What would Jane Austen do in Bath?

As you may know I love Jane Austen novels. So upon visiting Bath last weekend I undertook a list of things that an Austen heroine would do on a regular day.

•  Visit the Thermae Spa – would Jane spa?

The Thermae Spa in Bath is a natural mineral-enriched thermal spa. It's also mixed sex and, rather surprisingly, has a unisex change room! This would be utterly unacceptable in Austen’s time! 

In the modern world though, going to the spa is the ultimate retreat for pure, blissful relaxation. A two hour session at the spa costs £24 – which gives you access to all the pools and the steam rooms.

Although the temperature of the pools is comfortably warm I expected it to be hotter. It is less ‘onsen’ and more, well, ‘Bath’. The best pool is on the rooftop. Even though you shiver in your bathers once exiting the lift, you can plunge right into the steaming pool which looks over the rooftops of the city.

Once you’re done with the pools simply head to the different scented steam rooms – our favourite was peppermint. You can also dunk your toes into a cool footbath or step under the glowing jet showers.

• Have a traditional English Sunday lunch

Roaring fire, check. Roast lamb with potatoes and gravy, check. Mulled wine, check. At the Nineteenth House we indulged in traditional Sunday lunch fare enjoying pan fried bubble and squeak and grilled haddock and bubble as well. It was a bubbly, heartwarming meal in a very cozy pub that had a gorgeous Christmas tree.

•       Visit no.40 Gay Street

This the address of the Jane Austen centre. It’s terribly corny in some parts but also pays a respectful homage to Jane. The giftshop sells I Love Mr Darcy bags…I confess that I bought one…

•      Indulge in an afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a ritual not to be missed, even if you have had a big lunch. At Sally Lunn’s I had the Jane Austen cream tea – which is a Sally Lunn bun with raspberry jam and clotted cream accompanied by a refreshing house tea. As ladies we sipped our tea, delicately ate our buns and we did not, I repeat did not, finish all our clotted cream.

In Search of Jane - Pieces of Jane Austen in London

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen fan must visit Bath when living in England. Jane lived in Bath from 1801-1806 and it was the setting for her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I’m heading to Bath tomorrow and am very excited.

In the past few months since living here, I’ve come across pieces of Austen in museums around London.

In the National Portrait Gallery one of the only real paintings of Austen is on display. The pencil and watercolour by her sister Cassandra is very small and you have to peer into the glass case to get a good look.

At the British Library, you can see handwritten notes from Austen’s notebook and the place of her creative expression - her wooden writing desk in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the
British Library: Literary manuscripts and printed books permanent exhibition.

When in London Jane Austen stayed in Covent Garden with her brother at No. 10 Henrietta Street. Today this address is an outdoor clothing store.

Of course it’s terribly cold to be searching for Austen at the moment. Without leaving the warmth of your home, you can see her own account of the 'History of England' penned when she was only 15 in the online collection of the British Library. 

How would Jane Austen cope with this cold London weather?