Skift Take
Downton Abbey may be this year's hot ticket, but Jane Austen fans have 200 years of fandom to lean on as they descend on sites from "Pride and Prejudice."
Monday marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Pride and Prejudice,” the Jane Austen novel that introduced feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, seemingly aloof Mr. Darcy and a world of manor homes and grand estates that turned England into a dream destination for readers around the globe.
Balls, dances and other special events are taking place this year to celebrate the bicentennial as Austen continues to lure travelers.
“She’s hugely important,” said Meredith Pearson, a spokeswoman for VisitBritain. The country’s national tourism agency maintains a guide for fans eager to experience the “Pride and Prejudice” lifestyle.
Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch
Photo credit: A couple looking up at the historic Bath Abbey, the last great gothic church in England, from the Roman Baths in Somerset. Courtesy VisitBritain.