Jane Austen events at The Vyne in 2025
As 2025 marks 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, The Vyne is celebrating this milestone with a variety of Austen-inspired events. From the end of March, uncover Jane’s links to the family at The Vyne with an exhibition and tour of the house.
Families can enjoy Regency Easter Adventures and, a little later in the year, a literary trail. From May take a stroll to the neighbouring village of Sherborne St John. On select dates, don't miss plays, live music, Regency dancing and outdoor cinema. Read on to note key dates for the diary.Upcoming Austen events:
Exhibition: Never Judge a Book by its Cover
31 March – 2 November, House open 11am-3pm Discover Jane Austen’s links to The Vyne, her views on the Chute family and her friendship with clergyman Thomas Chute who admired her novels. Get up close to first editions of her books and feast your eyes on beautiful Regency costume.
Jane Austen Tours of The Vyne
Wednesdays & Saturdays 31 March – 2 November, 2.30-3.30pm Enjoy a 1-hour tour of the house and uncover an honest account of the family’s interactions with the celebrated Regency author. No pre-booking first come first serve. Purchase your tickets on arrival at Visitor Reception. Suggested donation £5 per person. Normal admission applies.
Regency Easter Adventures
29 March – 21 April, 10am-4pm
All ages can enjoy fun regency-themed activities in The Vyne’s gardens before collecting their trail prize at the end. £3.50 per trail sheet and prize. Normal admission applies.
Find out more about this event
Regency ramble
3 May 2025 – 4 January 2026, 10am-3.30pm
In a landscape familiar to Jane Austen, follow a route leading from The Vyne to the neighbouring village of Sherborne St John. Free trail map will be available. Normal admission applies.
Find out more about this event
Family literary trail: Little People, Big Dreams
Monday 5 May – Monday 23 June
Based on the acclaimed children’s book series, on this literary trail discover remarkable true stories about inspiring writers such as Jane Austen. More information coming soon.
Boutique theatre: Twelve Hours
Sunday 11 May, 3.30-4.30pm
A solo performance about Jane Austen's 12-hour engagement, it's December 1802, Jane is twenty-six and back in Hampshire visiting her friends Catherine and Alethea, members of the wealthy Wither family on the Manydown estate. Estate owner Harris Bigg-Wither has just proposed. It was a big decision to say, "Yes,". It is an even a bigger decision to refuse the offer after twelve hours. Ticket prices and further information coming soon.
Regency Dancing
Saturday 24 May, 11.30am-12.15pm & 2-2.45pm
In The Vyne’s Stone Gallery, don’t miss Hampshire Regency Dancers giving two costumed performances including talks, demonstrations and guest participation. Free event. Normal admission applies.
Find out more about this event
An evening with Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra
Saturday 21 June
With a ‘Regency-Proms’ theme, bring your camping chairs and picnic hampers to The Vyne’s north lawn for an evening with Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra. Ticket prices, timings and further information coming soon.
Outdoor theatre: Sense & Sensibility
Saturday 28 June
Elinor Dashwood has a lot of good Sense. Her sister Marianne Dashwood has an excess of Sensibility. Together they make a snappy title for Jane Austen’s classic novel of scandals, scoundrels and severely sprained ankles. Don’t miss the marvellous, madcap and crazily inventive Pantaloons Theatre Company performing their own twist on the Jane Austen classic ‘Sense & Sensibility’ on The Vyne’s north lawn. Ticket prices, timings and further information coming soon.
Outdoor cinema: Bridget Jones’s Diary (15)
Friday 1 August
For a chick flick movie under the stars, don’t miss this screening of the 2001 film Bridget Jones’s Diary on The Vyne’s north lawn. Pack yourself a blanket for when the sun goes down and, unless you have a Premium ticket, bring a camping chair. Picnics are welcome and hot beverages and snacks will be available to purchase. Ticket prices, timings and further information coming soon.