Jane Austen's House

As a dedicated fan of Jane Austen I have wanted to visit the Jane Austen house for quite some time. I was able to do so today and it was so wonderful. The staff are present to answer questions and are so helpful. They enjoy your own excitement. The home has been beautifully restored and includes so many items of Jane's. It was a joy to see the table where she wrote her novels. I leaned out the window that she probably leaned out of once upon a time. The grounds are lovely to explore as well. It was amazing to see first editions of all of her books!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a sensible traveller in possession of a free afternoon, must be in want of a visit to Jane Austen’s House. Whether one is drawn by the charm of literary devotion or merely in search of a respectable tea-room nearby, the cottage at Chawton cannot fail to supply both instruction and amusement. House and gardens, gift shop and toilets. Friendly and helpful volunteers working in the house. Dressing up optional. Tickets are limited so book in advance to avoid disappointment.

I don’t know where to start- am feeling both exhilaration and emotional after visiting Jane Austen’s house earlier today. So to start, absolutely make a booking! We saw folks being turned away or having to comeback like two hours later as slots were booked! It’s a small house and a lot to see / read/ experience and so can understand why the House limits the number of folks that can enter within a twenty minute time slot. Parking is also a bit hard and off-street was our only option. We spent over 3 hours enjoying the various rooms and exhibitions, listen to the audio first and then step into the house. Kudos to the volunteers who help preserve this history. The gardens are lovely as is the opportunity to dress up in period costumes. I feel drunk on happiness to have had the opportunity to visit!

Much of how much you enjoy this museum will depend on your knowledge and appreciation of Jane Austen and her work but even as someone who has not read any of her novels I found the house to be an informative snapshot of her life and of the regency era in general and I commend the curators for their dedication to accurately depicting early 19th century life. Important things to note: the house (and therefore the museum) is small. The operators will only permit small groups (12 max) to enter in twenty minute slots. I highly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

Jane Austen’s House is charming and thoughtfully presented, with personal items, letters and displays that bring Austen’s world to life. The gardens are peaceful, the staff are knowledgeable, and the overall atmosphere feels intimate and authentic. The kitchen experience was very special to me, and the legacy room felt very emotional. A lovely, worthwhile visit!

A must see for every Jane Austen fan. The house gives such a good impression of how she lived and little details (like the mousseline dresses on the line outside), make it seem as if she just popped out for an errand. After the visit you can sit in the lovely garden.

If you are an Austen fan, and read her works, watched the movies etc etc, this place will be your personal Disneyland! The place gave me goosebumps, to see and to step into the same house that this great author wrote some of my favorite books of all time! The house offers a great glimpse into her life, her family and the Victorian English way of life. After the house I felt as if I had been to my house of worship!

Make sure you purchase tickets in advance, because each tour will sell out. Although the docents had us enter in small groups, I wish they kept the crowd flow moving through each room, as it grew very crowded within the rooms themselves. The exhibits are interesting, and it was nice being able to sit in the garden.