Enchanted Villages Tour of Southern England

Located a quarter of an hour from Petersfield and nestled in a valley surrounded by green hills, East Meon is the first stop on our tour and one of the most picturesque villages in the South Downs National Park.

It is crossed by the River Meon and is full of charming thatched cottages, medieval houses and buildings that belonged to the various lords who over the centuries have claimed dominion over this area of Hampshire. Its ancient stone church is built on a hill and offers a wonderful view over the whole village.

Definitely a great way to start our tour before heading towards Upper Farringdon along the scenic road that passes through the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park and passes through many other enchanted villages.

Less known than the other two villages but no less charming, Upper Farringdon is a hidden gem and is one of my favourite villages because it has some of the most beautiful cottages in the whole area.

Again, I will take you to discover this enchanting reality, providing you with many anecdotes about local life and guiding you to discover its most picturesque views, which are perfect for a killer photo to post on your social channels!

At the end of the visit, we will stop for lunch at The Rose & Crown, the village pub. The Rose & Crown the typical English country pub with oak beams in the ceiling, wood panelling on the walls and a romantic red brick fireplace.

Chawton is the village where I live and, thanks to its links with Jane Austen, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the south of England. It is a typical postcard English village with fairytale cottages, a beautiful public park and a stone church nestled in the beautiful Hampshire countryside.

But Chawton is above all the place where Jane Austen lived happily the last eight years of her life and wrote most of her novels. Jane Austen’s House and Chawton House are ideal places to immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary writer.

In this stage I will take you to discover Chawton, tell you about its history, its beautiful cottages and its links with its most famous resident.

At the end of the guided tour of the village you will have a free hour to take pictures, visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House.

The tour will end with a traditional Cream Tea at Cassandra's Cup, the romantic village tea room.

Jane Austen's House is the house where Jane Austen lived the last eight years of her life with her mother, sister Cassandra and friend Martha Lloyd before her disappearance on July 18, 1817.

Jane Austen's House is a cultural container dedicated to this extraordinary writer and is universally considered the best place in the world to immerse yourself in her life.

The tour schedule includes a free hour at the end of Chawton's guided tour to visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House, the residence inherited from Jane's brother Edward in the late 18th century which is at the opposite end of the village.

If you are interested in visiting Jane Austen's House, I recommend booking in advance on the house's website because admission is limited and, due to the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, in 2025 many visitors are expected from all over the world.

Admission to Jane Austen's House is not included in the tour price.

Chawton House is the residence inherited from Jane Austen's brother Edward, along with the village of Chawton and many other properties in Hampshire and Kent.

Jane Austen often speaks of Chawton House in her letters and calls it "The Great House".

The house is run by a foundation and is very beautiful. It has a beautiful 111 hectare park that is open to the public all year round where you can walk surrounded by sheep along the meandering stream that runs through the estate in an absolutely idyllic setting.

Chawton House is a splendid example of a typical English country house with beautiful interiors and many connections to Jane Austen. I invite you to visit it during the break between the end of Chawton's tour and Cream Tea because it is really worth it.

Admission to Chawton House is not included in the tour price. Tickets can be purchased directly on site.

The day in the magical world of the English countryside ends with a traditional Cream Tea at Cassandra's Cup, the romantic Chawton village tea room overlooking Jane Austen's house.

Cassandra's Cup is the typical country tea room with flowered curtains, typical English-style teacups displayed everywhere and colorful walls in the delicate pastel tint typical of cottages. I mean, it's a place you expect to see Miss Marple come in any minute.

While enjoying a butter scone covered with a thick layer of clotted cream and strawberry jam accompanied by a cup of Earl Grey or English Breakfast, we can relive together the best moments of this immersive experience in the English countryside lifestyle and maybe post on our social media the photos taken during the stops of the tour.

Cream Tea from Cassandra's Cup is included in the tour price and is served in typical English-style flower cups.