If you are planning a visit for the Jane Austen 250 celebrations, PREMIER SUITES Reading offers the ideal serviced apartments for your accommodation needs. Our central location gives you easy access to Reading Museum, the Abbey Quarter, and many other Austen-linked sites across Berkshire.
Celebrating Jane Austen 250 at Reading Museum
In 2025, Reading Museum will mark 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen with a packed programme of events. Austen fans will find plenty to explore, as Reading holds a special place in Jane’s story.
Reading Museum looks after the Abbey Gateway, an important historic site where Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra went to school in 1785 and 1786. It offers a rare chance to walk in Jane’s footsteps and see the same walls that shaped her education.
Abbey Quarter Tours
From April to October 2025, Reading Museum will host Abbey Quarter tours most Saturdays. These tours include a visit inside the Abbey Gateway and a guided walk around the wider Abbey Quarter. You will learn about the Gateway’s history, Jane Austen’s connection to the site, and Reading’s rich medieval past.
Rooftop Tours
In addition to the regular tours, Reading Museum will run four special Rooftop Tours. These allow you to climb the Abbey Gateway and enjoy a unique view over Reading. Guides will share more about the building’s long history and its links to Jane Austen’s schooldays.
For full event details, you can visit Reading Museum’s website closer to your trip.
The Mill at Sonning: Death Comes to Pemberley
Another highlight of the Jane Austen 250 celebrations is a production of Death Comes to Pemberley at The Mill at Sonning. Running from 1 May to 28 June 2025, this play is based on P D James’ sequel to Pride and Prejudice. The Mill at Sonning is just a short drive from Reading and makes a perfect evening out during your stay.
Jane Austen Connections Across Berkshire
Reading is only the start. Berkshire is rich with locations connected to Jane Austen and her family:
- Shottesbrooke House: This moated fifteenth-century house helped inspire the setting of Steventon, the Austens’ home near Basingstoke. It was there that Jane began working on early versions of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.
- Adwell House: Used to recreate Kintbury Vicarage in adaptations, Adwell House ties closely to the Fowles family, who were good friends of the Austens. Cassandra Austen often visited to support her friend Isabella Fowle.
- Basildon Park: This grand Georgian mansion in West Berkshire has featured in many period dramas, including the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley.
- Miss Austen Filming Locations: Several Berkshire estates and countryside spots appear in recent adaptations of Gill Hornby’s novel Miss Austen, bringing new Jane Austen stories to life on screen.
Why Stay at PREMIER SUITES Reading?
If you are visiting for the Jane Austen 250 events, PREMIER SUITES Reading offers a comfortable and convenient place to stay. Our serviced apartments give you more space than a traditional hotel room, with fully equipped kitchens, living areas, and separate bedrooms.
You will be staying right in the heart of Reading, within walking distance of Reading Museum, the Abbey Gateway, shops, restaurants, and Reading train station. Getting to other Austen locations across Berkshire is easy too by car or train.
Our serviced apartments are perfect whether you are visiting for a weekend, a week, or longer. You can relax and enjoy the celebrations at your own pace with all the comforts of home.
Book Your Accommodation Today
Celebrate Jane Austen 250 in style by staying at PREMIER SUITES Reading. Our serviced apartments offer everything you need for a memorable and comfortable stay during this historic year.
For availability and rates, visit our website or contact our team directly. We look forward to welcoming you to Reading in 2025.
