Discover Jane Austen's life in Bath in new exhibition at No. 1 Royal Crescent

This summer, No. 1 Royal Crescent will mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a new exhibition, The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath.

Launching on 5 July, the exhibition will explore the real Jane Austen, her life in Bath and her complicated relationship with the city.

Image: No.1 Royal Crescent

Jane Austen lived in Bath between 1801 and 1806, and the city features prominently in two of her novels: Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. The scandals and shallowness of society fuelled the classic author’s cynicism and wit, and nothing escaped her scathing pen, yet she wrote very little whilst actually living in the city.

This new exhibition will feature letters, first editions of the novels, and the only manuscript she wrote in Bath, revealing the highs and lows of her time here and exposing how turbulence and loss cast a long shadow over Jane Austen and Bath.

Image: No.1 Royal Crescent

Patrizia Ribul, Director of Museums at Bath Preservation Trust said: “As the UK celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, our summer exhibition examines the author’s life in Bath in her own words, including her thoughts and feelings about the city and how it influenced some of her world-famous novels. We will also be running a special Jane Austen-themed immersive tour on selected Fridays and Saturdays, plus talks and events as part of this year’s Jane Austen Festival. We are also delighted to offer private guided tours in several languages, celebrating visitors coming to our museum from all over the world.”

No.1 Royal Crescent is a Georgian historic house museum, which will also feature a special Jane Austen-themed immersive tour on selected days throughout the year, and for the duration of the Jane Austen festival. There will also be the opportunity to explore the house after hours with special late openings, partake in a special afternoon tea event with Choux Box Patisserie, attend book talks with Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates, and Amelia Blackwell, author of A Crime Through Time, and attend a lecture by one of the country’s pre-eminent academics on Austen, Professor Kathryn Sutherland.

For further information about the museum, related events, and to book tickets, visit: https://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/about/jane-austen-in-bath/. 

The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath opens at The Gallery at No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath on 5 July 2025 and closes 2 November 2025.

Ticket price: £7, or £2.50 when purchased as an add-on to entry to the main museum.

To buy tickets, visit: https://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/about/jane-austen-in-bath/