WINCHESTER COLLEGE CELEBRATES 250 YEARS OF JANE AUSTEN
Jane Austen spent the final weeks of her life at No. 8 College Street, Winchester, and died there on the 18th July 1817. In the summer of 2025 the house will be open to the public for the first time, as part of a worldwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Through displays and artefacts, visitors will learn about Jane’s connections with Winchester and the story of her last days.
TICKETS FOR NO. 8 COLLEGE STREET
NO. 8 COLLEGE STREET: 2025 OPENING
The rooms where Jane Austen spent her last days were, until recently, a private residence. In the summer of 2025 they will host an exhibition about Jane Austen and Winchester, including a specially commissioned film and artefacts from the collections of Winchester College. Other items associated with Jane Austen will be on display in Treasury, the school’s museum, from May 2025 until the end of the year.
Ticketed visits to No. 8 College Street cost £12.50 and will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4th June - 30th August 2025. Your visit will start at the Treasury museum, followed by a visit to the exhibition and garden of No. 8 College Street. Due to high demand, we strongly recommend pre-booking.
JANE AUSTEN’S FINAL DAYS
Jane Austen came to Winchester in May 1817, to seek medical treatment from a surgeon at the county hospital. With her sister Cassandra, she took lodgings in College Street, a part of the city already familiar to the Austen family. No fewer than eight of Jane’s nephews were pupils at Winchester College and the school is often mentioned in her letters.
Despite her failing health, Jane continued to write, composing her last poem just three days before her death. She was buried in Winchester Cathedral and her final journey was movingly described by Cassandra, who watched the funeral procession from the windows of No. 8.
PRIVATE TOURS AND EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
Private guided tours and exclusive access to No. 8 College Street will also be offered on selected evenings during the summer of 2025, subject to availability.
Packages for evening access start at £475, for up to 15 guests.
To find out more, please call us on 01962 621209 or contact us via the link below.
We are delighted to work with our partners across Winchester and the rest of Hampshire to celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen, including Jane Austen’s House, Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire Cultural Trust and Winchester City Council.
To find out more about activities across Hampshire, click the link below.
OTHER JA 250 EVENTS AT WINCHESTER
In addition to the opening of No. 8 College Street, we have also planned other events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth.
Pride and Prejudice: Outdoor Theatre in the Warden’s Garden
23rd July 2025
With stunning period costume, an original score, and Austen's timeless wit, Chapterhouse’s Pride and Prejudice is a faithful telling of Austen’s most well-known work. The performance will be in the College's tranquil Warden's Garden, with its Regency border, wild woodland, and private section of one of the most famous chalk streams in the world providing an idyllic setting for a magical evening of theatre.
Regency Embroidery classes inside No. 8 College Street
16th June and 28th July 2025
Under the expert guidance of Hand & Lock’s skilled tutors, students will create a unique design inspired by Regency-era fashion and decorative motifs. This one-day workshop combines the delicate precision of silk shading with the opulent techniques of goldwork, offering a rare opportunity to learn these traditional methods in a setting steeped in history and literary heritage. Suitable for beginners and experienced embroiderers.
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