In the footsteps of Jane Austen’s heroines

If our new walking route wasn’t enough of a reason to hike through The Southern Cotswolds to the gorgeous city of Bath, there are plenty more!

Visit in autumn 2025 to catch some of this year’s celebrations of the 250^th anniversary of the birth of novelist Jane Austen. She lived in the city from 1801 to 1806, and though she grew weary of the superficiality of the social scene, the fashionable spa town appeared as the backdrop to parts of her novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.

The architecture of the city today is still very much that of the Georgian town that Austen would have known, with elegant crescents, parks and busy shops. The social scene, however, is now a little different – gone is the rigid class structure centred around dances at the Assembly Rooms, replaced by a more relaxed and inclusive stylishness, with plenty to ‘divert the visitor’ (as Jane might have said).

Visit medieval Bath Abbey in the centre of the town, taste the waters at the Pump Room beside the Roman Baths, relax with a cream tea or a ‘Sally Lunn Bun’. Or just wander the streets and alleyways to take in Pulteney Bridge with its little shops above the river, the stately Royal Crescent, or Sydney Gardens where Austen would have looked for inspiration among the fashionable young people out for a stroll.

Activities for Austen fans visiting Bath

See what’s happening in Bath here – Austen fans might like to visit the special exhibitions at The Holburne Museum or No 1 Royal Crescent, try a guided tour, or drop into the Jane Austen Centre.

Other entrancing places to visit for echoes of Jane Austen and her characters

Bath is the final destination of our new walking holiday, The Southern Cotswolds, but is not the only place on our English routes where you’ll find echoes of Jane Austen and her much-loved characters.

Walk through the luscious green landscapes of Dorset to Lyme Regis on the famous Jurassic Coast. This pretty seaside town sits above a sandy beach leading to a little harbour protected by ‘The Cobb’ – a wide seawall that was the setting for a pivotal scene in Persuasion. Take care on the stone steps, as you won’t want to fall as Louisa Musgrove did – there’s unlikely to be a gallant naval Captain ready to catch you!

Visit stately Chatsworth House, probably the grandest house in Derbyshire, while hiking our Peak District route. It is widely assumed that the home of the Dukes of Devonshire is the model for Mr Darcy’s ‘Pemberley’ in Pride and Prejudice. Indeed, the 2015 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel starring Keira Knightley was partly filmed at the house. Austen visited Chatsworth while staying at nearby Bakewell in 1811, and called the town ‘Lambton’ in the novel.

See all On Foot routes in England and Wales

More literary inspiration

On Foot Holidays has reached The Southern Cotswolds, only an hour or so from our home town!  “About time”, we hear you say. We’ve plotted a unique self-guided walking route with our local expert, Nicky, that brings you quintessential honey-coloured villages, medieval churches, some fantastic pubs, and lots of pretty (and quiet) paths through rolling farmland, woods and bucolic valleys.

Connecting the spa towns of Cheltenham and Bath, our route through the southern reaches of The Cotswolds has everything you would expect, while staying away from the tourist-trap spots in an effort to seek out lesser-known delights. The walking is gentle underfoot, but some days are longish, so you will earn your dinner!

After a night in Regency Cheltenham, walk to Painswick, followed by two days of rambling through historic villages with a reminder of an industrial past in the now converted mills, leading to Tetbury, where King Charles has a country house.

Next comes Castle Combe, which is a much photographed village (you may have seen it in the War Horse or Doctor Dolittle movies), though it is wonderfully quiet in the evening. Bradford-on-Avon nestles on a hill above the River Avon, along which you will then walk towards Bath, diverting to a low hill to give you some fine views as you enter this famous city.

The comfortable pubs and boutique hotels we have chosen are a particular highlight of this holiday, and there’s lots of excellent food and drink too. Add some extra nights to take advantage of other attractions along the way – maybe the antique shops of Tetbury or the farmers’ market at Stroud.

And the beautiful Georgian city of Bath merits extra time to wander the streets and shops, visit the Abbey and Roman Baths, and soak up the ‘Jane Austen vibes’ in her 250th anniversary year!

This self-guided walking holiday is now open for bookings from October to November 2025, and for March to November 2026. See all the details here, or speak to Simon who can tell you more about this delightful walk and which version will be perfect for you.

Find more holidays in England and Wales here

Entry/Exit System (EES) for visitors to EU/Schengen countries

UPDATE: Introduction of the EES began on 12 October 2025, and will be phased in gradually across six months until 9 April 2026.

A new digital system for recording entry and exit has been developed by the European Union, which will replace the manual use of passport stamps.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will apply to anyone entering a Schengen country who is not a citizen/resident of an EU country or of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, or who does not have a valid visa.

Schengen countries are those European countries that have opted into the Schengen system of free movement across their borders. The On Foot Holidays routes to which this currently applies are in Czechia (Czech Republic), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

On the first entry to one of these countries after implementation of the scheme, biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) will be collected at border control. This registration is free, and only needs to be done once. It is not possible to register in advance of travelling. Registration may take place on exiting the Schengen region while the system is being phased in.

It is possible that this will cause delays at peak times at ports and airports, so you should allow extra time for passing through border controls on your first visit after the scheme is implemented. If travelling from the UK by train from London St Pancras (Eurostar) or Folkestone (Eurotunnel), or by ferry from Dover, registration will happen at border control in the UK before boarding.

Once registration has been completed, all subsequent visits use the biometrics to verify identity, and will digitally record the time and place of entry. Other questions may be asked on entry, such as length of stay and plans for onward travel. It is also likely that more information will be required when booking airline/train/ferry tickets into the relevant countries.

Please see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en for details of implementation of the new system in your destination country, and check carefully whether EES will apply to you.

UK citizens will find further advice here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system

ETIAS visa waiver for visitors to EU/Schengen countries

A separate visa waiver system called ETIAS (similar to the USA’s ESTA system) will follow in the last quarter of 2026, on a date yet to be announced. This will be valid for three years (or to the end of your passport’s validity if less than three years), and a fee of €20 will apply (previously advertised as €7). It will need to be secured in advance of travelling via the ETIAS website or mobile app. It will apply to entry to the same countries as listed above for EES.

It is not yet possible to apply for an ETIAS, but see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en for more details and to check whether you will need an ETIAS to travel.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visitors to the UK

An ETA is required for entry into the UK from some countries, and will become compulsory for citizens of more countries including USA, Canada and Australia in February 2026. Travellers who are not British citizens or do not have a visa or the right to live in the UK will need to apply before travelling.

Please check here to find whether you will need to apply for an ETA.

There is a helpful video showing how to apply here.

Updated 27 November 2025