Hidden Britain Tours

Hidden Britain Tours

Hidden Britain Tours
5
About
Jane Austen Tours. Exclusive one day guided tour of where Jane Austen spent her first twenty five years. See the places where she danced, fell in love and the quiet valley where she wrote her first three novels. Trace the people she mentions in her letters in ancient village churches, lunch in a country inn and visit the house where she spent her last eight years, the Jane Austen House Museum at Chawton. Other Hampshire tours offered. A brilliant day out of London
Basingstoke, Hampshire, England

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles407 reviews
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Annie
Newnan, GA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Friends
Phil did an amazing job bringing Jane Austen to life. My mother, sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the people who were closest to her, the houses and churches where she spent her time, and history of the region and its peoples. Phil treated us like old friends and we felt comfortable from the start. His knowledge of the area, both current and historical, educated and entertained us. Lunch at the Fir and Feathers was delicious and he even made sure we got on the right train at the end of our tour. We highly recommend this tour to all ladies who love Jane and to any single men in possession of a good fortune and in want of an accomplished wife.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We all had so much fun that day! The conversations were good as was the company, there was much laughter, always a good indicator of enjoyment. Here I can offer a new compound word, "edutainment", which is what I hope to achieve on the tour. Lunch is always an important part of the day and I will pass your kind comments on to the Fur & Feathers.
Written 20 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

purdyfam5
Franklin, TN7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
Phil’s Jane Austen tour was amazing and it’s hard to pick a favorite moment. From beginning to end we were enthralled by his stories about Jane, Regency era England, and the landscape of the area past and current. Whether you are a Janite or not, you will fall in love with her stories, her honesty as a woman born before her time, and her passion as a writer. Phil brings it all to life. You must take this tour and order the cheese soufflé for lunch!
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your kind review. I have never been one for telling dates and pointing umbrellas, it's the stories that matter and are remembered. A good day with good company and conversations.
Written 28 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kathy M
Sugar Land, TX.50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
I went on this tour with Phil in 2022 and I highly recommend it. He was extremely informed on Jane Austen and more than happy to answer all my questions. He brought me to all of the fascinating Jane Austen sites and explained about them in detail, allowing ample time in each spot. This is an absolute MUST for Jane Austen fans!
Written 7 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for the review and for coming back again for a repeat visit! Whatever the season or month the tour is never dull, every day is different.
Written 13 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Deb C
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Wish there was an extra Gold Star to give to this tour. We cannot recommend it highly enough! Not only did Phil bring Jane Austen to life for us, he gave us a day immersed in the English countryside past and present! Travelling around Hampshire with Phil was like visiting with an old friend. Within minutes we were laughing and learning, sharing stories, and exploring any question that came to mind. Cap it off with the best meal of our entire week at a local Free House and I cannot wait to join Phil again.
Written 6 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the gold star! Sadly the Fur & Feathers has now ceased trading which is a big loss as the food was wonderful. They deserved gold stars too.
Written 8 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

dacanepa
Colorado9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Book this tour! Phil was the perfect guide/host/driver on this particular Jane Austen tour out of London. "Professor" Phil is super knowledgeable and loves conversing and sharing the ideas, connections, assumptions and facts around the life of Jane Austen. The tour took us into the beautiful Hampshire countryside to enjoy quaint roadways, parks and villages. Seeing Chawton was on our TO DO LIST and it made us want start rereading a Jane Austen classic.
Written 24 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Jane Austen tour is a great antidote to days in London. It's a relaxing driven tour of the Hampshire countryside exploring so much in such a short time, quaint roadways and all. We go off the beaten track and explore villages and especially churches, little pockets of history often pre- dating 1066 and all with links to Jane Austen.
Written 20 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LittleyVagabond
Philadelphia, PA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
We had an absolute delight spending the day with Phil, and learning not only all about Jane Austen but also about the detailed structure of English villages and their complex social history. It was such a  fun day,  and Phil was both informative and led conversations with ease. For the rest of our trip in Great Britain we were able to reference a lot of what he discussed with us,  and he gave some great details for other tours we would be doing later on.

This tour would be interesting to everyone,  even those that are not huge Jane Austen fans. Driving around these small and hidden country roads would not be easy as a tourist;  not to mention,  one wouldn't even know what to look for!   However,  with a regional expert like Phil it's something anyone can experience. We highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in Jane Austen and historical aspects to English villages
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of the joys of that day was the quick wit and repartee that took place between you, which made for a day of smiles and giggles. I am so pleased to hear that I could help put the rest of your tour in context, and I hope you had a wonderful time in Scotland.
Written 31 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mariettayr
San Francisco, CA60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Family
If you are a Jane Austen fan I highly recommend this tour. Prof Phil Howe who was our personal tour guide is an expert on Jane Austen’s first 25 years of her life when she lived in Steventon, in the Hampshire countryside and the places where she frequently visited in Basingstoke for dances.
He took us to the beautiful houses where she went dancing, the burial place of her mother and sister Cassandra, the churches where her father George and eldest brother James were clergymen and many more….
We also toured the enchanting cottage, Jane Austen’s house located in the rural village of Chawton where she wrote her novels, invluding the well known Pride and Prejudice.
This is an all day tour and truly worth it..
My niece and I really had a good time on this tour.
Written 12 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
And what a great idea for a present! Mother's and daughters, Aunts and nieces, birthday presents, graduation presents, or just a day out together experience. Thank you for awarding me the honorific title of professor!
Written 20 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ismena Schmid
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
We spent a really interesting and fun day cruising around in the area where Jane Austen grew up and wrote her books.
Phil took us to places we would've never visited otherwise, showing us her birth place (where we were the only people far and wide), the manor houses where she went dancing, providing us with the backgrounds of her friends and acquaintances, as well as pieces of contemporary social history (the backgrounds of the current owners). We visited a whole bunch of beautiful little churches and villages, where she went to mass or for visits, and where you could see the traces left by her and her family members.
All in all, we got a very intimate insight into Jane Austen's life, which, accompanied by many of interesting facts and lots of humor, made the day truly memorable.
Written 30 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
That was a memorable day! You had so many interesting questions which triggered discussions about regency notions of love, the nature of marriage, child rearing practices, the English class system, just a few topics on the mobile seminar we had. And you were so young! Enjoy the play, and the gaming tokens, best wishes, Phil
Written 30 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jewelskyte
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Phil Howe is a gem - a Renaissance man with extensive knowledge of not just Jane Austen's life and works, but of her personality, her relationships, and the land on which she walked and grew up with her family and friends. His tour is personal, even simple at times, but informed by deep knowledge and appreciation, and plenty of witticism and laughs. When we arrived at Steventon, Jane's childhood home, he knew the church warden and we were afforded a truly unique opportunity - to ring the church bells in honor of Queen Elizabeth's passing the day before, during the official hour in which church bells rang across the United Kingdom. We had a wonderful tour with a person we now call a friend. If you want to get to know and understand Jane, take a tour with Phil Howe.

It was a true pleasure to meet you and we hope our paths cross again.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
That day was really very special. The massive privilege of being able to ring the double muffled bell to acknowledge the death of a British monarch is the most rare and special experience. It is the only time church bells are double muffled, (a single leather covering of the clapper is used for ordinary funerals, doubled for a monarch). This was a once in a lifetime experience and one which will never ever be forgotten. I am so pleased that I could enable you both to ring the bell, and hope you treasure the memory forever. I certainly will and I know all three of us were all very moved to honour the death of Queen Elizabeth the Second in this way. A magical experience indeed.
Written 20 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Debbie Carty
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
My husband and I were looking for a special gift for our daughter who is a "Janeite." She had never been out of the United States and the plan was to take her to the English countryside and see where Jane Austen had lived. We originally thought that we would take her to Bath. However, we were fortunate that a good friend found Hidden Britain Tours for us instead and so began our journey with Phil. From the very beginning Phil was incredibly accommodating and even prepared a lovely tour voucher for us to wrap and give to our daughter at Christmas.

Our day began by meeting Phil at the Basingstoke train station. I was worried because my daughter is in a wheelchair and my husband was ill and couldn't make it. I immediately saw Phil's smiling face. I felt relieved and knew that we were in professionals hands.

It was not only an amazing tour, but to watch Phil and my daughter share their knowledge of history, facts about Jane Austen's life, and their passion for the English countryside my made heart swell.

Phil's knowledge of Jane, the period history, the geography and even how hedges were formed was so intriguing that even for a non Janeite like myself, I soaked up the information. It was also a pleasure to take a break and have lunch at Fur and Feathers. The food was excellent and the conversation was memorable.

At the end of the tour, Phil made the thoughtful gesture of ensuring that we got on the train safely.

If you are looking for a most special day in the English countryside, book a day with Phil at Hidden Britain Tours.
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm so pleased you both had a good day. I know it will be remembered as a very special day by one young Janeite. This tour had been planned for some time and I'm glad it came to fruition given the international circumstances. I was glad to help with the trains at the end of the day, the rail staff were extremely helpful and I have a suspicion they held the train for some extra time to help you both on board, which was very kind.
Written 28 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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