Bath is one of my favorite cities in England. Just about a 2-hour train ride from London, you step into a world that is still very much intact from the 1700s. Most of the City of Bath is constructed from a honey colored limestone called Bath stone. Cobblestone streets and Bath limestone buildings still make up this beautiful city. I would recommend spending 2 full days in Bath to see absolutely everything!
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Accommodations
Bath has so many wonderful Bed & Breakfast accommodations and I stayed at the beautiful Three Abbey Green. This B&B is situated in a lovely square, which is famously featured in the 1995 Jane Austen Persuasion film. The Three Abbey Green has a Jane Austen wing and I stayed in the Elizabeth Bennett room. A full American or English breakfast was provided every morning and tea & biscuits were placed in my room nightly. The B&B was in the perfect location as it was near the Bath Abbey and The Roman Baths.
Pubs, Afternoon Tea, & Restaurants
The Raven is a cozy English pub that is perfect for a quick pint or to sit down for a tasty pie.
Sally Lunns is a world-famous tea and eating house that is located in one of the oldest houses in Bath (since 1482!). They serve the famous Bath Buns and afternoon tea here is a must!
The Pump Room was constructed in 1706 to allow visitors to access the waters directly from the spring by pumping it into a sheltered room. It was a very fashionable meeting place to take the healing waters and to see who was in town. Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Georgian room. Reservations are required and need to be made in advance. The marble vase still pours out the healing spa water that the Romans first drank. You can even try the water for free!
The Real Italian Pizza Company is my favorite restaurant in Bath! It is an amazing Italian restaurant with cheap prices and heavy wine pours. Their pizza is delicious and the service is quick!
Bill’s Bath Restaurant is a contemporary restaurant with an amazing atmosphere. They have a large menu and a delicious drink menu. Definitely try the blueberry mojito!
The Bath Abbey
The Bath Abbey is a must see while in Bath. This gorgeous church is built of Bath stone which gives the exterior that wonderful honey color. The interior contains fan vaulting that is similar to Westminster Abbey in London.
The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are a major attraction in Bath. Plan to spend about 2.5 hours touring the entire attraction as there is a lot to see! Tour groups usually arrive at the Roman Baths in the afternoon so arrive as early as possible to avoid crowds. The Romans came to Bath around 45 AD and found the local people using the water for healing. The Romans then built multiple spectacular bathing areas that are still intact today.
The Circus
The Circus is a historic street of large townhomes built of Bath stone in 1768. The Circus is divided into three segments to create a circular street around a beautiful green space.
The Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is similar to the Bath stone townhomes of the Circus except the townhomes are laid out to create a crescent shape. These honey colored homes were built in 1774 and feature a ha-ha that was built in front of the homes. A ha-ha is a ditch that creates an invisible partition between the lower and upper lawns, as to not interrupt the views of Royal Victoria Park.
A Secret Georgian Garden
On the way to The Royal Crescent there is a secret Georgian garden! It is a recreation of a 1760 garden and is hard to find unless you are looking for it. This garden is behind No. 4 the Circus and can be accessed by the Gravel Walk on the way to The Royal Crescent.
Pulteney Bridge
When tour buses flock to Bath they always drop-off near Pulteney Bridge, but no one ever notices this gorgeous bridge since tourists immediately head toward The Roman Baths. Pulteney Bridge is built over the River Avon, the river that flows through Bath. It was constructed in 1774 and looks similar to the famous Ponte Vecchio in Italy. It is constructed out of Bath stone, as all of Bath is, and has fun shops and eateries. The Bridge Coffee Shop is a quaint place for morning coffee and pastries!
Guildhall
The Guildhall is right around the corner from Pulteney Bridge and is a fun indoor market. There are individual retailers inside selling anything from cheeses, meats, books, gorgeous leather accessories, and sweets!
Bath’s Canals and Locks
Just down North Parade Road, and across Pulteney Road, you will find Bath’s lovely canals and locks. I stumbled upon the canal as I was walking through the city one evening. It is a peaceful gravel walk that goes for miles in each direction along the canal. There are multiple locks along the canal that raise and lower the water for boats to travel along the canal. It is a fun experience to see a lock in action!
Sydney Gardens
After crossing over Pulteney Bridge and walking about 0.4 miles down Great Pulteney Street, you will arrive at the Sydney Gardens. These gardens were built in 1795 and are the only 18th century pleasure gardens left in the world! If you are a Jane Austen fan then you will be happy to know that she walked these very gardens when she lived across the street at #4 Sydney Place. Pleasure gardens differ from regular gardens as they were a fashionable location to see and be seen. Amusement rides, concerts, and exotic animals would have been at the Sydney Gardens in the 18th century. Now they are a beautiful and peaceful park to walk and take in the natural beauty.
The Assembly Rooms and Fashion Museum
Another fashionable 18th century tradition was to attend public or private balls. The Assembly Rooms were built in 1769 to be a venue for hosting public balls. The four major rooms in the Assembly Rooms are the tea room, ball room, card room, and the octagon. Each room is adorned with gorgeous chandeliers and beautiful Georgian architecture. The fashion museum is located on the bottom floor of the Assembly Rooms and has a wonderful collection of fashion from the 1600s to the present day.
What is your favorite place to visit in Bath?
Until next time,
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