Chawton House
Historic house with Jane Austen connections, now home to the research library of The Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing.
Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SJ
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Free parking
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
- Accessible parking
- Accessible toilets
- Guide dogs welcome
Built by the Knight family in the 1580, the house has undergone centuries of change and development as it has passed through different hands.
This makes it rich with quirky and fascinating features: from graffiti on paintings and ‘witch marks’ on walls, to heraldic stained glass windows and ornately carved fireplaces.
The house’s most famous association is with Jane Austen, whose brother Edward, inherited the estate in the 1780s.
Edward offered the bailiff’s residence, five minutes’ walk away, to his mother and sisters and it was there, now the Jane Austen’s House Museum, where Jane enjoyed the most prolific period of her writing life.
As well as numerous portraits and items associated with the Knight family, the house also features portraits of women writers, many of them famous in their day.
Visitors can also enjoy a continuously changing display of works from the library’s unique collection of women’s writing.
Please note – Chawtwon House is a separately run organisation to nearby Jane Austen’s House. Entry to Jane Austen’s House is not included with admission to Chawton House.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Chawton House offers a variety of attractions and events throughout the year, with specific opening times and conditions for each. Below is a detailed summary of the offerings:
General Opening Times
Chawton House is open during the following periods in 2026:
- 5 January to 1 February: Friday to Sunday, 10am-3:30pm
- 2 February to 29 March: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4:30pm
- 30 March to 12 April: Every day, 10am-4:30pm
- 13 April to 24 May: Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am-4:30pm
- 25 May to 20 September: Every day, 10am-4:30pm
- 21 September to 1 November: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4:30pm
- 2 November to 29 November: Friday to Sunday, 10am-3:30pm
- 30 November to 20 December: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm
- 21 December to 3 January: Every day, 11am-6pm (except 24, 25, and 26 December)
Admission Prices
Admission includes access to the House, Gardens, and exhibitions. Prices are as follows:
- House & Gardens Day Ticket: Adult £12.50, Concessions £10.00, Child (6-16) £6.00, Under 6 Free, Family £18.00/£30.00
- Gardens Only Day Ticket: Adult £8.00, Child (6-16) £6.00, Under 6 Free
- Annual Tickets are also available, with prices starting at £25.00 for adults.
Events and Attractions
- Exhibition: Sisters of the Pen - 1 May 2025 to 1 March 2026
- Library Display: Pride & Prejudice through the Ages - 16 January to 30 January 2026
- Guided Tours: Jane Austen at the Great House and Afternoon Tea - 28 January, 3 February, and 24 February 2026
- Snowdrop Sundays - 1 February, 8 February, and 15 February 2026
- Collage Workshop - 7 February 2026 (Sold Out)
- Snowdrop Watercolour Workshop - 15 February 2026
- February Half Term Kids Arts and Crafts Day - 18 February 2026
- Curry Night - 21 February 2026
- Online Event: International Women’s Day – Women of Words - 4 March 2026
- Mother's Day at Chawton House - 15 March 2026
- Theatre: Jane Eyre - 12 April 2026
Additional Facilities
The Old Kitchen Tearoom is open from 10am to 3:30pm, with last orders for hot food at 2:30pm. Afternoon Tea is available by pre-booking, starting at £25 per person. The Tea Shed is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm, offering refreshments for all visitors.
Chawton House also features parkland walks, group tours, and educational programs. Visitors can explore the historic gardens, enjoy refreshments, and participate in various workshops and events.
Historic Houses Members
Historic Houses members are welcome to visit for free as part of their membership. Book online in advance and select ‘Historic Houses’ as your ticket-type. IMPORTANT: you will need to email [email protected] with your membership number(s) ahead of your visit.
House & Gardens Day Ticket:
Adult £12.50
Student / Under 26 £10 ,
6-16 £6,
Under 6 Free,
Family (2 adults + 3 kids) £30
Family (1 adult + 3 kids) £18
Gardens only Day Ticket:
Adult £8
6-16 £6
Under 6 Free
Please note – Chawtwon House is a separately run organisation to nearby Jane Austen’s House. Entry to Jane Austen’s House is not included with admission to Chawton House.
Chawton House offers a number of options for group visits, including guided and self-guided tours of the House, Gardens and latest exhibitions.
Please contact Lucy Abraham, Events Producer on [email protected] for further information.
Chawton House is uniquely placed to offer educational visits to schools, colleges and universities because it provides a stimulating and accessible environment in which to engage with a variety of themes within a working, historic building.
We offer a formal programme of sessions and can also offer a bespoke service which gives teachers greater flexibility and opportunities to study specific areas in more detail.
To provide school visits on the theme of Jane Austen, we work in partnership with the Jane Austen House Museum which is also in Chawton. In 2007, 2012 and 2017, both sites were awarded the five-year Sandford Award for Heritage Education in recognition of our work.
These visits give pupils an unparalleled opportunity to visit, on the same day, two contrasting historic sites which relate to Austen and her family. The Chawton House estate can be used in a variety of ways to enhance curriculum-based work.
Contact
For school, college and university visits to Chawton House please contact Kim Simpson, Deputy Director, on [email protected]
- Accessible parking
- Accessible toilets
- Guide dogs welcome
Getting here
Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SJ
Chawton House is located in Hampshire on the outskirts of the small village of Chawton, a 5 minute drive from Alton and about halfway between Guildford and Winchester on the A31.
By train: From London Waterloo, there are hourly trains to Alton.
By bus: The number 64 Stagecoach service runs daily between Alton train station and Winchester, stopping at the A31/32 junction roundabout near Chawton. The number 38 service from Petersfield to Alton offers a less frequent alternative option, stopping in Chawton.
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