Few travellers arrive in Bath without an image of the ancient Somerset city already gleaming in their mind’s eye. Of honey-coloured crescents and Georgian facades rising to the Cotswolds hills, not to mention the baths themselves, whose natural hot spring was worshipped even before the Romans arrived.
There is still much to appreciate in these Jane Austen-tinted sights: a visit to No. 1 Royal Crescent, a furnished house-museum run by the Bath Preservation Trust. Moreover, it also served as the set for the London townhouse of the Featherington family in Netflix’s Bridgerton. A stroll along the Avon river path offers stunning views of the Abbey and Pulteney bridge, with its cascading waters drawing into view.
Beyond these famous landmarks, there lies a world of lesser-known haunts that keep Bath humming with local life. From vibrant arts festivals to independent delis and unique shops, the cultural landscape is equally rich. The Holburne Museum features a bewitching “small wonders” display on the first floor, while the intimate Ustinov Studio Theatre welcomes artistic director Deborah Warner for 2024. Quirky entries like the Herschel Museum of Astronomy and the free-to-enter World Heritage Centre provide additional layers of discovery.
The Best Things to Do in Bath
1. Get a Taste of the Somerset Food Scene
Bath’s food scene is vibrant and thriving, supported by some of the country’s most exciting cooks and restaurateurs, as well as its best growers and producers. At the top end, OAK restaurant and grocer espouses plant-based cooking sourced from their own market garden, featuring dishes such as cavatelli with wild garlic and capers, or seared hispi with caramelised apple. Similarly refined, Landrace Upstairs offers an elegant, produce-driven menu with options like pollock and saffron, and puntarelle with Cantabrian anchovies, culminating in a tart worth its weight in Amalfi lemons.
For casual daytime dining, TOWN+HOUSE (from the lifestyle brand Always Sunday) is a must-visit, renowned for its gourmet burgers served in handmade Hokkaido buns, while The Greenbird Cafe provides prime people-watching and perfect eggs among the design boutiques of Margaret’s Buildings. As the day winds down, securing a sought-after spot on the red sofas or outdoor tables of the Beckford Bottleshop is ideal – if they’re all full, simply head down the road to their conservatory Canteen.
