Pop Passport: Jane Austen’s England

Travel through pop culture with Pop Passport, “Jane Austen’s England” Edition. Photo via Working Title Films.

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2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth on December 16, 1775, so it is no wonder than many travel publications are dedicating space to exploring her home and book settings around England. This feels personal to me to, as a lifelong Austen fan, my first degree in English Literature, and my time living in London with ample time in Hampshire (at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in particular). While leading communications for the Four Seasons UK Collection, I spent a lot of time in the lovely English countryside which included a visit to Jane Austen’s House & museum.

It is rare that I come across someone in the western world who has not read one of her books, or the many movie or miniseries versions, which include: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and her unfinished novel, Sanditon.

About Jane

Jane was born in the village of Steventon, in Hampshire, England, the seventh child and youngest daughter of clergyman George Austen (a scholar who encouraged the love of learning in his children) and his wife Cassandra (a woman of ready wit, famed for her stories). Her closest companion throughout her life was her elder sister, Cassandra, and neither Jane nor Cassandra married. Jane Austen’s lively and affectionate family circle provided a stimulating context for her writing. Moreover, her experience was carried far beyond Steventon rectory by an extensive network of relationships by blood and friendship. It was this world—of the minor landed gentry and the country clergy, in the village, the neighborhood, and the country town, with occasional visits to Bath and to London—that she was to use in the settings, characters, and subject matter of her novels.

She became an English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character through her treatment of ordinary people in everyday life, with her earliest known writings date from about 1787. Her novels defined the era’s novel of manners, but they also became timeless classics that remained critical and popular successes for over two centuries after her death. These works reflect her enduring legacy, and there is a new film “Miss Austen” – based on the book – on Jane Austen’s life, and close friendship with her sister Cassandra, who famously burned her letters after her passing to protect her privacy, though the historical context would have been amazing.

About Jane Austen’s England

Jane grew up primarily in Hampshire, though around 1801 when her father retired, Jane had to put up with a succession of temporary lodgings or visits to relatives, in Bath, London, Clifton, Warwickshire, and, finally, Southampton, where the three women lived from 1805 to 1809. In 1804 Jane began The Watsons but soon abandoned it. In 1804 her dearest friend, Mrs. Anne Lefroy, died suddenly, and in January 1805 her father died in Bath. Eventually, in 1809, Jane’s brother Edward was able to provide his mother and sisters with a large cottage in the village of Chawton, within his Hampshire estate, not far from Steventon. The prospect of settling at Chawton had already given Jane Austen a renewed sense of purpose, and she began to prepare Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice for publication.

Therefore, the NY Times named one of its 52 places to go this year is ‘Jane Austen’s England’, or rather southwest of the UK. There will be several events this year where visitors can experience all kinds of celebrations around Hampshire, Steventon, Southampton, Winchester and Bath – from Regency-costumed promenades to themed festivals. In particular though, Jane Austen’s House, her former cottage, will feature an exhibition and themed festivals. All of this is to say that there has never been a better time to enjoy the beautiful region, walk the many fields and lanes, get a great Sunday roast at a local pub, and more. But first….let’s walk through four books and specific film adaptations.

“Pride & Prejudice”

It was just announced that Netflix will begin production on a new remake of the beloved Jane Austen story “Pride & Prejudice”, starring Emma Corrine as Elizabeth Bennet (who made great period drama turns on ‘The Crown’ and ‘Lady Chatterly’s Lover”), Jack Lowden rumored to play Mr. Darcy, Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennett, with Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love) writing the script, and directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper). This is a tall order considering the 2005 film and 1995 BBC series are considered perfection, with the former popping back into theaters this year for its 20th anniversary.

2005: The Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen fan favorite, directed by Joe Wright. This film has a big 20th anniversary this year, which will include a short re-release in theaters. This is thought of as the gold standard online, followed closely by the 1995 version

Locations: The 2005 film adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” was filmed in various locations across England, including Chatsworth House (Pemberley), Burghley House (Rosings), Basildon Park (Netherfield), Stourhead (Temple of Apollo), and Hunsford (Collins’s parsonage). Other notable locations included Wilton House (interiors of Pemberley), Haddon Hall (The Inn at Lambton), and the Peak District

1995: The BBC miniseries version, starring the lovely Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and Colin Firth as Darcy, with its faithful portrayal of the characters, scenery, and dialogue.

Locations: The 1995 BBC miniseries “Pride and Prejudice” was also filmed in several locations across England. Key locations include: Luckington Court (Longbourn), Lyme Park (Pemberley exterior), Sudbury Hall (Pemberley interior), Belton House (Rosings), and Brocket Hall (Netherfield ballroom)

“Sense and Sensibility”

Emma Thompson’s Oscar-winning turn for adapted screenplay for the wonderful 1995 film, is a a feast for the eyes. It follows the follows the fortunes of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they navigate love and marriage after their family faces financial ruin. Directed by Ang Lee and starring Emma Thompson, a teenage Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, the film explores the contrasting personalities and romantic pursuits of the sisters, showcasing the challenges they face within the social constraints of 19th-century England.

Locations: Filmed in various locations throughout England, primarily in Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire. Notable locations include Saltram House (Norland Park), Montacute House (Cleveland), Mompesson House (Mrs. Jennings’s London house), and Hartland Abbey (Barton Cottage). The film also utilized Wilton House and Somerset House for ballroom scenes.

“Emma”

There have been many remakes of ‘Emma’ as well, including modernized retellings through films like ‘Clueless’. But I feel both the 1996 version starring Gwyneth Paltrow and the latest 2020 version starring Anya Taylor-Joy are particularly delightful.

1996 Locations: Filmed in several locations across the UK, including Evershot, Dorset (Highbury village), Coker Court and St. Michael’s Church in East Coker, Somerset, Stafford House in West Stafford, Dorset, and Breakspear House in Harefield, London. Other notable locations include Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxfordshire (Donwell Abbey Great Hall), and Dorney Court, Dorney, Windsor, Buckinghamshire (Randalls)

2020 Locations: Several locations in England, including Firle Place, Chavenage House, Kingston Bagpuize House, Wilton House, Leith Hill, Lower Slaughter, and All Saints Church. Firle Place was used for Emma’s home, Hartfield, while Wilton House stood in for Donwell Abbey, the estate of Mr. Knightley

“Persuasion”

While BBC has made previous versions, the recent 2024 Netflix remake of Austen’s “Persuasion” received poor reviews, given they tried to modernize some language and break the fourth wall, starring Dakota Johnson. However, the locations were still lovely so onward…

Locations: Filmed in several locations across England, particularly in the southwest. These include Bath, Lyme Regis, and several country houses in Wiltshire, Somerset, and Buckinghamshire.