The Box Hill Regency Picnic

 The inaugural Box Hill Regency Picnic was a huge success!

Regency Picnickers at the Look Out on Box Hill, 6th July 2024

We awoke on the morning of Saturday 6th July to a forecast of drizzle and were concerned that our attendees would stay home, but we needn't have worried. Austen fans are made of sterner stuff!

Ladies sporting delightful homemade bonnets

By midday, the allotted start, we already had over a dozen participants with us on the green, all dressed exquisitely and excited to meet fellow Regency costume lovers.

Summer muslins, reticules and parasols

We soon had over fifty picnickers, many of whom had travelled across the country, from as far as Bristol, Norfolk, Chester, Kent and London.

It did rain, but our lovely guests simply opened their parasols or trotted under out two gazebos to wait it out. The sun shone for most of the afternoon, certainly long enough for us to take some gorgeous photographs (thank you Steve) and make a short video.

Walking to the Lookout after the rain

We had a wonderful time and look forward to welcome more of you on the first Saturday of July next year. But will always have affection for our inaugural attendees. Thank you all for launching this fabulous event, a collaboration between Leatherhead Museum and National Trust Surrey Hills.

Celebrate Jane Austen's Surrey Novel

 

The Inaugural Box Hill Regency Picnic will take place on Saturday 6th July and the museum team are super excited! It's taken 2 years to take this idea from a mid-lockdown Zoom chat to this public event, a collaboration between Leatherhead Museum and National Trust, Surrey Hills.

Last year the museum volunteers had their own dress rehearsal in August. Here we all are in costumes we made or cobbled together from nighties, party dresses and the dressing up box.

This year is the full public event with Jane fans and costume enthusiasts coming from all over the region (and perhaps the world!) to celebrate Austen's Surrey Novel, Emma, and the infamous picnic scene where Emma Woodhouse is rather rude to poor Miss Bates (and get's soundly reprimanded by Mr Knightly).

Join us from 12 noon on the Donkey Green (over the road from the Lookout), bring a picnic or treat yourself at the National Trust Cafe. Regency costume is encouraged but not essential. Come and see the pageant even if you can't dress up.

Box Hill has been a favourite picnic spot for hundred of years

Nearest train station is West Humble then follow the signs 1.5km to the summit on foot. The Arriva 465 bus stops at the foot of the hill (1km walk) and the Metrobus 21 via Headley stops at the Box Hill East car park. Park your 'carriage' at the National Trust car park opposite the visitor centre (charges apply).

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/box-hill/events/