Making My Good Life

I’m sitting here writing this in the only fitting way possible; with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice playing in the background. It’s just such a comfort movie for me. The music, the sets, the aestethics, everything about it is cozy. The only real downer about it is that it makes me want to go to England immediately. And since I can’t just take off and go right now, I’m going to do the second best thing; dream about it and make a Jane Austen itinerary for when I can go!

Some of these places I have already been to because I’m such a super fan. Every time I go to England I try to do one Jane Austen themed activity because again, comfort attachment. This itinerary though will be a combination of all those things into one mega Austen dream itinerary, including things that I haven’t yet done. Also, the locations and references will mostly be limited to Emma, Persuasion, and Pride and Prejudice because those are my favorites. I never claim to not be biased!

Stop 1: Chatsworth House

Now assuming you begin in London, the first place that I would say you have to go is to Pemberley of course.

Chatsworth House is the real filming location of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, and the supposed inspiration of the novel’s version. It is located in Derbyshire near Chesterfield, about 3 hours north of London. I think there are train routes and busses you can take, but we drove which I would really highly recommend. Also, I think that you need at least a full day to enjoy Chatsworth House in all its Pride and Prejudice glory. Aside from wandering about the house like Lizzie, you’ll want to take long walks on the grounds and through the gardens. After all, Lizzie is quite fond of walking and for the full experience, you should be too.

I have a whole post on Chatsworth House and how absolutely incredible it is that you can read here. I think it is perfect and magical and the absolute best place to get into the Jane Austen spirit. It would really set the mood for the rest of the trip!

Stop 2: Peaks and/or Lake District

Continuing on in the footsteps of Lizzie Bennet, you next should go further into the Peak District and do some more walking! After all, you need to be able to say “Oh what are men compared to rocks and mountains?”

I’ve never done the Peaks, so I can’t really speak on it or give recommendations. I have go onto the Lake District further north which, as per the book, was the original destination for Lizzie’s trip with the Gardiners before they had to shorten it. The Lake District is about two hours north of Chatsworth House and is kind of the Rocky Mountain National Park of England. I’m a hiker and enjoy miles long walks but if you’re not, there’s still walks and activities for you. There’s fine dining, boat cruises, and museums. The area has served for countless literary inspiration including Beatrix Potter’s children’s books and some of Wordworth’s poetry.

There were all kinds of tourists there from many different countries, which just shows how beautiful and interesting the Lake District is. My group spent about 3 full days there but you could definitely spend more or less. I think we did everything we wanted to do but I would love to go back and just spend more time walking in nature. It was also really nice to just be in the countryside away from hustle and bustle. We stayed in a cute little Airbnb that looked out at mountains and sheep. We took things really slow and just relaxed in a beautiful place.

Stop 3: Bath

Bath is pretty much the Jane Austen capitol of the world. Every year they have a Jane Austen festival and people from all over come together dressed in their Regency finery and participate in Austen-like activities, including balls.

Jane Austen spent some of her life in Bath so you can visit her house, now the Jane Austen Centre. There’s character actors who teach you about her life and the time period of her novels. You also can get afternoon tea there, which I highly recommend.

In her books, Bath is most notable in Northanger Abbey, which I’ve never read, and Persuasion, which I love. Your Austen trip to Bath should include a visit to the Assembly Rooms, where balls would be held, and a trip to the Pump Room, where they would take the waters. More than anything though, just walk down the streets and pretend that instead of cars there’s carriages and that around any corner you might run into Captain Wentworth and he will be half agony half hope.

You should spend several days in Bath. I would say at least 2 for everything in Bath including the Abbey, a museum or two, the Roman Baths, and an afternoon tea. For a more in depth review of Bath’s Regency offerings, you can read more here.

Stop 4: Lyme

We’re now getting into uncharted territory here for me. I haven’t been able to visit the next stops on this itinerary but I am definitely planning on it someday.

An hour and a half drive from Bath is the southern coast. There’s actually two places fairly close together that you could go to; either Lyme from Persuasion or Weymouth from Emma. Weymouth is really more of a footnote, it’s where Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill (boo!) meet and fall in love. Lyme though, is where Anne Elliot, the Musgroves, and Captain Wentworth visit. It’s home of that lasting scene where Louisa Musgrove stupidly jumps and hits her head on the pier.

Since I’ve never been, I can’t really give an idea of how long to stay or what all to do. I imagine when I go, I’ll walk along the sea front, do some shopping, visit the pier, eat fish and chips, and finish my day with an ice cream. I don’t think Lyme has a particular Regency flair and offerings like Bath does but who doesn’t love a seaside town and the excuse to feel like long-suffering, brokenhearted Anne Elliot.

Stop 5: Jane Austen House

Now this place is the mecca. According to the website, Jane Austen’s Hampshire Cottage is the inspiring location where she wrote her six novels. Her life there followed a period of financial insecurity in which she had to constantly move from family member to family member. She lived there with her mother and sister. It was said to be a quiet life but involved lots of reading, in other words an absolute heaven.

The house is about 2 hours east of Lyme, on the way back to London. Since the house is very small, it only takes smaller groups of visitors and apparently, sells out quite often. In addition to having artifacts and objects from Jane Austen’s life as well as guided tours, they have rotating exhibits that include things from Jane’s life as well as things relating to the movies. The house museum also has lectures and speakers. Overall, it seems like an amazing resource to learn more about Jane Austen, her works, and the Regency. It seems like a place to learn more so than explore and experience but I do love a good museum!

Stop 6: Box Hill

I don’t know if this is just incredibly niche, or if my love and obsession with this place is justified.

I love Emma. I think it is (relatively) lighthearted and funny and just a breath of fresh air after the seriousness of some of the other novels. I also love the fallibility of Emma. She makes a lot of mistakes and is just at times a young, silly girl. She also is a massive homebody so other than her own home and Mr. Knightly’s house, one of the only other locations mentioned is Box Hill. Fans might remember it as the scene of the crime, where Emma is unpardonably rude to Miss Bates.

Now the name is not misleading, it really is just a hill. But as I’ve said, I like a hike. Box Hill is an hour east of Jane Austen’s House in Hampshire, making it the perfect last stop on this itinerary before going back to London. The area is managed by the National Trust and has hikes, a Folly and tour, and a stepping stones path. I can just imagine a nice pre-autumn day, not too hot not too cold, a coat that I love, an easy hike, and a picnic overlooking the vista to end the day. I’d bring my copy of Emma and lie back and read until I needed to “just rest my eyes.” Absolute bliss.

And that’s it. That’s the dream Austen Itinerary, now I just need to make it happen.

Of course that’s not everywhere relating to Jane Austen’s life or novels or even the movies and shows that portray them. So, here’s my list of honorable mentions.

Lyme Park

Lyme Park is where the 1995 Pride and Prejudice Pemberley was shot. I prefer Chatsworth House as Pemberley because the grounds and house are both amazing and it’s mentioned in the novel, but the scene of Colin Firth in that white shirt will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life so kudos to that versions Pemberley.

Temple of Apollo Stourhead Garden

I feel like this location is the most viral. I see clips all the time of the 2005 Darcy proposing to Lizzie in the rain at this location. It’s just breathtaking and honestly I think I absolutely need to go.

Burghley House

After how much Mr. Collins hypes up Rosings Park, you’ve got to see it sometime. This house is the 2005 filming location where Darcy and Lizzie get to know each other more. The glazing alone cost upwards of 20,000 pounds, just imagine how beautiful it must be!