Posted: 20.08.26
Photos courtesy of VisitBath.
Bath rarely looks more glorious than during the Jane Austen Festival. Each September, the city's crescents, terraces and grand rooms become part of the story - bonneted figures round corners, Regency music drifts from doorways, and it's easy to see why Austen found such rich material here.
In 2026, the festival runs Friday 11th - Sunday 20th September: ten days of talks, walks, workshops, dances, picnics and niche Austen chat. It's the world's largest, longest-running Austen festival, yet still feels like a gathering of people who simply love the novels, the period and this most theatrical of cities.
Saturday morning is the one to catch. The Grand Regency Costumed Promenade sets off at 11am on 12th September from the Royal Crescent, via George Street, finishing on Great Pulteney Street - home to our hotspot, No. 15. Watching is free; joining needs a wristband. Claim your spot early, watch Bath turn Regency, then let the day unfold.
Bath makes perfect sense for an Austen festival. She lived here from 1801 to 1806, and the city set the scene for both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Beyond the costume drama, you'll find the pleasures she knew: a brisk circuit of the crescents, a pause in the Assembly Rooms, a turn through Sydney Gardens, and the gentle art of seeing and being seen.
A little insider advice: don't try to do everything. The programme is joyfully packed, so leave space between events for coffee, a browse and an unplanned detour - perhaps into ours at No. 15. Pick one booked highlight a day, then pair it with a proper wander. Want full immersion? Try a dance workshop or ball. Quietly curious? A literary talk or guided walk. Just here for the atmosphere? The promenade, Festival Fayre and people-watching are plenty.
The 2026 programme has some tempting strands: explore Jane Austen's Bath, hear experts untangle the novels' social world, and try hands-on Regency pastimes. Look out too for events at No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey, the Theatre Royal and the Guildhall. Keep an eye on the official programme - but leave your itinerary room to breathe.
Photos courtesy of VisitBath.
This is where No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath comes into its own. Set on Great Pulteney Street, it's woven into the festival, not on its edges. On Promenade Saturday, the procession finishes right outside - reason enough to start slowly, then step into the spectacle at just the right moment. You're also a short stroll from Bath's centre: the Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens one way, the Abbey, Pump Room, Theatre Royal and Jane Austen Centre the other.
Our favourite way to do it? Arrive Friday, settle in, amble along Great Pulteney Street at dusk. Watch the Promenade Saturday morning, then follow whichever curiosity catches your eye - a museum, a restorative drink, a bookshop browse, one event that shows you Austen's Bath anew. By Sunday, you'll feel less like a visitor and more like you've slipped into its world.
The festival isn't about getting the costume exactly right. It's about a city sharing its stories, wit and sense of occasion. And from No.15, you could hardly be better placed to join in.
Jane Austen Festival photos courtesy of VisitBath.
Deep sigh relaxation post summer madness
From releasing the tension in your back to getting your glow back on with a tailored facial, find what you`re looking for in The Spa at Bath, York, Margate and Brighton
Soaking up the last of the summer sun in Brighton ☀️🌊
What a summer we’ve had! Thank you to all who joined us
GUESTS WHO...
dine alfresco
host fabulous events
enjoy a quiet moment after exploring
say cheers to cocktails with a view
Which guest are you?
Every September Bath turns Regency for ten days of dances, talks and costumed promenades!
Jane Austen Festival 2026 - Friday 11th - Sunday 20th September
The world`s largest, longest-running Austen festival, don`t miss The Grand Regency Costumed Promenade. Setting off at 11am on 12th September from the Royal Crescent, via George Street, and finishing on Great Pulteney Street - home to our hotspot, No. 15, everyone is welcome
Read all about it in the Guest Insider on our website!
Promenade photos by @visitbathuk
National Dog Day! Celebrating some of our four legged friends and their visits
@beccapearsonstyle at York
@life_with_haz - at Brighton
@travisnuneshair - at Margate
@moosethecockapoo_ - at Bath
@m.mdogwalking74 - at York
@joy_hung_ - at Margate
Darla - at Brighton
@albert_thecavapoo - at Margate
Bring your team together your away days and corporate meeting
Enquire through our website about spaces at Bath, York, Margate and Brighton
Morning read, beach read or a before-bedtime read. You`ll find things to see and do, what`s new and some of our favourite moments in our very own GuestHouse newspaper 🗞️
Some lovely guest snaps by:
@natalyavukovic
@bethxlouisexx
@birdandbloomuk
Your own secret door into the main hotel, a separate lounge, private pantry and a copper hot tub
This is a stay in The Hideout Suite at No. 124 Brighton. Yours for the long weekend if you’re looking for a little luxury
Aperitivo launches tomorrow at @thebar_at_no15bath
You choose your cocktails and the kitchen will send out generous plates from the bar menu - nothing fixed, nothing fussy, just whatever`s looking its best that day. The more cocktails you order, the more plates you get, complimentary
6-9pm every Friday
Autumn: Two offers to make it yours 🍂
A weekend away that feels less like an overnight stop and more like a proper exhale 🧳
Scroll for details on The Autumn Treat and The `ber Month Break offers
Whether you`re the kind of person who books on a whim or plans ahead, autumn`s better at ours
Late Summer in Bath...
Summer Lates at @theromanbaths - until 31st Aug
- And on Fridays and Saturdays there`ll be vinyl DJs and on Sunday, live acoustic sessions showcasing a mix of established artists and emerging talent
@theatreroyalbath1805 - The Spy who came in from the Cold - until 22nd Aug
- The novel by John le Carré - the undisputed master of the modern spy genre - is brought to life in a thrilling stage adaptation
Beyond Impressionism: Printmaking from Manet to Picasso - until 13th Sep
- An exhibition celebrating the resurgence of printmaking from the mid-19th century onward, bringing together prints by key artists of the movement including Édouard Manet, Pierre Bonnard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pablo Picasso
@Bathrugby Season Launch - 31st Aug
- They`re kicking off the new season on the Rec (right opposite No. 15) with a free-to-attend Fan Village celebration. Open to everyone!
An Audience with Lucy Worsley at The Forum - 1st September
- Beloved historian and bestselling author, who spent 20 years working as Chief Curator in some of Britain`s most marvellous palaces, Lucy will take you behind the scenes and into the history of the royal residences she came to know so well
Bath Foodies Festival - 4th - 6th September
- Royal Victoria Park will host a celebratory finale to Summer with chef demonstrations, street food, drinks and live music
The American Museum - all Summer
- Home to American stories, decorative arts, folk art and textiles, special exhibitions and acres of wildlife-friendly beautiful gardens. The museum is marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Enjoy afternoon tea in @thepumproomrestaurant - daily
- Take a seat under the chandelier and savour a delicious afternoon tea to the sounds of the Pump Room Trio and the resident pianist
What were once the library and the drawing room when these townhouse buildings were aristocratic homes, are now our Bootham Suites at No. 1 York
Scroll to enter the room
Ruby and Chris brought their cool to No. 124 Brighton 💍
📸: @meghanhopephotog
Check-in series #11
No. 124 Brighton - Large Guest Room with Sea View and Lookout Suite
On the first floor you’ll find two Lookout Suites with floor-to-ceiling French windows, leading onto balconies and stretching out to sea. If you want to enjoy panoramic views but from the comfort of your bed, there’s our other very lovely sea view room category. Both have bespoke super-king beds so you can drift off to the sound of the waves in the comfiest of settings 🌊
There`s a lot happening at Margate, take your pick 🌊
🏆 Fancy a game of @spikeball on the beach? You`ll find a set in each Lookout Suite and we`ve got some in reception you`re welcome to borrow. May the best team win
🍨Insider scoop. There`s a 12 scoop ice cream flight by @morellisgelato at @pearlycowmargate. Now that`s summer by the sea
🍔 For team savoury, you`ll want to put Burger Night in your diary. £15 burger and fries every Wednesday. Or £20 for steak and fries every Thursday
🍽️ And it wouldn`t be summer without a barbecue! No need to book. @pearlycowmargate will be grilling all sorts of delicious eats on our @biggreenegg on Mondays and Tuesdays
Summer in the city of York is to see York at its most vibrant, historic and wonder-filled! Whilst you’re here, we`ve picked some things for you to get up 📝
Perfect for: History lovers
Until 10th August - York Georgian Festival brings 18th-century York to life with citywide talks, tours, performances and hands-on workshops.
Perfect for: Music lovers
13th and 20th August - York Minster Organ Recitals returns with six acclaimed musicians performing spectacular music beneath the cathedral’s soaring vaults
15th August - Candlelight: Vivaldi`s Four Seasons. An enchanting and essential experience for any fan of classical music, be it your first time or your fiftieth
Perfect for: Couples and groups
19th - 22nd August - Ebor festival - This four-day festival at York Race Course stages three Group 1 races as well as the prestigious Ebor Handicap on Saturday, 22nd August that lends its name to the meeting - sporting excellence, fashion, and York’s most famous races
Perfect for: Kenny Thomas fans
28th August - See Kenny Thomas at The Grand Opera House, one of the UK’s most successful singers of his generation, having had two Top 10 albums and eight Top 40 hit singles over his thirty-year-plus career
Perfect for: Families
The Watchers of York: Sculpture Trail
Full of character, humour, and mystery, discover 12 hand painted sculptures dotted across the city.
Perfect for: Seekers of grandeur
Visit Castle Howard
A 35 minute drive from No. 1, Castle Howard is a magnificent 18th-century stately home set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking parkland, lakes, and ornamental gardens
Perfect for: Active visitors
Walk the City Walls | daily from 8am
At 3.4 km long, the beautifully preserved walls are the longest medieval town walls in England
Perfect for: Thrill Seekers
Ghost Walk around York
Join an atmospheric evening of history, mystery and haunted corners, led by storytellers who bring York’s most chilling tales to life
About Saturday... Brighton Pride 🌈
A sold-out day of sun, sparkles, singing and sea views. @MichaelMarouli brought the house down and DJ @coops.png kept the vibes up, all with the parade passing right in front of us
Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it so unforgettable 💛
Details in Brighton...
Life buoys, postcards from the past and an old fairground sign along the bedroom corridors
Disco ball and giant fan at reception
Spinning Helter Skelter and a boat in The Bar
Art, everywhere
What`s on in Margate
🌈 Margate Pride (Aug 8): A vibrant LGBTQ+ celebration with a parade, performances, art, and parties across town. Celebrate with a drink up on The Rooftop Bar and food at @pearlycowmargate
🎤 Wicked: For Good ‘Sing-a-long’: An outdoor movie experience at Margate’s Oval Bandstand & Lawns with popcorn and a communal atmosphere
🎨TEARS Final Show: @Tracey_Emin_Artist_Residency culminates at @TKEstudios, showcasing diverse contemporary works from the current cohort of resident artists
🎶 Live Music at @Dreamlandmargate: Catch Nile Rodgers & Chic (Aug 21) and Bastille (Aug 22)
🖼️ See what`s on at @Turnercontemporary
🛍️ Plenty of great independent shops to browse and bring something home
🌊 Enjoy the warmth of the golden sand and a refreshing dip in the waters
