I am sure Jane Austen fans can’t get enough of Jane Austen and – bearing in mind her local connections – they may be interested to hear that the Bath Business Improvement District (BID) has unveiled a new Jane Austen Character Trail to celebrate the novelist’s 250th birthday.
The Jane Austen Character Trail is a collaboration between Bath BID and the Jane Austen Festival and will run from 31st May to 22nd September 2025.
Austen and Bridgerton fans can take a turn around Bath and discover 26 Jane Austen illustrated characters hidden in shop windows across the World Heritage city, including several iconic Bridgerton locations.
The trail is free, and participants will be in with the chance of winning a personalised limited edition Jane Austen pendant kindly donated by Wylde Jewellers, among other fantastic prizes.
Georgia Delve, Festival Director at the Jane Austen Festival, said of the event: “The Jane Austen Festival is thrilled to be working with the Bath BID for this special year of celebrations. The opportunity to create a free Austen activity for people to enjoy is wonderful, and we hope everyone delights in discovering Austen’s characters by following in her footsteps through Bath.”
Nicholas Wylde, Founder of Wylde Jewellers, added: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Jane Austen Character Trail, and to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Jane Austen Festival and the Bath BID to promote the city of Bath and celebrate the works of Jane Austen.”
The competition is open to locals and visitors alike, who can pick up a booklet from the Bath BID Office or from participating businesses and follow the trail to find and name the characters and the novel that they come from.
Participants will need to submit their completed booklet to the Jane Austen Centre or enter online to be in with a chance of winning a personalised limited edition Jane Austen pendant from Wylde Jewellers, two tickets to the Jane Austen Centre or a lunch for two at The Ivy Bath Brasserie and Garden. Winners will be announced in October.
More details about the Jane Austen Character Trail can be found here.
Competition details:
· Collect a booklet from the Bath BID office on York Street or any participating business.
· Follow the trail by matching the illustrations from the booklet to their counterparts inside participating shops.
· Submit your entry to the competition by taking the completed pages to the Jane Austen Centre (40 Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2NT) or by completing the online form.
Win one of the following:
· A personalised limited edition Jane Austen pendant from Wylde Jewellers
· Two tickets to the Jane Austen Centre
· A lunch for two at The Ivy Bath Brasserie and Garden
Deadline:
Complete your competition booklet by 22nd September. Winners will be announced during October.
