“If one could but go to Brighton!”
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday with A Very Austen Christmas at the Royal Pavilion
He loved her, she loathed him. It is a true-life tale that could have come straight from her fiction. But this Christmas, King George IV and Jane Austen will inhabit the same space once more as Brighton’s Royal Pavilion marks the 250th anniversary of the great writer’s birth with A Very Austen Christmas.
Visitors will be transported to a Regency-inspired festive world, encountering favourite characters such as Mr Darcy, the Bennet sisters, Emma Woodhouse, Marianne Dashwood, Mr Knightley, and even Lady Bertram’s pug.
The royal palace will come alive with dancing ballroom silhouettes, themed Christmas trees, delightful afternoon teas, sumptuous banquets, lively talks, historical tours, extraordinary characters and romantic encounters, all inspired by Austen’s work.
The 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth will be commemorated on 16 December 2025 with a special talk by Royal Pavilion Curator, Alexandra Loske, honouring one of the most influential and beloved authors of the Regency age. The Prince Regent (later King George IV) was an admirer and was said to keep one of her novels in every one of his residences. She famously dedicated the first edition of Emma to him, though history suggests her feelings about the king were rather less enthusiastic.
Brighton has its own connection to Jane Austen. Although there are no definitive records of her visiting the town, Brighton plays a notable role in Pride and Prejudice and her unfinished novel Sanditon. Her brother, Henry Thomas Austen, spent time here with the Royal Oxfordshire Militia, an association that suggests Jane may have visited and perhaps drawn inspiration from the lively seaside setting for her work.
At the Royal Pavilion this Christmas, Jane herself faces a big decision: should she marry for love, for money, or not at all? Visitors will begin their experience with a token that helps guide her fate, uncover diary extracts in each room, and encounter themed trees, festive gossip, and familiar characters along their journey through Britain’s only Regency palace. Father Christmas will also be in residence, and new for 2025 are Father Christmas Storytelling sessions and a Regency Play Parlour dedicated to family fun.
Daniel Cox, Head Guide at Brighton & Hove Museums said:
“He adored her books, and she barely tolerated him, but now they are together once more under the same roof in the Royal Pavilion. It is the reunion Brighton did not know it needed, bringing King George IV and Jane Austen back into conversation in the very setting he loved.
“A Very Austen Christmas celebrates 250 years of her wit, wisdom, and romance, inviting visitors to step into her world, meet her characters, and enjoy a festive season that would have made even the Prince Regent smile.”
Event Details
A Very Austen Christmas
22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Free with Pavilion entry; members free
Regency-inspired Christmas decorations, family trail, carols, costumes, Jane Austen-themed activities and more! Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and step into the elegance, wit, and charm of the Regency era, where her timeless stories come to life.
Christmas Events: Austen- themed
Jane Austen at Christmas – In Conversation
Friday 28 November
ROYAL PAVILION, MUSIC ROOM
7pm, £25 (Members £20)
Jane Austen at Christmas in conversation between Zack Pinsent & Dr Hillary Burlock.
Austen Christmas Cream Tea
Wednesday 10 December
ROYAL PAVILON, King William IV Room
2pm and 4pm sittings
£30, (Members £25) including Royal Pavilion admission
This Christmas, explore the Royal Pavilion and its Jane Austen inspired decorations, followed by a luxury Cream Tea with a touch of Regency elegance and a spoonful of Austen gossip.
Jane Austen & Brighton – with Alexandra Loske
Tuesday 16 December
ROYAL PAVILION, WILLIAM IV ROOM
6pm – 7pm, £25, (Members £20)
Join Dr Alexandra Loske in the beautiful King William IV Room on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen to hear about the connection between one of our greatest writers, and one of our greatest towns.
Regency Delights: A Very Austen Christmas Tours
Sundays 7, 14, and 21 December
ROYAL PAVILON
2pm
£25 (includes a single-day pass to the Royal Pavilion), £10 for members and annual pass holders
Mr. Henry Adams of Regency Delights will escort you through the festive splendours enjoyed in the age of Miss Jane Austen.
Christmas Events: General
Christmas Carol Concert
Wednesday 17 December
Royal Pavilion
£37.50, Members £32.50 (includes interval drink) | Ages 14+
Experience the joy of Christmas carols in the opulent surroundings of the Royal Pavilion’s Music Room.
Christmas Banquets
Friday 12, Saturday 13, Friday 19 & Saturday 20 December
Royal Pavilion
£190, Members £170
Over 18s only
Celebrate Christmas in truly regal style.
Father Christmas at the Royal Pavilion
Selected dates from 29 November – 24 December
Adelaide Suite
£19 per child, £6 per adult Members £15 per child
Step inside the Royal Pavilion’s magical grotto for a private five-minute audience with Father Christmas.
Storytime with Father Christmas
Selected dates 6 – 24 December
Red Drawing Room
£10 per child, £8 per adult Members £8 per child, £6 per adult | Recommended ages 2–10
Gather round as Father Christmas shares a funny and enchanting story written especially for this event.
