In celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday , we take a look at the stunning properties used in film and TV adaptons that are now open to the public

This year we celebrate 250 years since the birth of one of England’s most celebrated authors Jane Austen.

Born in Hampshire in 1775, Jane’s wry social commentary and witty repartee has provided us with an enduring snapshot of the life and times of gentlefolk of the time.

The glorious settings of the various upper class shenanigans are also beautifully described and central to the plots of her novels.

Bath – where she lived there for several years – is mentioned in six of her books and has long been associated with Austen, but it is not the only place where fans can pay homage to her genius.

Many of the wonderful TV and film adaptations of her novels have been formed at glorious mainly National Trust properties, which are open to the public.

Here, the Mirror takes a look at the best places for you to take a trip down Jane Austen’s memory lane.

Lyme Park, Cheshire

The park played the role of Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s home, in the much loved BBC 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, the 1,400 acre estate boasts a herd of red deer, fantastic walks and, of course, that lake, where Jennifer Ehle’s Elizabeth Bennet joined viewers in a collective swoon at the sight of a soaking wet Colin Firth, as Mr Darcy, emerging from the water.

Fans can visit and imagine just how flustered Lizzie must have felt!

Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR

Claydon House, Buckinghamshire

The ballroom scene in the 1996 film of Emma was shot at this fine Georgian country house.

Gwyneth Paltrow starred as the self-elected matchmaker, Emma, who eventually gets a taste of her own medicine.

According to the National Trust, the interiors feature among the most ambitious and lavish of the 18th century – making it the perfect setting for the snobby heroine, who later realises the error of her ways.

Her transformation from snobbish girl to mature woman is wonderfully portrayed bu Hollywood actress Gwyneth.

Middle Claydon, near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2EY

Box Hill, Surrey

Box Hill is the backdrop for a picnic in the final episode of the 2009 BBC TV series of Emma.

Starring Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse and Jonny Lee Miller as her loyal lifelong friend George Knightley.

Forming part of the North Downs, Box Hill has breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside and is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, including the Adonis blue butterfly and a bee orchid.

It’s a rather lovely setting for a romantic picnic.

The Old Fort, Box Hill Road, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7LB

Montacute House, Somerset

Sense and Sensibility was Jane Austen’s first novel, published in 1811.

Undoubtedly its most famous screen adaptation remains the Oscar-winning 1995 film starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne.

The siblings are struggling financially, but attempt to find personal happiness in very different ways.

Marianne is torn between the handsome John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and the older serious Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Meanwhile, Elinor is in love with the already engaged Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant).

The resplendent Elizabethan house and estate Montacute was used for Cleveland House, the country house of Mr and Mrs Palmer, where Marianne gets caught in the rain after being rejected by Willoughby.

In a later scene, Marianne walks through the garden and has a touching moment with Colonel Brandon, as he pokes his head into the orangery, looking for her.

Montacute House was also used for filming the 2015 BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.

Montacute House, TA15 6XP

Stourhead, Wiltshire

The 18th-century landscaped garden at Stourhead was used as the main backdrop in the 2006 Pride And Prejudice movie, starring Matthew MacFadyen and Keira Knightley.

The estate has a world-famous landscaped garden, with a magnificent lake, enchanting temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees.

The Temple of Apollo, set above the tranquil lake, was used as the location for Mr Darcy’s first awkward proposal to Lizzie.

Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QF

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

Sanditon was Jane Austen’s final but uncompleted novel, as she died before she was able to finish it, aged just 41.

It tells the story of Charlotte Heywood, who travels from her rural English home to the up-and-coming seaside resort of Sanditon – a place full of intriguing characters, most notably the handsome Sidney Parker

A 2009 ITV adaptation of Sanditon, starring White Lotus actor Theo James as Mr Parker and Rose Williams as impulsive heroine Charlotte, saw Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire used as Sanditon House – the grand home of haughty upper class Lady Denham (Anne Reid).

Dyrham, , near Bath, is a 17th-century house and garden, with 270 acres of parkland, full of magnificent trees and with a stunning wildflower orchard garden. The baroque mansion house has an impressive collection of fine art and Dutch Delftware, thanks mainly to its . original owner, European diplomat William Blathwayt.

It provides the perfect backdrop for the aspirational Lady Denham.

Dyrham,SN14 8HY

And a very special mention to:

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

While not a National Trust property, Chatsworth House is a significant historical site, with connections to the Pride And Prejudice novel and the 2005 film.

Jane Austen visited the Bakewell area, where Chatsworth House is located, while revising the final book version and the house’s grandeur and picturesque setting are thought to have influenced her portrayal of Pemberley.

In the 2005 movie, the sculpture gallery featured in the scene where Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet sees the bust of Mr Darcy, and his housekeeper describes his many good qualities. Matthew’s Mr Darcy bust is on display in the gift shop.

The bust is made of resin, mixed with marble dust, and was created by Nick Dutton in 2004 as a prop for the film and it can now be found in the orangery shop, through the sculpture gallery.

If you visit the house, you may recognise the grand staircase and ceiling of the painted hall where Keira’s Lizzie and the Gardiners start their tour of Pemberley.

Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, DE45 1PJ .