Celebrate the life and work of one of England's finest novelists at the Jane Austen Festival

Thursday, 22 September 2011 10:27 AM

Bath has many quintessentially English attractions for visitors to enjoy and one of the best is the annual Jane Austen Festival.

The event, which is held in September each year, celebrates the life and work of one of the country's best-loved authors. Works such as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park remain hugely popular - both in their original book form and on screen - even though it is almost 200 years since she died.

If you are one of the many people who love Austen's tales of romance and manners in Georgian England, book holiday cottages in Bath in the second half of September and you can look forward to a real treat.

The Jane Austen Festival features a series of events across the city, including readings, discussion groups, theatre productions and lots of opportunities to try living life as the characters in the novels did.

Perhaps the highlight of the celebrations is the Grand Regency Costumed Parade, which sees hundreds of people promenade through Bath dressed in lavish period outfits - quite a sight! It is followed by a lunch at the Guildhall and a Country Fayre, where you will be able to purchase rare books, have your silhouette cut or buy a bonnet.

Apart from the parade, the events vary from year to year. The 2011 festival, which runs from September 16th -24th, has a busy calendar with a real mix of things to see and participate in.

You can take an Austen walking or carriage tour of Bath, learn how to make a reticule, visit displays of Georgian gowns and discover more about the houses and interiors featured in the novels. There are also a range of theatrical and musical performances, all themed to fit in with the books.

Another eagerly-awaited part of the festival is the Regency Costumed Masked Ball in the grand surroundings of the Roman Baths. If you are worried about your footwork, you can even attend classes on Georgian dancing to ensure you are up to scratch on the big night.

Booking a self catering cottage in the Cotswolds is a good choice for a break for Austen enthusiasts at any time of year, as she spent five years living in Bath.

Her time there and her works are celebrated at the Jane Austen Centre, which has a fascinating exhibition of memorabilia that focuses on how Bath influenced her writing. It is also where you will find the Regency Tea Room - one of the most stylish places you will ever enjoy tea and cakes.

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