JANE EYRE'S ENGLAND
May 26 - June 2, 2027
Chicks Only
“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me to do so. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss.”
On the 180th birthday of the publication of this bewitching and beloved classic (and Kerri’s all-time favorite novel!) we’ll roam the moody moorlands and spectacular fields & fens of the landscape in which Charlotte Bronte set this exceptional novel.
“I touched the heath; it was dry, and yet warm with the heat of the summer-day. I looked at the sky; it was pure: a kindly star twinkled just above the chasm ridge….Nature seemed to me benign and good; I thought she loved me, outcast as I was….”
This itinerary immerses us in the sweeping lands and extraordinary history of the creation of “Jane Eyre.” Together, let’s explore the moors across which Charlotte and her sisters rambled, the halls and homes that fired her imagination; the museums that house her cherished possessions and Yorkshire libraries and bookstores that will deepen our understanding of Charlotte Bronte’s life experience and her writing.
And as we adventure together, we’ll delve into the novel, sharing Bronte’s words with one another and discussing the intriguing facts, myths and lore around the creation of this masterpiece.
Itinerary
“For Charlotte, life at Haworth…became a place that nurtured the free development of her mind and voice through reading and lively discussion….”
Day One: Wednesday, May 26
Fly direct from MSP, oh Sirens, to Manchester, England or arrive early via London. Buoyed by a cup of brisk breakfast tea and delicious anticipation, touch down on a morning of fair winds and gentle sunshine (I hope!)
As soon as you’ve cleared British Customs, you’ll be greeted at the airport by Kerri and your guides for the next eight days. And then we are off!
(If you are traveling to the UK early, please ensure that you are at the Manchester Airport by 10am. That is our departure point.)
We begin in the very heart of Bronte country at Haworth, the cobble-stoned village at the edge of the Yorkshire moors where the Bronte family lived and in which the Bronte sisters wrote. We’ll have a hearty lunch in a Haworth cafe and then stretch our legs for a leisurely ramble through the village, poking into bookstores and local shops.
Then, we’ll check into our hotel and after we’ve freshened up, you are welcome to join Kerri for an early evening walk. Or simply curl up and read on a sun-drenched patio.
Meals: Lunch, Book Exchange over wine. (Please bring a beloved paperback to share with a fellow traveler)
Dinner recommendations upon request
Day Two: Thursday, May 27
Ensure that your morning repast is filling, my friends, because today is a busy one consumed by all-things Bronte! We begin with a personal tour of the Bronte Parsonage, the Georgian building where the sisters, their brother and father all lived and worked together.
While the exterior has a sense of foreboding about it, the family loved this home. We’ll see the rooms in which Charlotte created Jane Eyre and her sister, Emily, imagined Wuthering Heights into being. There are manuscripts, Charlotte’s tiny spectacles, and clothing that the Brontes wore.
Then, we are headed for a guided hike to Bronte Falls, a charming walk to a small natural waterfall. This is our chance to see the moors, the wild and beautiful grasslands, that made their way into so many of the Bronte novels!
If you are so inclined, push on with Kerri to Top Withens, a gothic ruin evoked in Wuthering Heights. If not, enjoy the sunshine and quiet time to do a bit of exploring on your own.
Replete with fresh air and gorgeous scenery, we’ll have lunch and then visit the Haworth apothecary where young Branwell Bronte purchased his laudanum. The evening is yours to design, with dinner recommendations made by our guide.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Dinner recommendations upon request
“In every cloud, in every tree – filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day – I am surrounded with her image!”
Day Three: Friday, May 28
Today, Sirens, we head north to wander the graceful halls of Norton Conyers, a 17th century manor house that Charlotte Bronte is said to have visited in 1839. Please note the Dutch gables and mix of architectural styles.
We’ll see some of the original paintings and furniture that Charlotte saw and hear about the myth of the madwoman in the attic, a story that is believed to have inspired the creation of Mrs. Rochester in Jane Eyre.
We’ll go on to the ruins of Fountains Abbey, a majestic Gothic structure that evokes the most romantic scenes from the Bronte sisters’ novels and stroll through the Studley Royal Water Garden.
After a filling lunch, we’ll return for a final evening in Haworth and a book conversation about Jane Eyre, as we match what we’ve seen and experienced with the heart of the novel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Book Conversation. Dinner recommendations upon request
Day Four: Saturday, May 29
Rise and shine to a filling breakfast, Sirens, because we are on the move! Our destination is the Dark Peak region, where brooding cliffs and dramatic skies inspired Gothic novelists of the Bronte era.
Indeed, I’ll bet you’ll recognize the landscape from a certain film made of a Jane Austen novel. We’ll plunge into our breathtaking surroundings and hike the Stanage Edge where ancient travelers have walked. If we’re lucky, the sun will shine on a moorland that is abloom with purple heather.
When we’ve worked up an appetite for a hearty lunch, we’ll gather at a cafe and then there is time for shopping and exploring, including the wonderful Hawkridge Books in Bakewell, where ten thousand books wait to be perused on two floors!
After a leisurely afternoon, we’ll check into our hotel and you’ll have time to explore the grounds, find a quiet nook for reading or grab a nap.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Dinner recommendations upon request
“Of Mr. Rochester’s character I know nothing but the one fact that he professed to offer honourable marriage to this young girl, and that at the very altar she discovered he had a wife yet alive, though a lunatic.”
Day Five: Sunday, May 30
Our day begins, my intrepid travelers, with a cooking class that will instruct us on the concoction of a sweet dish famous in the region. When we’ve stuffed ourselves with as much Bakewell Pudding as we can hold, let’s walk it off with a scenic stroll through Lathkill Dale, a beautiful river valley that features limestone cliffs and caves, and a profusion of wildflowers and wildlife.
Please bring a short poem to declaim along the way!
Our afternoon is leisurely, with time for reading and relaxing. Let’s gather for an early-evening book conversation from our list.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Book Conversation. Dinner recommendations upon request
Day Six: Monday, May 31
Rise leisurely this morning and linger over breakfast. Our destination is the magnificent Chatsworth House, believed to be the model for Mr. Darcy’s estate, Pemberley, in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
Situated in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, the house sits amidst a majestic estate of over one hundred rolling acres. It is filled with grand tapestries and gilded ceilings, original paintings and period furniture.
We’ll explore to our heart’s content and then retreat for a late lunch.
Your afternoon is yours to choose, including an optional ramble into the countryside with Kerri.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Dinner recommendations upon request
“We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him.”
Day Seven: Tuesday, June 1
Awake to a sun-drenched morning and gather for a nutritious breakfast. We are on the trail of Jane Eyre again as we make for Hathersage, a stunning, pastoral village situated in a national park.
Charlotte Bronte visited Hathersage many times, sometimes with her friend Ellen Nussey, and one of the well-known families in the village were the Eyres.
When the character Jane Eyre discovers that Rochester is already married, she flees, wandering alone and frightened across the fields and moors until she finds herself in “Morton,” a place believed to be based on Hathersage.
In the afternoon, we’ll explore Haddon Hall, a stunningly well-preserved medieval manor house and the setting for numerous Jane Eyre adaptations.
Your evening is yours to decide, but, if there’s time, let’s gather for a glass of wine and conversation from our book list.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Book Conversation.
Day Eight: Wednesday, June 2
Let’s make the most of our morning together with an early walk and leisurely breakfast. Our transport will take us to the Manchester Airport for departure.
“To the hill, then, I turned. I reached it. It remained now only to find a hollow where I could lie down, and feel at least hidden, if not secure….”
Accommodation & Rates for Jane Eyre’s England:
Maximum Group size: 14 Travelers
$6235 based on Double Occupancy.
$1600 Single Supplement.
Sojourn Checklist: What to do, bring, and be ready for?
This is an itinerary that includes optional moderate uphill walking and hiking.
Passport: Must be up to date and valid within six months of travel. You will not need a visa to enter the UK.
Travel Insurance: It is preferred but not required.
Siren Sojourn Reading List for Jane Eyre’s England
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Secret History of Jane Eyre: How Charlotte Bronte Wrote Her Masterpiece by John Pfordresher
Praying with Jane Eyre: Reflections on Reading as a Sacred Practice by Vanessa Zoltan
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Lodging
Meals Where Noted on Itinerary
Full Guide Services
Transportation
Airport Transfers
Entry Fees
For full booking terms and conditions please click here.
NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Alcohol
Souvenirs
Books for Discussions
CANCELLATION POLICY
A cancellation request must be received in writing by email from the traveler. If you decide that you cannot make the trip and need to withdraw, your deposit is refundable up to 120 days before our departure date if your place can be filled from the waiting list.
This adventure is limited to 14 travelers and will sell out. If you would like to hold a place on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of $1000 is required. Once you’ve confirmed with an additional trip payment, your $1000 deposit will be applied to the remaining trip fees.
Trip Deposit of $1000 per person (non-refundable; applied to overall trip fees)
Mailing address: SirenSojourns P.O. Box 1302, Hudson. WI 54016.
Or Zelle via 715-441-7030.
May 1, 2025: $2500
January 15, 2026: Remaining Balance
(Cancellation Refunds Only If Your Place Can Be Filled From the Waiting List)
Siren Sojourns is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies.