Over 25 events have been planned to celebrate 250 years since the birth of the beloved author…
Winchester has recently announced plans for a year-long birthday celebration in 2025 for one of the world’s most famous authors, Jane Austen. Partners from across the city and surrounding district have come together to devise a series of over 25 special events, tours, and exhibitions to celebrate Austen’s remarkable life and works.
Councillor Lucille Thompson, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture at Winchester City Council:
“It is fantastic to see so many attractions and businesses coming together to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Winchester is fortunate to be home to significant moments of Austen’s history, and we are thrilled to be hosting such a variety of wonderful events and exhibitions. We are proud of our city’s heritage and look forward to welcoming visitors from across the globe to be part of these special celebrations.”
2025 marks 250 years since the birth of the world-renowned English author, who lived in Winchester during the final weeks of her life, before passing away at No. 8 College Street, Winchester, in 1817.
No. 8 College Street, Austen’s final home, opens to the public for the first time from Wednesday 4th June to Saturday 30th August 2025. Winchester College has prepared displays about Jane Austen’s connections with Winchester and the story of her last days, including artefacts that have never before been on public display. Other items associated with Jane Austen are on display in Winchester College’s Museum, Treasury, from May 2025 until the end of the year. Tickets for tours of No. 8 College Street are on sale now and must be pre-booked in advance.
Winchester Cathedral, where Austen is buried, is honouring the author by displaying the original manuscript of a poem written by Jane which has never been on public display before. The poem, ‘To the Memory of Mrs Lefroy‘, was written by Jane in 1808 on the anniversary of her friend Anne Lefroy’s death.
There are also a number of exhibitions taking place next year at the Cathedral as part of the worldwide anniversary. ‘The Storytellers’, a world premiere of a light and sound show by Luxmuralis, runs from Tuesday 11th March 2025 to Saturday 15th March 2025 and celebrates numerous acclaimed works including Austen, Shakespeare, and the Bible.
The immersive tour invites visitors to explore a series of captivating light and sound installations, celebrating the rich tapestry of literature, poetry, and oral traditions. Tickets are available online now and must be pre-booked in advance.
The Cathedral is hosting a Regency Ball on 31st May 2025, inviting guests to don their finest attire for an evening celebrating the customs and traditions of the Regency and late Georgian periods. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Hampshire Cultural Trust will celebrate the landmark anniversary with a series of exhibitions and events at its venues in the city, which include The Great Hall, The Arc and City Museum.
A specially curated exhibition, ‘Beyond the Bonnets’, in The Gallery at The Arc, gives a voice to those who were overlooked by many, but not forgotten in Austen’s novels: working women. The exhibition explores the untold stories of working women in Austen’s novels as well as those of real-life women from Regency Hampshire. ‘Beyond the Bonnets’ runs from Saturday 26th July to Sunday 2nd November 2025. Tickets go on sale in the new year.
Winchester’s iconic Great Hall will host a Regency Ball on Saturday 16th August 2025. Complete with a dance caller and dance card memento, the ball is set to be a big hit among Bridgerton fans. The ladies and gentlemen in attendance can enjoy a Regency-style buffet in the magnificent hall and learn the steps of period dances. Tickets go on sale in the new year.
Further events at The Great Hall include a Regency Fashion Show, which takes place on Saturday 26th July 2025. A variety of iconic fashion from the Regency era will be on show on the runway, complemented by demonstrations and exhibits displaying the fashion of the period. VIP tickets are available, pre-booking is advised.
In addition, on Friday 5th September, The Great Hall is hosting an audience with historian, television presenter, and best-selling author, Lucy Worsley, who will be leading the audience into the life of one of our most treasured literary figures.
Located just a stone’s throw from Austen’s final resting place in the Cathedral is City Museum. Visitors will be able to see some of Jane’s personal possessions on display, very few of which are still in existence, as well as take part in a summer of Austen-themed events and activities.
To mark the 250th anniversary, Visit Winchester is inviting fans to discover the city as the author knew it through the launch of a new self-guided trail around the city which highlights key locations, landmarks, and sites of interest for Jane Austen. These are all places the author would have visited during her time in the city and gives visitors an insight into the Georgian history of the city. The trail launches early next year.
To see a full list of Winchester’s attractions and businesses taking part in Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary celebrations, visit visitwinchester.co.uk/jane-austen-250.
