Jane Austen fans are set to descend on Britain to celebrate the birth of the Pride and Prejudice writer 250 years on.
Austen’s literary works have attracted tourists by the tens of thousands to the towns and villages she once spend her life annually.
But this year droves of fans are set to flock to the British Isles as they celebrate the authors life by attending, festivals, talks and exhibitions.
Among the most popular events is entry to the home where the author spent her final weeks – No 8 College Street, Winchester.
This will be the first time the historic residence has welcomed the public behind its doors.
The Hampshire home saw the the Sense and Sensibility author pen her final poem before taking her last breath on July 18, 1817, with the rooms where she spent her final hours remaining private for years – until now.
Fans fortunate enough to bag a ticket will be able to book slots for Wednesdays and Saturdays during June, July and August.
According to the head of events at Winchester College – a school which was attended by eight of Austen’s nephews – the building wasn’t a tourist hotspot for literary fanatics but has become increasingly popular with the anniversary of her birth.
Droves of tourists are set to descend on Britain to celebrate the famous author’s birth 250 years on (pictured: Participants in the annual Jane Austen Regency Parade last year)
Jane Austen was famed for her novels including Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and more
Her home No 8 College Street, Winchester (pictured) will open its doors to the public for the first time
Phillip Holroyd-Smith revealed thanks to the soaring interested in Austen’s last nearby residence, visitors ‘from all over the world’ are arriving to visit the historic educational facility.
‘The US is particularly strong, as well as Canada, Australia and lots of Europeans,’ he told The Times.
‘The Dutch and the Germans are very interested. They are coming for a broader Jane Austen experience, which is running throughout the country, with all sorts of attractions.’
The nearby cathedral where she is buried is also said to be unveiling a £100,000 life-sized statue of the author, while special services, tours, and theatre performances are held in memory of Austen’s life and legacy.
Elsewhere in the village of her birth – Steventon, Hampshire – there will be a fair in July, with tickets up for grabs over the coming months.
The Reading Ladies’ Boarding School, where Austen was educated for a year-and-a-half of her life as a nine-year-old girl alongside her cousin Jane and sister Cassandra will also be welcoming the public for events and tours.
The writer’s former school is said to have served as inspiration for Mr Goddard’s School in one of her most famed novels – Emma.
At one point in her younger years, Austen and her family moved to Bath – a location that features in some of her work including Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.
Droves of Jane Austen fans walking through the city centre of Bath as the costumed parade last year
There will also be events in Steventon – where Austen spent the first 25 years of her life (pictured: A woman dressed in regal costume last year)
The Reading Ladies’ Boarding School, where Austen spent a year-and-a-half of her life as a nine-year-old with her cousin Jane and sister Cassandra will also be holding tours
Bath – who has boasted its Austen connections – will hold its annual celebrations as well as three balls to celebrate the author
The city located in West England has long-celebrated their connection to the writer, annually holding a festival in her honour.
But on this particularly special year, not only will there be a festival but three balls including a seaside themed Sanditon dance, a Persuasion nautical-themed and finally a birthday celebration for Austen on December 13
Several events including a talk with TV history presenter Lucy Worsley about Austen and her homes will take place on May 27 at the Bath Forum.
The managing director of the tourism body Visit West, Kathryn Davis has said Austen alongside the inspired Neftlix series Bridgerton draw in a ‘younger and more diverse audience’ to bath, particularly appealing to Nordic tourists.
Austen later returned to her original county, living in Southampton for her final eight years no earth.
Here she wrote several famed novels including Emma, Mansfield Park, Abbey, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility and Price and Prejudice.
An exhibition of her writing desk will take place until February, as well as tours of her Chawton home – which was made a permanent exhibition in October – delving into her passion for books.
Meanwhile across the pond the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) will be honouring the author’s birth in Baltimore, Maryland this coming October.
The celebration among the ‘Janeites’ will include three days of talks at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront hotel.
Several events including an talk with TV history presenter Lucy Worsley about Austen and her homes on May 27 at the Bath Forum
An exhibition of her writing desk will also be available to attend in her Chawton home until September
Meanwhile across the pond the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) will be honouring the author’s birth in Baltimore, Maryland this coming October