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
-
Accessible loos
-
Accessible parking
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Easily accessible without car
-
Free parking
-
Parkland / open spaces
-
Pet friendly
-
Picnic area
-
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.
Opening Times and Events at Chawton House
Chawton House offers a variety of attractions and events throughout the year. Below is a detailed summary of the opening times, events, and other visitor information:
General Opening Times for 2025
- 6 January - 31 January: Open Friday to Sunday, 10am-3.30pm.
- 1 February - 30 March: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm.
- 31 March - 13 April: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4.30pm.
- 14 April - 20 April: Open every day, 10am-4.30pm.
- 21 April - 25 May: Open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am-4.30pm.
- 26 May - 21 September: Open every day, 10am-4.30pm.
- 22 September - 2 November: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4.30pm.
- 3 November - 30 November: Open Friday to Sunday, 10am-3.30pm.
- 1 December - 21 December: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm.
- 22 December - 4 January 2026: Open every day, 11am-6pm (except 24, 25, 26 December, and early closure at 3.30pm on 31 December).
Special Events
- Exhibition: Sisters of the Pen: Jane Austen, Influence, Legacy: Thursday 1 May 2025 to Sunday 1 March 2026.
- A Regency Christmas at Chawton House: Friday 21 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
- The Glimmering Gardens: Wednesday 3 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
- New Year's Day Brunch: Thursday 1 January 2026.
Admission Prices
- House & Gardens (Day Ticket): Adult £12.50, Child (6-16) £6.00, Under 6 Free, Family £18.00/£30.00, Concessions £10.00, Art Fund Members £6.25, Disabled £5.00 (carer free).
- Gardens Only (Day Ticket): Adult £8.00, Child (6-16) £6.00, Under 6 Free.
- House & Gardens (Annual Ticket): Adult £25.00, Child (6-16) £12.00, Under 6 Free, Family £36.00/£60.00, Concessions £20.00, Disabled £10.00 (carer free).
Additional Information
- Group tours are available Monday to Friday by appointment.
- The Tea Shed is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm.
- Hawk Walks are available year-round with pre-booking.
For more details, please contact Chawton House directly.
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.
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
