London and The London Social Season

During the Regency Era, London was populated by the elite especially during certain parts of the year.  Like some of the families in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, many of those who were part of the elite or the nobility had country homes as their main residences but traveled to town during what was called London Season or the social season.  During this time, festivals and balls were held, which offered opportunities for young people to be officially introduced to society (Wikipedia).  London Season usually began in October or November and lasted until April or May (Knowles), which is about the same time frame for the Dashwood sisters’ visit to town.  However, historically, these dates could vary, as the Season coincided with sessions of Parliament, as the festivities were established as a way for families of the members of Parliament to keep busy (Hatch). 

“Town” as it is often called, does not refer to London proper, but the outlying areas like the West End (Britain Magazine), Kew Gardens, or Richmond Park (Jeffers). 

In this way, London and its surrounding areas still play an important role in the story, serving to establish the status of the Dashwood family and their relations in society.  Relating to Austen’s novel as a marriage plot, the London Season organization describes the Season as “a marriage market for the upper echelons of society” (“History”), which provides context to why the Dashwood sisters were invited to town; they were expected to be married. 

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. 1811.

Hatch, Donna. "The London Season." Donna Hatch, 1 Dec. 2018, donnahatch.com/the-london-season/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

"History." The London Season, thelondonseason.org/the-london-season/history/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

Jeffers, Regina. "What Do We Know of London and the Surrounding Areas in the Regency?" Regina Jeffers, 5 July 2019, reginajeffers.blog/2019/07/05/what-do-we-know-of-london-and-the-surrounding-areas-in-the-regency/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

Knowles, Rachel. "When Was the London Season?" Regency History, 23 May 2013, www.regencyhistory.net/2013/05/when-was-london-season.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

"Regency London: Where Did the Ton Spend Their Time?" Britain Magazine, www.britain-magazine.com/featured/regency-london-where-did-the-ton-spend.... Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

"Social Season (United Kingdom)." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_season_(United_Kingdom). Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.