With Sense and Sensibility returning to cinemas this month and ‘set-jetting’ on the rise, Britain's grand Georgian houses are ready for their close-up. From a London townhouse once owned by Jane Austen's brother to sweeping country estates in Bath, Somerset and Devon, these are the historic stays that bring Austen's world vividly to life.

The return of Jane Austen’s timeless classic to the big screen this month will inevitably trigger an all-too-familiar national pastime: pretending we'd rather be living in Regency England.

Of course, we'd quickly tire of the poor dentistry, alarming inheritance laws and complete absence of central heating. The gender politics probably wouldn’t get far, and corsetry fell from fashion for good reason. However, the country houses, towering libraries and the endless opportunity to disappear across a misty estate after receiving disappointing romantic news… Well, those can stay.

The good news is that you don't need a time machine to immerse yourself in Austen's world. Across Britain, there are houses, estates and Georgian residences that still feel remarkably close to the settings that inspired her novels. In one case, there's even a direct family connection that’s perfect for wistfully gazing from windows, hoping a sodden Colin Firth-lookalike might stagger into view.

Whether you're a devoted Janeite or simply looking for an excuse to spend a weekend somewhere with an enormous staircase and a slightly ridiculous drawing room, Oliver’s Travels gets you to the addresses currently catching our eye in the run-up to the movie’s release date.

Austen House, London

Let's start with the obvious showstopper. While most luxury rentals claim some sort of historical significance of the kind Sense and Sensibility fans positively swoon over, Austen House genuinely has it. The Marylebone townhouse was once owned by Henry Austen, Jane's brother, which instantly elevates it above the usual "inspired by Regency elegance" marketing line.

*An urbane Regency fantasy to call your own, Austen House*

The interesting thing is that it doesn't feel especially ‘rural Austen’. This is definitively London Austen; the version filled with society gossip, fashionable introductions and people who definitely cared who was seated next to whom at dinner, and whose hemlines were on the verge of the scandalous.

Seven individually styled bedrooms, lavish entertaining spaces and a room dedicated to Jane herself make this less of a holiday rental and more of an opportunity to temporarily inhabit a fascinating footnote in literary history. We couldn’t love it more.

Sleeps 14 | From £6,396 per night

Georgian Gate House, Norfolk

If Austen House represents the glamorous end of the spectrum, Georgian Gate House feels much closer to the world most Austen heroines actually inhabit. Standing at the entrance to the beautiful Wolterton Park, the property has something of Sense and Sensibility's Barton Cottage about it. Georgian Gate House isn’t Pemberley and isn’t trying to be – yet it’s more than charming enough to satisfy even the pickiest of travellers.

*Endless charm in the Norfolk countryside, Georgian Gate House*

Step inside, and you’ll discover an open fire, beautifully proportioned Georgian rooms and immediate access to one of Norfolk's most impressive historic estates. The scale is precisely what makes it attractive, and not every Austen fantasy requires twenty bedrooms and a ballroom. After all, a handsome cottage, a glass of wine and a good walking route are more than enough to romanticise your life for a weekend or longer.

Sleeps 5 | From £281 per night

Featherstone Manor, Bath

The trouble with writing about Bath, especially if you’re fond of Georgian literature, is knowing where to stop. Ultimately, no city is more closely associated with Austen – she lived here, wrote extensively about it and occasionally complained about it, which somehow makes the connection even more appealing. Bath wasn't simply a backdrop in her novels, it was somewhere she knew intimately, and it’s a city that’s done a remarkable job of keeping her spirit alive.

*A jewel in Bath’s glittering crown, Featherstone Manor*

Featherstone Manor leans heavily into the Georgian splendour that defines the city. Original staircases, four-poster beds and elegant reception rooms create exactly the sort of backdrop you'd hope to find before spending the afternoon wandering around the Royal Crescent. The real luxury, however, is the location. You can spend the morning exploring one of Britain's greatest literary cities and the evening pretending you've unexpectedly inherited a rather handsome estate.

What’s more, should you feel the need to shake off the past for the evening and dance the night away to drum ‘n’ bass, Bristol’s only a ten-minute train ride away. We won’t judge, we promise.

Sleeps 22 | From £1,588 per night

Colleton Hall, Devon

Marianne Dashwood would absolutely choose this one. Why? Because Devon's expansive and evocative countryside feels woven into the DNA of Sense and Sensibility, and Colleton Hall delivers the sort of romantic landscape where important conversations and life-altering encounters seem destined to happen.

*Discover the grandeur of Colleton Hall*

Visitors to Colleton Hall uncover 38 acres of pristine woodland and parkland, a magnificent staircase and enough Georgian character to satisfy even the most dedicated period-drama enthusiast. Add a baby grand piano and it starts feeling suspiciously like somewhere Marianne herself might have disappeared to after an emotional setback, although hopefully without getting caught in a rainstorm.

Sleeps 12 | From £778 per night

Purnell Manor, Cotswolds

You know those houses in Austen adaptations where someone arrives in a carriage and you instantly understand they're rather wealthy and more than a suitable match? Well, Purnell Manor is that house.

*A most suitable match indeed, Purnell Manor*

Purnell Manor doesn't do understatement, and nor should it. It’s a place where silk-draped windows, grand fireplaces, a substantial library and immaculate gardens combine to create a property that would feel entirely at home in Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility – every detail embodies the social hierarchy Jane Austen spent six novels politely skewering. Atmospheric, tranquil and breathtakingly beautiful, the only thing missing is a disapproving dowager aunt, which you’re more than welcome to arrange in your own time.

Sleeps 18-26 | From £1,836 per night

Dartmoor Tea House, Devon

The latest Sense and Sensibility adaptation has shone a welcome spotlight back onto Dartmoor, and it's easy to see why filmmakers keep returning to this corner of England. It’s a spectacular corner of our sceptred isle – a landscape that possesses that rare ability to feel beautiful, rugged and slightly ominous at exactly the same time.

*Historic beauty on the edge of Dartmoor’s wild and windy expanse, Dartmoor Tea House*

Dartmoor Tea House sits right on the edge of it all, and welcomes guests seeking to get in touch with England’s gilded age. Formal gardens, elegant interiors and an indoor pool provide civilised comfort, while the moorland beyond offers something altogether wilder. It’s the perfect setting for those who treasure their copy of Northanger Abbey, and who seek to disconnect from the modern world in truly spectacular style.

Sleeps 12 | From £690 per night

Tregaron Manor, Wales

The best country houses – in our opinion, at least – always have a slight sense of isolation. We’re not talking about being completely cut off from civilisation, or anything that feels remotely inconvenient, but rather enough to make you wonder if we didn’t lose something wonderful somewhere around 1805.

*Elegance in every detail, Tregaron Manor*

Tregaron Manor achieves the balance between contemporary comfort and timeless elegance beautifully. Surrounded by woodland and looking out towards the Cambrian Mountains, the eighteenth-century estate feels delightfully removed from modern life. This is the sort of place that encourages slow mornings, long walks and ambitious plans to finally read all six Austen novels in the space of a long weekend. There are far, far worse ways to lose a few days.

Sleeps 14 | From £686 per night

Audrey House, Bath

Not every literary escape needs to involve hiring an entire stately home, or rocking up to some sprawling country pile in a carriage pulled by four stallions. Audrey House offers something different, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in Austen’s landscape: a Georgian townhouse right in the heart of Bath, where plenty of the atmosphere comes from the beautifully-preserved historic city itself.

*Soak up Bath’s history and beauty in style, Audrey House*

Step outside and you're immediately surrounded by crescents, terraces and streets that look as though they've barely changed since Austen's day. The house simply gives you a front-row seat, and offers comfort and tranquility amid stunning period furnishings. For travellers who want to spend more time exploring cultural gems than hiding behind estate gates, it may actually be the ideal choice.

Sleeps 14 | From £349 per night

Earnshill House, Somerset

Of all the properties on this list, Earnshill House may be the one that feels most like stepping into an Austen adaptation. The Grade I-listed Georgian manor sits within a 700-acre estate and arrives with all the ingredients of a romance that echoes through the ages: an oak-panelled library, historic portraits, formal gardens and drawing rooms seemingly designed for witty conversation and subtle flirtations with a visiting viscount.

*Smelling salts at the ready! The swoon-worthy Earnshill House*

Everything about the approach to Earnshill House builds anticipation. There’s a sweeping driveway, seemingly endless landscaped grounds, and a sense that someone terribly important probably ought to be arriving shortly in a horse-drawn carriage. Frankly, if you're searching for the ultimate Jane Austen-inspired holiday in Britain, this may well be it.

Sleeps 16-20 | From £975 per night

Planning a Jane Austen-Inspired Holiday in Britain?

The enduring appeal of Jane Austen has never really been about empire-waist dresses or elaborate marriage plots, but rather about escapism of a particularly British variety.

Her novels invite us into a world where landscapes matter, houses have personalities and entire chapters can hinge on a walk across the countryside. Two centuries on, we're still drawn to that idea, perhaps because modern life rarely allows us to slow down long enough to appreciate it. These historic stays, each of which has been beautifully preserved to reflect the glories of the past while providing ample comfort for 21st century needs, offer a glimpse of that world. Some are grand enough for a Lady Catherine de Bourgh-sized ego, others feel better suited to the practical good sense of Elinor Dashwood. All, however, capture something of the atmosphere that has kept Austen's work alive for generations.

We’ll be honest: you're unlikely to return from Bath having secured the kind of proposal to make all five of your sisters mad with envy. However, you may come back with something almost as valuable: a renewed appreciation for Britain's extraordinary collection of historic homes, and a strong urge to reread Sense and Sensibility before the credits roll.

Love historic country house escapes? Check out our reviews of Hartwell House, Bodysgallen Hall, Chillingham Castle and The Falstaff Hotel.

The Jane Austen-Inspired Stays Bringing Regency Britain to Life