2026 Tour Itinerary

Jane Austen’s World: Town, Country, and Seaside

July 7-17, 2026

A Pathfinders Tour Sponsored by JASNA

Itinerary tentative as of January 2026
Pre- and post-tour accommodations can also be arranged as add-ons to tour reservations. 

• Day 1—Tuesday, July 7: Arrive at London's Heathrow Airport.  A small group taxi transfer to your hotel in Windsor is included.  (Pre-tour overnights can be also arranged at the Windsor hotel.) Join fellow tour members for a welcome dinner in a private room of the hotel. (Dinner included; overnight in Windsor.)
• Day 2—Wednesday, July 8:  Depart for the South Coast in the morning. En route, stop in Guildford for lunch at Bill’s Restaurant at the Angel Hotel, a historic coaching inn where Jane Austen stayed, and enjoy a talk about "Jane Austen and the Militia" in a private room. Continue to Brighton, traveling via Shoreham by Sea to view the some of the sites of Napoleonic-era Army camps in the area before arriving at your hotel to check in for a 2-night stay. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included; overnight in Brighton.)

Banqueting Room at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. By John Nash, 1826. (Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons)

• Day 3—Thursday, July 9:  In the morning, visit the Regency Town House, a Grade 1-listed terraced home in the heart of Brunswick Town, a Georgian estate in Brighton, which is being developed by staff and volunteers as a heritage centre and museum.  From there, take a guided walk to the Lanes for views of the Old Ship Hotel, where the Assembly Rooms—including a ballroom, card, and tea rooms—were built in 1767. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Pavilion for an audio-guided tour. The remainder of the day is at leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping. (Breakfast included; overnight in Brighton.)

• HMS Victory in drydock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. (Photo by Ballista, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)

  Day 4—Friday, July 10:  Travel to Basingstoke via Portsmouth and tour the old town upon arrival. Later, spend time at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, visiting Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, with time for lunch and a harbor tour before continuing on to Basingstoke. Check in to your hotel in the late afternoon for a 4-night stay, with dinner in a private room. (Breakfast and dinner included; overnight in Basingstoke.)

• Day 5—Saturday, July 11:  Attend a morning service of dedication for Jane Austen, with a flower ceremony, in Winchester Cathedral. In the afternoon, attend the U.K. Jane Austen Society's AGM lecture and tea at Winchester College. Evening at leisure. (Breakfast and tea included; overnight in Basingstoke.)

• Day 6—Sunday, July 12:  Depart in the early morning for Chawton village. Your first stop will be Jane Austen’s House for a private visit and "opening up" of the house. In the late morning visit Chawton House for a self-guided tour of the house and an included lunch. In the afternoon, there will be time to tour the grounds and visit St. Nicholas Church. Continue to Alton for a short walk up the High Street, then transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon for dinner in the hotel restaurant. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included; overnight in Basingstoke.) 

Dining Room at Jane Austen's House

• Day 7—Monday, July 13:  In the morning, travel to Steventon, Jane Austen's birthplace. Meet village residents and visit St. Nicholas Church, where her father was rector and she was baptized. Continue to Winchester for an independent lunch and free time in the city center, then visit the Hampshire Cultural Trust for a talk and the opportunity to view the Trust's costume collection. Return to Basingstoke for dinner in a local restaurant. (Breakfast and dinner included; overnight in Basingstoke.) 
• Day 8—Tuesday, July 14:  Depart Basingstoke for the small town of Lyme Regis in the morning. Stroll on the Cobb and listen to a reading of the famous passage from Persuasion recounting Louisa’s dramatic fall from the harbor wall. If time permits, there may be an opportunity for those who would like to visit the Philpot Museum, famous for the fossil discoveries by Mary Anning. Continue to Bath to check in to your hotel for a 3-night stay and dinner. (Breakfast and dinner included; overnight in Bath.)

The Cobb, Lyme Regis

• Day 9—Wednesday, July 15:  Tour the city of Bath today, including entrance to St. Swithins Church, where George Austen is buried, and views of the Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent. Walk down the Gravel Walk, the scene of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth’s reconciliation in Persuasion, then enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea at the Pump Room, with the remainder of the day at leisure. (Breakfast and tea included; overnight in Bath.)

Bath Abbey and Entrance to Pump Room

• Day 10—Thursday, July 16:  In the morning, take a guided tour of Bath's first public art gallery, the Holburne Museum. You will have free time in the city in the afternoon to enjoy independent sightseeing and shopping before meeting again for a transfer to Farleigh House for a farewell dinner and Austen-themed entertainment. (Breakfast and dinner included; overnight in Bath.)

• Day 11—Friday, July 17:  Transfer to Heathrow Airport for return flights. (Please book a flight that departs no earlier than 1:00 pm.) Arrangements for a post-tour extension in London can be made. (Breakfast included.) 

For pricing information, visit the 2026 Pricing page. 

To register, email tour@jasna.org. Please include your name and email address in the body of your message.

NOTES

• Included in Tour Price:

• 10 nights' accommodation in first-class hotels; all breakfasts, 7 dinners, 2 lunches, and 2 teas.
• All sightseeing and literary inclusions as mentioned, guided by Marian Bacon, a Blue Badge Guide.
• Audio headsets (provided by Quietvox).
• Transportation by deluxe air-conditioned coach.
• Tips and taxes for included services at applicable rates on the date of itinerary preparation.
• Porterage of one suitcase per person.

• Not Included in Tour Price:  Air fare, meals, and visits not listed.

• Based on the Following Hotels:

• The Castle Hotel, Windsor (July 7, one night, plus pre-tour options of July 5 & 6)
• Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole (July 8 / 9, two nights)
• Audleys Wood Hotel, Basingstoke (July 10 – 13, four nights)
• Francis Hotel, Bath (July 14 – 16, three nights)
  
  

Photos Credits:
•  Photos © Jane Austen Society of North America or Pathfinders unless otherwise specified.