Step inside Jane Austen's Chawton with her family.

A day in the heart of Jane Austen's literary legacy, guided by Caroline Jane Knight, the last of Jane's nieces to grow up at Chawton House.

Every summer I return to Chawton, the Hampshire village where my fifth great aunt Jane Austen lived, wrote and published her most beloved works—and my ancestral home. This June and July, for the first time, I'm inviting a small number of Janeites to spend a day here with me.

Step into Jane's world through the eyes of her family. Walk the village lanes she knew, visit the 'Great' House at the end of the road where she dined with her brother Edward (my fourth great grandfather), his family and friends, and hear the stories, memories and traditions passed down through generations—insights that exist nowhere else. You'll also discover our private theory about Emma, family recipes from Jane's time, and what it was really like to grow up in the heart of Jane Austen's literary legacy.

Places are strictly limited — maximum for The VIP Day is 6 people on advertised days, though larger groups can be accommodated by arrangement. You're welcome to book on advertised days as an individual; you don't need to come as a group. All proceeds support The Austen Knights of Chawton Family Archive, preserving Jane Austen's family heritage for future generations.

The Day at a Glance

The Village Walk (12pm–1pm) One hour walking through Chawton village with Caroline, hearing family stories and our theory that Highbury in Emma is actually Chawton.

The VIP Day (12pm–4pm) The complete experience, including:

• The Village Walk — One hour walking through Chawton village with Caroline, hearing family stories and our theory that Highbury in Emma is actually Chawton
• Lunch in the Old Kitchen Tearoom — Lunch together in the original kitchen at Chawton House where Edward's cooks prepared Jane's meals, sharing family recipes from the Knight family cookbook
• Chawton House and Gardens — Walk through Chawton House with a house guide, then explore the gardens with Caroline, sharing childhood memories, family stories and answering your questions about Jane, the novels, and what it was like to grow up here

What You'll Experience

The Village Walk (1 hour) Meet me outside Jane Austen's House at 12pm and walk through Chawton village together. I'll share my family's theory that Highbury in Emma is actually Chawton, pointing out the buildings we believe inspired Hartfield, Miss Bates' cottage, and the post office Jane Fairfax visited. You'll learn why Hartfield is called Hartfield, where Box Hill really is, and why Jane named Mr Knightley after my family. As we approach Chawton House at the end of the village, I'll tell you about the Great Hall floor and The Greyfriar — a small carved figure hidden in the panelling that every member of my family knows. See if you can spot him when we're inside.

The VIP Day adds:

Lunch in the Old Kitchen Tearoom (approx 1 hour) Before we walk around the house, we'll have lunch together in the original kitchen at Chawton House — the same kitchen where Edward's cooks prepared the meals Jane ate when she dined upstairs in the Dining Room. Over lunch I'll share childhood memories of the old Kitchen, recipes from the Knight family cookbook, dishes from Jane's time that appear in her novels, and we'll talk about how food matters in Jane's writing. This is a great setting for conversation and questions.

Chawton House and Gardens (approx 2 hours) We'll walk through Chawton House together with one of the house guides. As we move through the rooms, you'll see what I've told you about — the Great Hall floor and, if you're observant, The Greyfriar hiding in the panelling. Once we're in the gardens, the formality drops entirely and it's just us. This is where I'll share childhood memories of growing up here, family stories that give clues to Jane's life in Chawton, and what our family heritage reveals about her novels. Ask me anything — about Jane, the family, Chawton, what it was like to live here, the novels.

The Village Walk finishes at approximately 1pm. The VIP Day finishes at approximately 4pm.

Please note: the itinerary above reflects my intention for the day. In practice I may need to adapt the order or location of elements — Chawton is a living village and a working estate, and occasionally things change on the day. What will never change is the quality of the experience.

Before You Arrive

Jane Austen's House opens at 10am and is well worth a visit before we meet at 12pm. You're welcome to book your own entry and explore at your own pace before joining me outside at noon.  Jane Austen's House Bookings

Booking Options

The Village Walk — USD $60 / GBP £45 per person One hour walking through Chawton village with Caroline, sharing family stories and the private Highbury theory for the first time.

The VIP Day: A Day in Chawton with Jane Austen's Niece — USD $175 / GBP £132 per person The complete experience — the village walk, lunch together in the Old Kitchen Tearoom, and Chawton House and gardens with Caroline, including private family stories, childhood memories and extended Q&A. Lunch and Chawton House entry are included in the VIP Day price.

All ticket proceeds support The Austen Knights of Chawton Family Archive, preserving Jane Austen's family heritage for future generations.

Practical Details

Dates: Selected days, June and July 2026 

Other days and options available by arrangement for private bookings - see below

Meeting point: Outside Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Hampshire

Start time: 12 noon - please arrive 5 mins early as the tour will start on time.

Group size: Maximum 6 people per advertised day for The VIP Day. You are welcome to book on advertised days as an individual — you don't need to come as a group.

Private bookings: Interested in a private day for your group? Private bookings for groups of 4 or more are available on days beyond those advertised between 16th June and 11th July 2026. Private bookings for larger groups (up to 20) are also available on days beyond those advertised — again, just get in touch. 

Email caroline@austenheritage.com to discuss.

Weather: In the event of inclement weather, the itinerary may be adapted on the day to ensure everyone's comfort. The experience will always go ahead.

About Caroline

I am Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen's fifth great-niece and the last of her nieces to grow up at Chawton House — the ancestral estate where Jane spent the most productive years of her writing career. I spent the first eighteen years of my life immersed in Jane's world and have spent the last decade sharing and preserving our family's irreplaceable heritage.

I am author of Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, Creator of Jane Austen's Niece, Founder and Chair of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Patron of Jane Austen Regency Week, and Director of The Austen Knights of Chawton - A Family Archive. The family stories at the heart of this day have been part of my life since childhood. I am delighted, finally, to share them with you in person, in Chawton.