Sept. 2008 Tour

$3099 per person/dbl occupancy plus airfare

Single Supplement TBA

Your Itinerary:

Sept. 20 (Day One) Arrive in London, Groombridge Place

Meals – Tea, Dinner

Lodging – Ashdown Park Hotel, Tunbridge Wells

Your journey begins as you embark from the Gatwick Airport in

London to join your group and guide. A coach will transport you to

Groombridge Wells, better known as Longbourne, the Bennet family

home in the 2005 film “Pride and Prejudice”. Members from the Jane

Austen Society of Kent will greet you in Regency costume and lead you

on a tour of the extensive gardens before your canal boat cruise to the

Enchanted Forest on the Groombridge grounds. We will also be touring

the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie exhibit featuring photographs,

costumes, and information about the movie’s filming. Finally, enjoy

tea with your fellow Jane Austen fans from around the world. After

touring the estate, we will gather for a welcome dinner and stay over-

night at Ashdown Park Hotel, where some of the cast and crew stayed

while filming “Pride and Prejudice”. Ashdown Park Hotel is a 19th

century mansion house with deluxe rooms, beautiful gardens, and

comfort at its best!

September 21 (Day Two) Finchcock’s Living Museum of Music, Jane Austen House Museum,
Jane Austen’s Grave, Winchester Cathedral

Meals – Breakfast

Lodging – Mercure Wessex Hotel, Winchester

This morning we are off to Finchcock’s Living Museum of Music, the home

of an enviable collection of instruments including ones used in the “Pride and

Prejudice” as well as the “Sense and Sensibility” movies. After touring the

museum, we will gather for a grand display of talent as a private Jane Austen

concert is conducted. Next, we are off to the picturesque village of Chawton,

the home of our astounding author. First we will go to the Jane Austen House

Museum. You can explore the house and museum, as well as have the thrill of

setting foot where Jane Austen wrote her immaculate novels. Enjoy lunch

on your own in this charming village before we head to Winchester. As

we walk up the path to the Cathedral, we shall walk by the house where

Jane Austen spent her final days. Continuing on from there, you will

visit the burying ground of Jane Austen: Winchester Cathedral. Not only

will you get to see her grave, but you will also have a tour of the divinely

beautiful and historic Cathedral with particular emphasis on Jane Austen’s life.

The Mercure Wessex in Winchester shall be your resting place tonight, giving

you a taste of true Regency charm.

September 22 (Day Three) The Vyne, Basildon Place

Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

Lodging – Mercure Wessex Hotel, Winchester

Enjoy a free morning to explore and shop in the town of Winchester. Today, you will see The Vyne, a Tudor estate famed for its tranquil beauty and extensive property. A beautiful lake, oak gallery, and Palladian staircase are just a few of the charms this house has to offer. Jane Austen frequented the Vyne to visit friends and often attended balls on the estate. Next, you will travel by coach to Basildon Place. One glimpse at the exterior will remind

you that this, indeed, was Netherfield, the home of the

charming Mr. Bingley in the film “Pride and Prejudice”.

Basildon Place is one of the most well-preserved estates

of the National Trust and is ours for the discovering!

Then, just like during Elizabeth’s visit when Jane fell ill,

we shall have formal dinner in the “Bingley” dining room.

Return for the night to the Mercure Wessex Hotel.

September 23 (Day Four) Wilton House and Gardens, Temple of Apollo, Stourhead Gardens

Meals – Breakfast, Picnic

Lodging – The Francis Hotel, Bath

Salisbury is the next stop on our Jane Austen Journey. First, we will visit Wilton House and Garden, also known as Mr. Darcy’s home Pemberley from the “Pride and Prejudice” film. In addition to the interior of Pemberley, you might also recognize the ball-

room from “Sense and Sensibility”. We will tour the

extensive art collection, breath taking gardens, and

ornate rooms before continuing on to Stourton. In the

Stourhead’s gardens lies the Temple of Apollo, from

Lady Catherine’s estate Rosings in the “Pride and

Prejudice” film. Perhaps the rain will pour and recreate

the atmosphere of arguably Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s

most romantic encounter. We shall then have a picnic in the
Stourhead gardens before traveling to our final destination: Bath.
The Frances Hotel will be our home for the next five nights
so make yourself comfortable!

September 24 (Day Five) Walking Tour, Jane Austen Centre, 4 Sydney Place

Meals – Breakfast, Tea

Lodging - The Francis Hotel, Bath

Wake up this morning in the home of all things Jane Austen! Every “Pride and

Prejudice” fan knows Elizabeth Bennet enjoyed her long walks and today we

shall do the same on our walking tour of Bath. Our next visit will be to the Jane

Austen Centre, complete with a Jane Austen tea. No doubt we will have to tear

ourselves away from the exhibits but our next visit, to 4 Sydney Place, is

promised to be well worth it. 4 Sydney Place is a landmark for it was the

dwelling of Jane Austen while she lived in Bath. This Jane Austen landmark is

a private home yet we will be treated to an exclusive, private tour by the owner!

Enjoy a quiet evening with newly-made friends before retiring to your room

in the Mercure Hotel for the night.

September 25 (Day Six) Museum of Costumes, Roman Baths, Thermae Spa

Meals – Breakfast

Lodging – The Francis Hotel, Bath

Wake up ready to be awed by our visit to the Museum of Costumes where we

become entranced with clothing from eras gone by. Next, it is time to relax and

pamper yourself! To get ourselves in a relaxed mood, we will visit the

impressive and historic Roman Baths. The complex is a very well-preserved

Roman site of public bathing. The Roman Baths themselves are below the

modern street level and have four main features, the Sacred Spring, the Roman

Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman

Bath. After a tour there, we come to the adjacent Thermae Spa. While
visiting this distinctly European spa, each traveler will receive a two-hour
pass to soak in the mineral pools within the spa. You may also have treatments
done at an additional cost. Enjoy the spa in the afternoon or at day's end
when you could enjoy the sunset over the gothic spires of Bath while soaking
in the rooftop mineral pool.

September 26 (Day Seven) –Workshops

Meals – Breakfast

Lodging – The Francis Hotel, Bath

Today, enjoy Jane Austen Workshops designed especially for you! Choose from two of our three workshop options, one in the morning and the second for our afternoon session. These workshops are essential for experiencing life as Jane Austen or Elizabeth herself might have! You will be able to choose from three fun and informative activities: Regency calligraphy, letter-writing, or hair-styling.

September 27 (Day Eight) – Dance Workshop, Grand Ball

Meals – Breakfast, Formal Dinner

Lodging – The Francis Hotel, Bath

Our final day promises to be the highlight of the entire tour! First, you will be

whisked away to a dance workshop. At the workshop, you will learn

Regency dances and etiquette for formal events. Then, return to your

hotel room to ready yourself in all the glory of your Georgian attire.

Regency hairstyling is also available to you if they wish to book it at

an additional cost. Finally, the time has come for the most special event
of all as we arrive in style at the Grand Ball! After a formal dinner,
dance the night away as all of your favorite Jane Austen characters did.
No doubt we shall be up late dancing and laughing with all of our good
friends from the Jane Austen Fan Trips Tour.

September 28 (Day Nine) – Depart

Meals –Breakfast

Alas, the time has come to say goodbye to the world of Jane Austen!
As you depart for the airport by coach, remember to look back; you
might just see Mr. and Mrs. Darcy waving farewell
and bidding you to return soon!

Trip Includes

Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” 4 Star Trips

September 20-28, 2008 - 9 days/ 8 nights