Jane Austen has connections to several locations across the GWR network including Windsor, Bath, Reading, parts of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire and it will come as no surprise to many that her novels have been inspired by these quaint towns, villages, and picturesque countryside.
The Great West Way
For a complete Jane Austen experience travelling with Great Western Railway why not try the Great West Way Discoverer Pass. Follow in Austen’s footsteps and explore a range of iconic destinations linked to her life. There are plenty of regency events and activities taking place across the Great West Way throughout 2025. Here is a flavour below:
Abbey Gateway and Reading Abbey Quarter, Reading
Austen spent 18 months at school in the Thames-side town when she, her elder sister Cassandra and cousin Jane took up residence at Reading Ladies Boarding School between the summer of 1785 and December 1786.
Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the school in the dramatic setting of the former Gateway to medieval Reading Abbey. To date, the location of Jane’s school has only been open for educational workshops focusing on the Victorian period for youngsters learning about that period of history.
Bookings have now opened for the Official Abbey Quarter Tour, which start on Saturday 5 April, with every tour now featuring exclusive access to Jane Austen's school. The guided walking tours explore Reading’s Abbey Quarter, including the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed and the impressive Reading Abbey Ruins. For this year, as part of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, the tour will also highlight the town’s links with the famous author and visit the Abbey Gateway, which was once part of the school where Jane Austen studied and lived as a girl. Book now at Reading Museum.
Parade House, Trowbridge
Located in the historic centre of Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, Parade House is an impressive Grade 1 Listen Georgian townhouse, built in 1720, where Jane Austen is said to have stopped off when on her way from Hampshire to Bath. As part of the Jane Austen Festival (12–21 September 2025), their Regency-costumed ‘Ladies & Gentlemen on Parade’ event is filmed by the BBC. Throughout the year you can visit for house tours, fine-dining and Regency Cream Teas in The Ballroom, watch performances by The Jane Austen Dancers of Bath, enjoy Jane Austen-themed screenings in the luxury cinema housed within the historic vaults, and National Trust’s Heritage Open Days.
Bath (Jane Austen's Second Home), Bath Spa
Bath, a city both loved and ridiculed by Jane Austen, is home to a range of regency inspired attractions, activities and events taking place all year round in celebration of the Author who spent a lot of her life in this Georgian City.
In & Beyond Bath
In and Beyond Bath offers day tours encompassing Cotswolds, Lacock, and Bath. Take inspiration from Jane Austen's novels when you embark on an enchanting journey to unearth the essence of authentic England. Their unique tours encapsulate the importance of slow travel along the Great West Way whilst offering an intimate exploration that marries iconic landmarks with untouched treasures, revealing the soul of quintessential England.
Bath Bus Company
Enjoy the Hop on with Jane Austen bus and walking Tootbus tour, and get a 20% discount exclusive to GWR customers. Enjoy unlimited hop-on hop-off access across two bus routes, exploring iconic landmarks like the Royal Crescent and Roman Baths at your leisure. This open-top bus tour brings to life the locations that inspired Jane Austen’s timeless novels with audio guides available in 10 languages and breathtaking views of Georgian architecture, paired with the captivating Pride & Promenade Tootwalk.
A Jane Austen Escape at The Manor House, Exclusive Collection
Celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday with a magical stay in the heart of the Cotswolds. Mark 250 years of Jane Austen with a night of pure charm and luxury at Exclusive Collection’s Manor House, set in the enchanting village of Castle Combe. Just a short drive from Bath, where Jane Austen lived for 6 creative years, this one-night escape combines history, literary inspiration, and 5-star indulgence in a quintessentially English countryside setting. This exciting package includes:
• An overnight stay in luxurious accommodation
• A delicious breakfast to start your day
• Complimentary tickets to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath
Book your escape now.
House and Gardens, Calne, near Chippenham
At nearby Bowood, Dr. Lizzie Rogers, a women’s history specialist with a passion for Jane Austen, will present a 75-minute talk, Jane Austen in the Georgian Period, offering insights into the lives of young women in Georgian society (September 20-21). This connects to Jane Austen’s own life, as she was once a tenant of the 2nd Marquess of Lansdowne, who owned Bowood House.
SeaCity Museum, Southampton Central
In Southampton, where the family lived from 1806 to 1809, an exhibition of rare paintings, letters, books and personal items linked to Jane will be on display to the public for the first time at SeaCity Museum, and a variety of performances, talks and guided tours will take place around the city.
The Great West Way
For a complete Jane Austen experience travelling with Great Western Railway why not try the Great West Way Discoverer Pass. Follow in Austen’s footsteps and explore a range of iconic destinations linked to her life. There are plenty of regency events and activities taking place across the Great West Way throughout 2025. Here is a flavour below:
Abbey Gateway and Reading Abbey Quarter, Reading
Austen spent 18 months at school in the Thames-side town when she, her elder sister Cassandra and cousin Jane took up residence at Reading Ladies Boarding School between the summer of 1785 and December 1786.
Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the school in the dramatic setting of the former Gateway to medieval Reading Abbey. To date, the location of Jane’s school has only been open for educational workshops focusing on the Victorian period for youngsters learning about that period of history.
Bookings have now opened for the Official Abbey Quarter Tour, which start on Saturday 5 April, with every tour now featuring exclusive access to Jane Austen's school. The guided walking tours explore Reading’s Abbey Quarter, including the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed and the impressive Reading Abbey Ruins. For this year, as part of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, the tour will also highlight the town’s links with the famous author and visit the Abbey Gateway, which was once part of the school where Jane Austen studied and lived as a girl. Book now at Reading Museum.
Parade House, Trowbridge
Located in the historic centre of Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, Parade House is an impressive Grade 1 Listen Georgian townhouse, built in 1720, where Jane Austen is said to have stopped off when on her way from Hampshire to Bath. As part of the Jane Austen Festival (12–21 September 2025), their Regency-costumed ‘Ladies & Gentlemen on Parade’ event is filmed by the BBC. Throughout the year you can visit for house tours, fine-dining and Regency Cream Teas in The Ballroom, watch performances by The Jane Austen Dancers of Bath, enjoy Jane Austen-themed screenings in the luxury cinema housed within the historic vaults, and National Trust’s Heritage Open Days.
Bath (Jane Austen's Second Home), Bath Spa
Bath, a city both loved and ridiculed by Jane Austen, is home to a range of regency inspired attractions, activities and events taking place all year round in celebration of the Author who spent a lot of her life in this Georgian City.
In & Beyond Bath
In and Beyond Bath offers day tours encompassing Cotswolds, Lacock, and Bath. Take inspiration from Jane Austen's novels when you embark on an enchanting journey to unearth the essence of authentic England. Their unique tours encapsulate the importance of slow travel along the Great West Way whilst offering an intimate exploration that marries iconic landmarks with untouched treasures, revealing the soul of quintessential England.
Bath Bus Company
Enjoy the Hop on with Jane Austen bus and walking Tootbus tour, and get a 20% discount exclusive to GWR customers. Enjoy unlimited hop-on hop-off access across two bus routes, exploring iconic landmarks like the Royal Crescent and Roman Baths at your leisure. This open-top bus tour brings to life the locations that inspired Jane Austen’s timeless novels with audio guides available in 10 languages and breathtaking views of Georgian architecture, paired with the captivating Pride & Promenade Tootwalk.
A Jane Austen Escape at The Manor House, Exclusive Collection
Celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday with a magical stay in the heart of the Cotswolds. Mark 250 years of Jane Austen with a night of pure charm and luxury at Exclusive Collection’s Manor House, set in the enchanting village of Castle Combe. Just a short drive from Bath, where Jane Austen lived for 6 creative years, this one-night escape combines history, literary inspiration, and 5-star indulgence in a quintessentially English countryside setting. This exciting package includes:
• An overnight stay in luxurious accommodation
• A delicious breakfast to start your day
• Complimentary tickets to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath
Book your escape now.
House and Gardens, Calne, near Chippenham
At nearby Bowood, Dr. Lizzie Rogers, a women’s history specialist with a passion for Jane Austen, will present a 75-minute talk, Jane Austen in the Georgian Period, offering insights into the lives of young women in Georgian society (September 20-21). This connects to Jane Austen’s own life, as she was once a tenant of the 2nd Marquess of Lansdowne, who owned Bowood House.
SeaCity Museum, Southampton Central
In Southampton, where the family lived from 1806 to 1809, an exhibition of rare paintings, letters, books and personal items linked to Jane will be on display to the public for the first time at SeaCity Museum, and a variety of performances, talks and guided tours will take place around the city.