Jane Austen's former house in Bath makes an ideal staycation

Airbnb

This period home looks rather different from how it would have done in Jane Austen's time, with its rustic decoration and modern fittings, but the creative flair is very much still there. Situated in Sydney Place in Bath, between 1801 and 1805 it belonged to the author of Pride & Prejudice and Emma. In fact, the two-bedroom Georgian flat is where she would have written The Watsons, a novel she abandoned. Now, the property is available to rent via Airbnb, the perfect pilgrimage for lovers of Austen's œuvre and any budding writers who need a little creative push. Bath loomed large in Austen's imagination, and she used the city as a major setting in her last two books, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

While we don't know what the decoration looked like in Austen's time, today it is a mix of distressed wood, gallery walls and shots of blue. The main bedroom – which was Jane Austen's kitchen – has Georgian panelling and floors with an ornate wooden bed. The kitchen is a lovely bright blue on one side with a wall of windows on the other, creating a airy, open feel. The open plan living room and dining room boasts original fireplaces, a blue velvet sofa, desk with a computer (for all your writing) and a William IV Indian rosewood dining table surrounded by utterly lovely early 19th century Indian caned chairs.

The antiques in the house make it as visit-worthy as the history of its most famous occupant, as it is a treasure trove of well-sourced pieces from across the globe. Bookings start at £152 a night via Airbnb.