Jane Austen Festival--September 9-18, 2022--Bath

I coincidentally scheduled the Bath leg of my UK trip during this festival. Probably won't be partaking in any of the official events, but hey, the chance to be in Bath potentially surrounded by people in Regency dress is pretty cool :-D

Linnae, I think you're in for a treat if you can view this parade--"Regency Consumed Promenade, featuring over 400 costumed promenaders as they stroll through the streets of Bath".

Free to watch. Just pick a spot along the route.

Lucky you; going to Bath! I do love Bath!

The Regency Tea Room looks great: https://janeausten.co.uk/

https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-2022-overview

https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/jane-austen-festival-saturday-september-10th-2022
"The Jane Austen Festival officially opens on Saturday 10th September with the world famous Regency Costumed Promenade.
The Promenade starts at 11am from outside the Holburne Museum, and then continues down the length of Great Pulteney Street and around central Bath."

I think anywhere along Pulteney Bridge or Bridge Street would be a good place to watch this.
This has a printable map of Bath on page 20:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0308/7889/2172/files/Jane_Austen_festival_2022_PDF_web.pdf?v=1660227602

My fave British TV/internet presenter Lucy Worsley is interviewed in Jane's house. Be warned that the audio is TERRIBLE and someone should be beaten with a stick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqgJZPF_m0o

Thanks phred! Enjoyed it even with the bad audio.

Lucy Worsley is our favorite presenter, too.

I have been in Bath during a previous parade. Firstly I went into the park behind the Holburne Museum & took photos of the participants as they gathered. I would not suggest that anyone try and see the parade on Pulteney Bridge as it is narrow. Far better to view the parade on Great Pulteney Street - which is wide and you have a good backdrop with the buildings. Also best to stand on the south side as standing on the north side will have the sun in your face and the parade backlit.

James, thank you for those suggestions! Very helpful to anyone going to see the Promenade.

I will add here that another of our Forum members has been to the Jane Austen Centre and has reported back that she did not find it to be very well done. So if you're thinking of skipping it, that might be for the best.

I, too, have been during the JA Festival. In fact I scheduled my RS Best of England to coincide with the beginning of the Festival so I could go to some things. Honestly, seeing people in Regency dress walking the streets of Bath was a total kick. I loved being able to imagine I was in one of my favorite Regency Romance books, lol! Very cool!

That was probably me with the comment about the JA Centre. Really a waste of time although I've heard the tea room is good. You do not have to pay admission to the house to see the tea room. However, if I were really going to have tea, I would do it at the Pump Room, that venerable institution featured in so many novels!

I also did a couple of the festival events which were fun along with watching the Promenade. Rebecca, looking at your link I see there is a turban workshop! This head gear was very popular and I would LOVE to go to a workshop on wrapping one! I don't think I can get over there for the 9th, though! The talk on Women in Wellington's Army looks interesting too! Maybe I will look at going back to Bath Sept 2023!

Now you've got me thinking and really I need to focus on what is coming up in between now and next Fall, lol!

Thanks so much, Rebecca. I too am a Jane Austen fan. My small personal bragging rights are that I visited Chawton Cottage in the 70s before the general popularity and when the museum was homey and cozy. And interestingly here in the states I live in Towson where Goucher College has a the famous Jane Austen North American collection started by a 1928 graduate, Alberta Burke. Me, I'm just a devoted reader and fan who also named her new rescue dog Bingley year ago (wanted to name him Darcy but then we met him;-) Long intro to say I appreciate the notice and just bought a ticket for Saturday afternoon at home dance. We are returning to England after a three year delay and this will be a delightful treat.

Pam and Janems, thanks for your comments!

Pam, I'm so glad you got to go to this festival one year!
Good planning on your part.
I would love to see the Promenade! What fun!
And great recommendation about The Pump Room! Had totally forgotten about it.
For anyone visiting Bath for the first time, the Pump Room is right above the Roman Baths which are a "must see" in my opinion.
Also for anyone visiting Bath, do go by Sally Lunn's Buns for lunch, afternoon tea or just for a look inside.

So interesting about the turban workshop and the talk on Women in Wellington's Army!
There was also a walking tour of Bath by costumed guides, which I think would be fun, but tickets are sold out.

Janems, I'm so glad you will be able to include some of the festival in your trip!
Lucky you, to have visited Chawton before it was overrun with tourists!
I want to see Chawton on a future trip.
I hope you have a wonderful return trip to England!