Southampton to Jane Austen's main sites: Private day trip

Close out your day of literary exploration by visiting Jane Austen’s final resting place in historic Winchester.

What to see

• Winchester Cathedral, where Austen’s burial site is marked with a memorial stone and plaque 
• The “Jane Austen Trail,” commemorating the author’s final weeks in the city

Literary history

• Austen spent her final weeks receiving medical care at 8 College Street before passing in 1817
• Her last writing is thought to be “Venta,” a short poem about Winchester, written to her sister 

Take note

• Winchester Cathedral tickets should be purchased online in advance: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/welcome/book-your-visit/ 

Chawton is the ultimate destination for those hoping to step into the rolling hills, charming cottages, and elegant manors of a Jane Austen novel. 

What to see

• Austen’s House, where she lived and wrote classics like “Pride and Prejudice,” now a museum displaying some of the author’s belongings, including her writing table
• Chawton House, owned by Jane’s brother, and housing a women’s literature library and romantic gardens
• St. Nicholas Church, where Jane’s mother and sister are buried

Literary history

• Jane Austen moved here in 1809 with her mother, sisters, and friend Martha Lloyd
• Works written or revised here include: “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park,” and “Emma”

Take note

• Book tickets for the Jane Austen house well in advance, here: https://janeaustens.house/