Dear Reader, what an exciting prospect - my 250th Birthday Festival!

Taken of a local book display in a shop in Bath, celebrating Jane Austen's 250th birthday with tongue in cheek

Jane Austen excited to hear about her birthday celebrations

Jane Austen Anticipates Bath’s 250th Birthday Celebrations: A Most Exciting Prospect

My dearest readers,

I find myself in a flutter of excitement, for it has come to my attention that the fine city of Bath is preparing a most splendid celebration in honour of my 250th birthday. To be so fondly remembered, so dearly regarded, is a pleasure I could never have imagined during my own time. Yet here I am, with the New York Times declaring Bath as the destination for 2025, and multitudes eagerly planning their visits, their costumes, and their very steps through the streets I once strolled.

Indeed, the whole city seems abuzz with preparations. Hotels, I am told, are already welcoming bookings from those who wish to revel in this most auspicious year. The inns of my time, though charming, could not have imagined the comfort and elegance offered by today’s accommodations. Tour guides are brushing up their knowledge, ready to regale visitors with tales not only of my own literary history but also of the city's magnificent architecture, its delectable restaurants, and the idyllic countryside that surrounds it. How eagerly I await these celebrations—if only to see whether a modern-day tour could delight me as much as a ball at the Assembly Rooms once did!

I am quite enchanted by the notion of visitors donning Regency finery as they promenade along the Royal Crescent and The Circus, or as they gather in the Pump Room to sip tea (surely less medicinal than the waters of my day). To see ladies in flowing gowns and gentlemen in tailcoats once again gracing Bath’s streets would be a vision most pleasing. I do hope they are practising their dancing, for a ball or two surely cannot be far from the plans?

The Circus in Bath

What intrigues me most, however, are the many tours celebrating both my work and Bath’s film-worthy beauty. It seems that my beloved novels have inspired countless adaptations, many of which have been brought to life right here in Bath. I confess, I am quite tempted to join a Bridgerton Tour, to see the grand locations used in their storytelling and to observe how the modern world spins its own tales of romance and intrigue. It may even inspire me to pen a few more chapters of my own!

And croquet! What a delightful idea. While I am partial to a leisurely stroll in Sydney Gardens or a quiet moment in Queen Square, I am not opposed to trying my hand at this most social sport. I imagine the laughter of friends and family, the sound of mallets striking balls, and the polite banter exchanged between turns. Surely, even Mr. Darcy himself could not refuse such a charming pastime.

Yet Bath’s appeal in 2025 does not end within her city limits. The countryside beckons with its rolling hills and picturesque villages, inviting visitors to explore beyond the Georgian façades. Imagine a day spent wandering the Cotswolds, enjoying a fine meal at a country inn, or pausing by a meadow to reflect on the beauty of nature—how utterly poetic!

With so much to celebrate, Bath in 2025 promises to be a place of joy, elegance, and enchantment. To those planning their journeys, I commend your taste in choosing this fair city for your adventures. And for those preparing their costumes, booking their hotels, or rehearsing their croquet swings, I extend my hearty approval.

May we all meet on these historic streets, amidst laughter, stories, and the enduring charm of Bath—a city that continues to capture hearts, just as she did mine.

Yours most affectionately,

Jane Austen