“Miss Austen” is a four-part historical drama that premiered on BBC One and iPlayer on February 2, 2025. The show follows the life of Cassandra Austen, the older sister of famous author Jane Austen, and is based on Gill Hornby’s novel of the same name. Miss Austen is directed by Aisling Walsh. It looks at how close the sisters were to each other and why Cassandra burned many of Jane’s personal letters after she died. Through stunning historical locations, the show brings back the charm of the early 19th century. Let’s visit the places that helped make this lovely period story what it is today!
Miss Austen Plot Summary
In the 1800s, Miss Austen is about Cassandra Austen, who is the loving sister of the famous author Jane Austen. The story takes place in two different times zone:
- In 1830, Cassandra (Keeley Hawes), out of fear that the letters might reveal too much about their private lives, goes on a secret mission to get Jane’s letters and destroy them.
- By going back in time to 1795, we see the Austen sisters as young women (Patsy Ferran as Jane Austen) dealing with love, loss and the demands of society.
The show shows how close Jane and Cassandra are to each other and how hard it was for them to live in a world where women didn’t have many options. It also raises intriguing questions—why did Cassandra feel compelled to burn Jane’s letters? What secrets did they hold? With a mix of history, drama and emotion, Miss Austen brings a fresh perspective to the life of one of literature’s most beloved authors.
Where Was Miss Austen Filmed?
Miss Austen was filmed in stunning historical locations across England to recreate Jane Austen’s world. Key filming sites include Adwell House (Oxfordshire), Shottesbrooke House (Berkshire), Chawton (Hampshire), Rye and Camber Sands (East Sussex), and Langleybury Mansion (Hertfordshire). These locations were carefully chosen to reflect the real places Jane and Cassandra Austen lived and visited.
Series star Synnøve Karlsen said:
“We shot in West London near Kew Gardens, and all around London in different old stately homes. Beautiful, big homes that are almost untouched and served as real places like Kintbury and Godmersham Park.”
Looking at the main filming locations:
Adwell House, Oxfordshire
According to history, Adwell House was Kintbury Vicarage, and the Fowle family lived there. In the story, Cassandra Austen comes to this house to get Jane’s letters and destroy them.
This huge manor house is a Grade II protected building and the home of the Birch Reynardson family. Adwell House was the right place to capture the elegance of the early 1800s because it has a lot of history and beautiful architecture.
One of the team members said, “This place felt like going back in time.” “The house’s charm and history made it the ideal choice for Cassandra’s journey.”
Other Films Shot Here: Adwell House’s classic beauty has made it a popular location for a number of period plays.
Shottesbrooke House, Berkshire
Someone used Shottesbrooke House to make Steventon Vicarage look like the place where Jane Austen was born and where she grew up. Since the original house is no longer standing, this old Tudor home was a good replacement.
Shottesbrooke House is in a beautiful parkland setting. It has a long and interesting past, having been owned by famous families and even being used as a Jacobite meeting place.
“It was important to us to find a place that was warm and meaningful for Jane’s early years,” said Aisling Walsh, the film’s director.
Some other movies and TV shows have also filmed here, including British period plays and historical documentaries.
Chawton, Hampshire
Jane Austen spent her final years at Chawton Cottage, which is now the Jane Austen House Museum, making it one of the most important locations in her life. The production filmed key scenes here to give the later years of Jane a more realistic setting.
This cute town is in the South Downs National Park and has a special link to Jane Austen’s work. Fans of the author can go to the museum to see where some of her most famous books, like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, were written.
Rye and Camber Sands, East Sussex
These lovely coastal spots were used to show Sidmouth, Devon, which Jane and Cassandra once visted. The scenes were supposed to take place in the summer, but they were filmed in the winter, which shows how hard the cast and team worked.
Camber Sands is a popular filming site due to its golden beaches and gentle sand dunes. The nearby town of Rye, with its medieval charm and cobblestone streets, made the scene even more real.
Movies that have also filmed here: Dunkirk (2017), The Monuments Men (2014), and The Theory of Everything (2014) all used Camber Sands for shots.
Langleybury Mansion, Hertfordshire
Some scenes took place at Langleybury Mansion that took place in Winchester, Southampton, and the Basingstoke Assembly Rooms, which were all important places in Jane Austen’s life.
Established in the early 1700s, this historic country house has been a private home, a school, and now a famous filming location.
Other Productions Filmed Here: The Crown, Call the Midwife and Pennyworth have all used Langleybury Mansion.
When Did the Filming of Miss Austen Take Place?
It took a few months to finish filming Miss Austen, which began in November 2023. In order to ensure historical accuracy, the team carefully chose locations that were very similar to the actual locations where Jane and Cassandra Austen lived.
Is It Worth Watching Miss Austen?
Of course! Miss Austen is a must-see for anyone who loves historical plays, emotional stories, and books from that time. From Cassandra’s point of view, it gives a new look at Jane Austen’s life and combines history with an interesting story. It’s interesting to watch for both Austen fans and people who have never read her books because of the beautiful cinematography and good acting.
Miss Austen Cast Details
- Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen
- Patsy Ferran as Jane Austen
- Jessica Hynes as Mrs. Austen
- Joe Bannister as Rev. Fowle
- Olivia Williams as Eliza de Feuillide
- Tom Bateman as Tom Lefroy
- Lydia Leonard as Martha Lloyd
Miss Austen Official Trailer
Check out the official trailer for Miss Austen below:
Don’t miss Miss Austen if you like the world of Jane Austen.
Also Read: Where was Netflix’s The Åre Murders Filmed?
