From £265
Overview
Step into the world of one of England’s most beloved authors on a private shore excursion from Southampton to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. This relaxed and flexible tour is perfect for cruise passengers who want to explore English literary history combined with scenic Hampshire countryside and traditional villages.
This is the home where Jane Austen spent the final years of her life and wrote or revised some of her most famous novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility.
Tour Duration
- Approximately 4.5 hours door-to-door
- Around 45–60 minutes’ drive each way
- Around 2 hours at Jane Austen’s House and nearby villages
- Fully private and flexible
This is one of the closest and most relaxed shore excursions from Southampton, ideal for guests with limited time or a later cruise departure.
Typical Pickup – Around 9:00am
We collect guests from:
- Southampton Cruise Terminals
- Southampton hotels
- Private addresses
- Agreed meeting points
We then travel through the Hampshire countryside towards the village of Chawton.
Jane Austen’s House – Chawton
The highlight of the day is Jane Austen’s House, the 17th-century cottage where Jane Austen lived from 1809 until her death in 1817.
This is where she:
- Revised Pride and Prejudice
- Wrote Emma and Mansfield Park
- Completed Sense and Sensibility
- Lived with her sister Cassandra
Inside the house you will find:
- Original furnishings and personal items
- Letters, manuscripts, and first editions
- Rooms where she wrote her novels
- Exhibits about her daily life and family
Typical visit time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Chawton Village
The house is located in the peaceful village of Chawton, which still retains much of its historic charm.
Guests often enjoy:
- A walk through the village streets
- Visiting the nearby church where Austen worshipped
- Exploring small cottages and gardens
- A relaxed countryside atmosphere
It is easy to imagine the village as it would have been during Jane Austen’s lifetime.
Optional: Chawton House (Great House)
Nearby is Chawton House, the historic manor house once owned by Jane Austen’s brother.
Known as the “Great House,” it offers:
- Beautiful Elizabethan architecture
- Gardens and parkland
- Exhibitions on women writers
- A peaceful estate setting
This can be included if time allows.
Optional: Winchester Stop
On the return journey, we can include a short visit to Winchester, one of England’s most historic cities and the place where Jane Austen spent her final days.
Highlights may include:
- Winchester Cathedral (Jane Austen’s burial site)
- Historic streets and architecture
- Riverside walks along the River Itchen
- Independent cafés and shops
This adds an extra layer of literary and historical context to the day.
Scenic Hampshire Countryside
One of the pleasures of this tour is the drive through the Hampshire countryside, passing:
- Rolling farmland
- Traditional villages
- Woodland and parkland
- Quiet country roads
This is a gentle and relaxing journey compared to longer regional excursions.
Return to Southampton
After your visit, we return directly to Southampton, usually arriving back in the early afternoon, depending on whether Winchester is included.
Drop-off is available at:
- Cruise terminals
- Hotels
- Private addresses
Why Choose a Private Jane Austen Tour?
A private tour allows you to:
- Travel at your own pace
- Spend longer at the house if desired
- Avoid crowded group schedules
- Add optional stops such as Winchester or Chawton House
- Enjoy a relaxed, literary-focused experience
Who Is This Tour Ideal For?
This tour is perfect for:
- Jane Austen fans and literary enthusiasts
- Cruise passengers with limited time
- Couples and small groups
- Guests interested in English history and culture
- Visitors looking for a gentle, low-travel excursion from Southampton
Why Visit Jane Austen’s House?
Jane Austen’s House is one of the most important literary sites in England.
It offers a rare opportunity to see:
- The actual home where she wrote her greatest works
- Her personal belongings and manuscripts
- The environment that inspired her novels
- A preserved snapshot of early 19th-century life
For many visitors, it is one of the most meaningful cultural visits in southern England.
Oliver’s Tip
If you are particularly interested in Jane Austen’s life, I recommend allowing enough time not only for the house itself but also for a short walk around Chawton village. It helps bring her novels to life, especially when you can see the countryside she would have known so well.
Looking for More Ideas?
You may also enjoy:
Shore Excursions from Southampton
Stonehenge & Salisbury Cathedral Tour
Bath Private Tour
Cotswolds Tour
New Forest Tour
Windsor Castle Tour
Jurassic Coast Tour
MAXIMUM 2 Large cases plus 2 Small cabin bags OR space for 3 Medium (18″ Width) cases plus 2 Small cabin bags.
Please ask before booking if you have more, we may be able to accommodate
Inclusions / Exclusions
What to expect
During this trip we will drive to through the South Downs to Chawton Village where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years of her life.
Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire is the only house where Jane Austen lived and wrote that is open to the public. It is the most treasured Austen site in the world. It was in this country cottage that Jane’s genius flourished and where she wrote, revised and had published all her novels, including the timeless Pride and Prejudice.
A short walk from the village is Chawton house which was her brother’s house and is now run as a historic property and also houses the research library of The Centre for the Study of Early Women’s Writing, 1600–1830. Just at the entrance to the grounds is St Nicholas’s Church where Jane’s mother and her sister are buried. The present church was rebuilt in 1872 following a fire which destroyed the church that Jane would have known.
Tickets into Jane Austen’s House are currently £12 per person at time of writing, these need to be booked in advance
Tickets into Chawton House & Gardens are currently £10 per person at time of writing