This year marks the 250th anniversary of the great writer Jane Austen’s birth (not doing too bad for a semi-quincentennial). And for some reason, the gods chose to allow me to live out a childhood dream to visit England and follow her path, by coach (not the horse-drawn one), from London to Chawton to Bath and back again. In instances such as this, it seems only right to express my gratitude because this was literally a dream trip! And it was a press trip sponsored by Visit Britain, so not only did I not have to pay for it, but I met five other travel writers with an equally passionate regard for all things Jane. When I say this trip lived up to every expectation, I’m lying because it exceeded them. Not only do I have the memory of the trip of a lifetime, but five new bosom friends to boot. You have my permission to hate me. And to copy this itinerary. | | | | | Senior Director of Content | | | A Cali-raised Brooklinite, I'm a food-obsessed travel writer/editor who is happiest in a hotel bathrobe, getting lost in a new place or floating in the sea. | | |  | The Wykeham Arms in Winchester | | | | We took a bespoke tour from Rabbie’s, or you can rent a car and drive yourself. We also took a Jane Austen-themed day tour with In & Beyond Bath. | | | Corsets and bonnets? Stick to smart-casual layers: pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, shoes you’d happily get a bit muddy, a raincoat and an umbrella. | A literally literary and perfectly perfect 6-day trip through England
| | The tablescape for dinner at M Halavant's Pantry | | | | Midday: Check in to Henry’s Townhouse in Marylebone, London. This exquisitely appointed dwelling is the former home of Austen’s favorite brother, Henry. Each room is named for one of the Austen siblings or relations, with unique furnishings that evoke the 19th century but with 21st-century conveniences. I stayed in James – and just wow.
| Afternoon: The hotel arranged an Austen-appropriate activity for the afternoon: a tutorial in tablescape design with FLOWERBX. My thoughts went to the elder Bennet sisters picking flowers from the Longbourn garden while discussing Mr Bingley’s intentions. | Evening: We drank champagne in the drawing room in conversation with Jessica Bull, author of the Austen-inspired series of novels, Miss Austen Investigates. An elegant dinner (decorated with our tablescape) at M Halavant's Pantry followed. | | | | Jane Austen's House in Hampshire | | Morning: We took breakfast downstairs at M Halavant’s Pantry before alighting the coach that would transfer us to Steventon and Chawton. | How to spend the day: The first stop was a quick photo opportunity at callbox-turned-bookstall in Steventon, the hamlet where Austen was born in 1775, followed by a visit to her cottage in Chawton, Hampshire, where she lived with her mother and sister, Cassandra, from 1809 until two months before her death in Winchester in 1817.
Afterwards, we walked up a lane to visit her brother Edward’s neighboring estate, Chawton House, where we stopped for a midweek roast luncheon in the Old Kitchen Tea Room and a tour of the property and grounds. The library in particular is simply extraordinary. | | | Excellent English excursions for everyone
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