A new study has crowned Jane Austen’s former East Hampshire home as one of the UK's most beloved historical residences, ranking it fourth in a list of the top-rated properties.
The research, conducted by AllClear, analysed online reviews of famous historical tourist attractions across the UK, with the author’s house scoring almost 93 percent of four and five-star ratings.
The top spot went to The Beatles' childhood homes in Liverpool, where visitors can explore the early lives of music legends John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
In second place was the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives, showcasing the life and work of the renowned sculptor. Chartwell, the former residence of Winston Churchill, secured third place, offering a glimpse into the life of Britain’s wartime prime minister.
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Jane Austen lived in the cottage in Chawton, near Alton for the last eight years of her life, from 1809 to 1817. Here she wrote and revised all six of her beloved novels: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
Visitors can explore the rooms where the author lived and wrote, gaining a rare glimpse into her personal life. The house contains Austen's writing desk, personal jewellery, and handwritten letters.
The attraction also has a cottage garden where visitors can engage in traditional outdoor activities, while the museum offers Regency-era dress-up opportunities and bonnet designing workshops.
Other attractions in AllClear's top 10 list include Newstead Abbey, the ancestral home of poet Lord Byron, and Kelmscott Manor, the countryside residence of writer and designer William Morris.