Jane Austen Centre
Bath is associated with Jane Austen both through two of her books, ‘Northanger Abbey’ and ‘Persuasion’, and the fact that she lived in the city for about five years. Jane seems to have had mixed feelings about the town, perhaps influenced by the fact that she was forced to live here with her parents when they left the rural area she had grown up in. Bath simply was not Steventon!
‘The Crofts had placed themselves in lodgings in Gay Street, perfectly to Sir Walter’s satisfaction.’ (Persuasion)
The Jane Austen Centre is found at 40, Gay Street. Jane actually lived at number 25 which is further up the hill on the same side of the street. The houses appear much today as they would have done in Jane’s time and this delightful museum is a real celebration of Jane, the city and the influence which it had on both her and her writing. It is a real joy to pass through the door and immerse yourself in Georgian Bath!
On arriving, visitors are treated to an entertaining introduction to Jane’s life and time in Bath by a very enthusiastic costumed guide before being able to wander through the rest of the museum at their own pace. There is plenty to read and see, but also opportunities to dress up and pose for photos, try writing with a quill and to try the famous Bath biscuits- they are truly disgusting!
At £15.95 per adult, some might say that the Museum is an expensive place to visit; however, there is so much to see and enjoy that fans of Jane Austen and her work will not be disappointed and even those who know little about her will be forced to agree that the visit is both informative and entertaining. It also makes the perfect starting point for exploring Bath’s wider connections to Jane and to enjoying some of Bath’s other Georgian delights. The Assembly Rooms, the Circus and the Royal Crescent are at the top end of Gay Street within easy walking distance of the museum.
I have visited the Jane Austen Centre many times, discovering new delights each time, and always enjoy spending time there!
The Jane Austen Centre
40 Gay St,
Bath
BA1 2NT
You can read about the Jane Austen House Museum here and the Bath Assembly Rooms here. You might also be interested in Mompesson House used as the London home of Mrs Jennings in the 1995 version of ‘Sense and Sensibility’ here and my thoughts on the houses used as Pemberley here.
