Why You Should Visit Jane Austen Centre in Bath

The Jane Austen Centre in Bath isn’t the largest Jane Austen museum, but any Jane-ite should visit at least once. Jane Austen is routinely included in the top 5 all-time list of novels (Pride and Prejudice, of course) for good reason. And how many millions of people have watched her films and television series? It’s another thing to see the places that she lived, walked, ate, danced, and wrote in, though. Jane lived in Bath for over 6 years, during some key parts of her writing career. So, today I’m chatting about why you should visit the Jane Austen Centre in Bath!

I’m going to be very blunt right now- many people on TripAdvisor like to tear the Jane Austen Centre down. I’m not sure if they don’t understand how wide of an audience the Centre has to appeal to, or are Jane Austen experts that the rest of us can only hope to be in the same room as (note the sarcasm). In any case, ignore them!

I am fairly well-versed in Austen. I’ve read all 6 of her novels, several of her partially finished works, and am now getting started on her Juvenalia. And I’ve read several biographies, watched as many documentaries as I can find. However, I don’t consider myself the foremost expert on Austen by a long stretch, and I don’t think that many of us can claim it. And there was more than enough for me to learn and enjoy! The Jane Austen Centre in Bath has something for the new Jane Austen fan all the way to the dedicated Jane-ite. So, why exactly should you visit the Jane Austen Centre in Bath?

The Guides 

I was lucky enough to speak with three different guides at the Jane Austen Centre, and they were all SO knowledgeable. Your tour/walk through the Centre starts with the six potential portraits of Jane, and I was incredibly impressed with her knowledge. She clearly wasn’t just tossing out facts verbatim, and clearly was fascinated by Jane herself. Many people works at museums and centres simply because they need a job, or want to work in the heritage field in general. However, the guides at the Jane Austen Centre are more than just regular employees, and truly love what they do. It makes a big difference in your experience, especially for the dedicated Jane-ites. (Though I am sure that new-to-Austen fans will also love the guides!)

Fleshing Out Northanger Abbey and Persuasion

Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are Jane’s Bath novels, meaning that they partially take place in Bath. You can still find and visit several of the places mentioned in these novels! (If you check out my Walking Jane Austen’s Bath post, you can see several of them!) The Centre does a fantastic job of walking through exactly what places Austen is referring to in these novels, and even provides maps and pictures (when possible). Northanger Abbey is my favourite Austen novel, so I found that very interesting. However, I found it more interesting with Persuasion, as I know it far less. Also, if you visit the Centre at the beginning of your Bath visit, you can keep an eye out for different places when you are out and about!

The Jane Austen Centre also points out several places that Jane lived at and visited while she and her family were in Bath. She lived in Bath on more than one occasion, and in different places, so there are several different Austen homes to spot. (Ask any walking tour guide in Bath, I’m sure they could point them out in a heartbeat!)

Bringing Jane Austen to Life 

One of the Jane Austen Centre’s greatest strength is bringing Jane Austen to life. As I’ve said, I’ve read much of the Austen canon, and stay as up-to-date as possible. However, there is quite a difference between reading something and experiencing it yourself. There are some light-hearted and fun bits, like trying on a Regency dress and standing with a Colin Firth-esque Mr Darcy mannequin. But there are several different things that you can try yourself. if you haven’t had the pleasure of writing with a quill, you can try your hand at writing a Regency letter yourself. (Tip: it is more difficult than it looks- be careful where you end up getting ink…)

You can also smell the different scented waters that Austen and her family would have used, and see the different types of cosmetics and grooming/hygienic devices. I could not tell you why, but I always find that toiletries and cosmetics always humanise historical figures for me. And the Centre does this without being gimmicky or condescending. (Many museums/centres pander to the “look how ridiculous this poison was”, failing to mention they wouldn’t have known.) And my favourite part of the Centre? Getting to try one of the infamous Oliver Biscuits, a Bath necessity! These biscuits were seen as the answer to gout, arthritis, and many other ailments, along with Bath water, of course.

Unless you frequently find yourself in a Regency living history museum, these small things at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath really help you understand Jane and her characters much more fully. On one hand, Regency life in Bath wouldn’t be so foreign that you would be confused looking at, but some parts of that life simply don’t “click” until you have experienced it yourself.

Bonus: The Shop!

Also, if you are a fan of Jane Austen, you will adore the shop. Of course they have her novels and biographies of Jane, but they have so much more. I love my Alice Tait illustrated tote bag more than anything (and use it all of the time). My tiny little Cassandra Austen-illustrated copy of The History of England is divine. They have Jane-inspired teacups and teapots (and tea, of course). And the poster of her book covers *almost* came home with me. Jewelery, pyjamas, maps, the list is endless, and there is a Jane Austen souvenir for everyone!

Would you visit the Jane Austen Centre in Bath?

Cheers,
The Historian
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