Welcome to 2025! A year full of promise and exciting possibilities, and what better way to begin the celebrations than by looking back to a time when the legendary Jane Austen graced the streets of Winchester? We invite you to stay with us and visit the very city that was an integral part of her life and work.
Join us as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the most cherished authors in literary history. Born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, Austen’s timeless novels, rich with sharp wit, keen social observation, and enduring romance, have captured hearts across the globe, from old souls to young. This milestone year is a special occasion not only for fans of her work, but also for anyone who appreciates the influence she has had on literature and culture… "I am not a great reader, and I have not the pleasure of reading novels as I once did; but I have always been a great admirer of your writings."
Winchester and Hampshire, the places that played such a pivotal role in Austen’s life, are marking this extraordinary anniversary with a year-long series of events, exhibitions, and immersive experiences. From special tours through the landscapes that inspired her stories, to new exhibits showcasing previously unseen artifacts, offering a rare opportunity for Austen enthusiasts to engage with her legacy in a truly personal way. Whether you’re walking through the streets of Winchester where Austen spent her final days or exploring her home in Chawton, there has never been a better time to connect with the world of Jane Austen.
Since we know that there "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" we invite you to stay with us, in a luxury home from home whilst you visit the house where Austen lived, a modest lodging in College Street (which will be open to the public for the first time!) where you can get a real feel for life as it once was. You can also visit Winchester College where 8 of Austen’s nephews attended. Austen’s final resting place is in Winchester Cathedral where you can read stories and see some of her personal artefacts as well as a poem, written days before she passed. The Cathedral will hold a special service in her honour alongside tours, theatrical performances and a special unveiling of a new stature.
We recommend visiting the incredible site in Chawton, dedicated to this wonderfully beloved author, which just happened to be the home she chose for the last almost-decade of her life and where she lovingly wrote all 6 of her cherished novels. You can take a turn about the drawing room at your leisure and see the very table she used to pen her ideas as they came to life.
Celebrate the legacy of Jane Austen in Winchester and Hampshire with a variety of exciting opportunities to explore her world! This anniversary year introduces a new Jane Austen trail, connecting key locations through special exhibitions and events. You can join a guided tour of Winchester with local experts, enjoy a self-guided journey along the Jane Austen Trail, or walk in her footsteps on the Jane Austen Circular Walk starting in Chawton. The scenic route takes you across fields and through Farringdon, showcasing the landscapes that inspired her novels. In Chawton, guided village walks offer a deeper understanding of the village she loved, while the longer Jane Austen Trail leads from Alton to Chawton, passing through important sites that shaped her life and work.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the charm of both literary history and the serene English countryside, a visit to Winchester and a stay at South Winchester Lodges is certainly a matter of much enjoyment. Our lodgings are just a short stroll from the resting place of Austen, it’s the perfect base to celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth. As you wander through the streets where she spent her final days, you might find yourself quoting Austen with a grin and a modern twist, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a visitor in Winchester will be charmed." So, let yourself be swept away by the wit, wisdom, and romance of Austen’s world, there’s no better place to soak up the history, and who knows, you might just find "a little bit of vanity in the moment" and decide to stay a little longer!