A in honour of the authoress.
Day 2
In the morning we travel to the pretty Cotswold village of Lacock near Chipenham which has been used as the backdrop for a number of television and film productions of Jane Austen novels as well as those by other classical authors. In the afternoon we will explore the historic city of Salisbury and in particular its beautiful Medieval cathedral. Later that afternoon we travel to nearby Wilton House, the stately home of the Earls of Pembroke, its palatial 17th century interiors providing film-makers the perfect setting for films such as, Sense and Sensibility, Mrs. Brown, Pride and Prejudice and most recently the film “The Young Victoria”
Day 3
In the morning we travel to Jane Austen’s childhood home at the village of Steventon and visit the church in which she was babtised and which her father George Austen was the local vicar of the parish. From Steventon we travel to Jane Austen’s former home at the village of Chawton which were the happiest and contended of her life and where she wrote and completed the majority of her novels. The house is now a museum and includes an extensive collection of family mementos and documentary material, including copies of letters . In the afternoon we explore the City of Winchester, which is the capital of the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Wessex and in particular its Norman cathedral with a library containing over 4,000 rare books, including several illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages. The cathedral is one of the most historically important and grandest in England and fittingly provides the last resting place for our “Regent of Hearts” Jane Austen.
After breakfast the following morning we say our farewells.
Click here for “Full Description Page” with further details of each day.
At Old School Tours we don’t believe in advertising what seems a ‘cheap price’ but doesn’t include many things we believe to be standard, such as entrance fees, dinners, breakfasts and quality hotels and B+B’s. Each day’s detail page shows the highlights of where we’ll be going and below you can find the price and what it includes. We look forward to having you on our adventure!
This 3 Day Luxury tour is only £ 495 and includes:
- 3 full English Breakfasts.
- 3 Hot Dinners either at a fine pub, Hotel or Restaurant, including one special Regency Themed dinner.
- 3 nights accommodations at hotels / B+B’s (final nights B+B optional).
- Entrance fees each day to listed attractions we visit.
- Full 3 days fare on air conditioned/heated luxury coach.
- Two personal, educated tour guides filled with enthusiasm and good spirit, ready to make sure you are taken care of and have a good time!
What it doesn’t include:
- Lunches
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal spending, shopping, tipping
- Fares before and after the tour, to get you from and back to home
*Go here to convert tour costs to your currency: XE The World’s Favorite Currency Converter Site
*Prices are at the time of publication and may vary slightly, just contact us to inquire!
*Prices are based on two people sharing (single rooms available at a supplement)
For more information see: “Making a Reservation” and “Terms and Conditions”.