When the Jane Austen Festival began in Bath in 2001, it attracted a small number of Austen fans over a single weekend. The grand parade of people in Regency dress grew every year, until last year there were more than 3,000 taking part, wearing glorious costumes to walk together through the streets of Bath.
And for this year’s #Austen250, the festival is bound to see even more locals and visitors taking part for the 250th anniversary of the birth of the author of classic novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion.
There was a grand launch of the Austen anniversary celebrations last night at the Guildhall, hosted by Visit Bath, the organisation which promotes tourism. Also present were those putting on special events during the commemorative year.
We can party like it’s 1775 in 2025 with a series of themed balls, sip on some Mr Darcy cocktails, enjoy any number of afternoon teas taken in some of Bath’s historic buildings and hotels, as well as exhibitions at Bath Abbey, No 1 Royal Crescent and the Holburne Museum.
Look out too for a series of Austen inspired shows at the Theatre Royal, Bath including Death Comes to Pemberley, an adaptation of the PD James novel, while Film Bath will be screening Pride and Prejudice in Bath Abbey.
Bath Literature Festival has a series of themed, guided walking tours this May, led by Blue Badge qualified guides from Fred Mawer Tours. These will be of interest to locals and visitors as they bring to life what it must have been like to live in Bath during those early years of the 18th century.
The launch party at the Guildhall included a charming demonstration of Regency dances from the Jane Austen Dancers and a display of fencing.
If you are a Janeite (that’s what Austen’s followers are called) there will be plenty of occasions for you to lose yourself in the Regency world in Bath this year!
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