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Moving to Bath: A Picturesque City with Incredible Georgian Architecture

26 Jul 2021

Bath’s culture scene is a great mix of museums, galleries and events. All in all, you can try on 100-year-old dresses, explore the largest collection of Americana in Europe.

Bath is a special place to visit: On the surface, it is one of the most picturesque cities in the country with incredible examples of Georgian architecture – like the Royal Crescent and The Circus. On top of that, there are places like the gloriously gothic Bath Abbey, and the Palladian Pulteney Bridge too, meaning you will never be left wondering what to do in Bath. But, when you delve into a city's rich heritage, you quickly realise there really is nowhere else quite like it. There will be something nearby to keep you busy, whether it is the fantastic food scene, bars, pubs, stellar shopping options, incredible entertainment scene, or eclectic culture.

  1. What makes Bath unique?
  2. Bath's popular attractions
  3. Nightlife in Bath
  4. Sports in Bath
  5. Coffee Shops in Bath
  6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Bath
  7. Bath living costs
  8. Festivals and events in Bath
  9. Travel in and around Bath
  10. Explore the UK from Bath

An ancient building with underground water circuit inside Photo credit: Golden tour via Google

1. What makes Bath unique?

Bath’s culture scene is a great mix of museums, galleries and events. All in all, you can try on 100-year-old dresses, explore the largest collection of Americana in Europe, see the stars as astronomer William Herschel did, follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps by walking the Sydney Gardens surrounding the magnificent Holburne Museum, and round it all off with a legendary Sally Lunn bun.

Also, Bath has always had a strong reputation for food and drink. It even held the UK’s first ever farmers’ market. Its restaurants are largely wonderful, albeit sometimes weird – there is one where everything on the menu is a ‘surprise’.

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2. Bath’s popular attractions

Bath is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

  • Roman Baths. A place of relaxation and rejuvenation built in 75 BC.
  • Royal Crescent. Explore Bath's perfectly preserved Georgian architecture.
  • Bath Abbey. Founded in 1499, this is the perfect place for you to get a superb view over the city.
  • Pulteney Bridge. One of the most recognizable pieces of architecture in Bath.
  • Thermae Bath Spa. A unique opportunity to experience the same thermal waters that have drawn people as far back as the Celts to the area for thousands of years.
  • Cross Bath. This historic spa facility provides a unique opportunity to take a dip in the city's ancient waters.
  • Holburne Museum. An excellent collection of paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Stubbs, along with 18th-century silver, Wedgwood porcelain, Renaissance bronzes, and early period furniture.
  • Fashion Museum Bath. Contains a world-class collection of contemporary and historical clothing, including 150 dressed figures and more than 30,000 original items dating from the late 16th century to the present day.
  • Herschel Museum of Astrology. Housed in a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse, this museum contains numerous artifacts related to the acclaimed musician and astronomer, William Herschel.
  • Jane Austen Centre. Fans of English and Georgian-era literature will want to visit this place. Here, you can learn about the author’s time in Bath.
  • Theatre Royal. Opened in 1805 and hosted some of the biggest stars of live theater ever since.
  • Museum of East Asian Art. This fascinating museum opened in 1993 and contains many fine collections of carvings made from jade and bamboo.
  • American Museum and Gardens. Set amid 120 acres of stunning Somerset countryside, this museum is home to a superb collection of antiquities from colonial times right up to the Civil War years.

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3. Nightlife in Bath

Real ales, West Country cider, old-world wine, new-world wine, gin palaces, whisky hideouts, world-famous cocktail bars and Yorkshire puddings, nightlife in Bath ticks all the right boxes when it comes to beverages. So whether you’re looking for a posh drinking den or a casual watering hole, there is always something for everyone.

Bath’s bar scene is brimming with specialists, whether you want wine, whisky or one of the world’s best cocktail bars. The Canary Gin Bar on Queen Street stocks more than 230 different gins, including their own from the Bath Gin Company. Sometimes with these sorts of bars, it can be a risk going for something unknown, as there is always that chance it will cost you an arm and a leg. However, at The Canary, they’ve kindly arranged their gins according to price, so even after you’ve knocked back a few negronis, it is easy to understand what you’re getting into.

When it comes to cocktails, The Dark Horse picks itself. It goes without saying that their cocktails are superb, and the team of friends and family that run the place are also very friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. Plus, it provides table service, so instead of wasting your time at the bar trying to catch someone’s attention, you can just sit back, sip your drink and enjoy the cosy, yet stylish bar’s unique vibe.

When it comes to going out, Bath is home to a handful of good nightclubs where you can dance to the early hours fuelled by cheap drinks and good music, on ‘floors filled with friendly locals’. The Nest at the foot of The Paragon is a genre-spanning alternative venue that’s particularly popular with students. A Nest night out can be eclectic, jumping between punk classics, drum and bass and hip-hop, but it is usually a lot of fun.

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4. Sports in Bath

Bath Rugby is a rugby union team in the Premiership league. It plays in blue, white and black kit at the Recreation Ground in the city.

There is also Bath City F.C, the major football team that gained promotion to the Conference Premier from the Conference South in 2010. Bath City F.C. play their games at Twerton Park.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

  • Bath Sports and Leisure Centre
  • Better Extreme Bath

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5. Coffee Shops in Bath

The Pump Room will be unlike anything you will have experienced before. The huge hall is part of a Roman Baths complex and was built in the 18th century. Visit for afternoon tea and you will get a taste of the lavish lifestyle of Georgian high society and find yourself surrounded on all sides by stone colonnades, water features and shimmering chandeliers.

If you’re wandering through Bath and wondering where you can go for a quick coffee, or something to satisfy your sweet tooth, Rosario’s Café on Northumberland Place is a popular option. It is a traditional independent Italian café serving locally roasted coffees, loose-leaf teas, all-day breakfasts, daily specials and absolutely divine Sicilian pastries. It may be physically impossible to leave without stuffing a connolo into your face and/or your pocket.

If you’re paying a visit to the Royal Crescent, be sure to call into The Green Bird Café. This stylish little independent’s breakfasts were voted the best in town by the Bath Good Food Awards 2017. You can even create your own from their selection of locally sourced produce. Their lunch menu is similarly sublime. It changes with the seasons and features baked tarts, salads, stews and splendid open sandwiches.

However, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a pro when it comes to a cup of joe, then there is no better place for you than Colonna & Small’s on Chapel Row. It is a specialty coffee shop with an award-winning team of baristas, including a two-time UK champion and world finalist. The shop itself is extremely minimalist; the focus is firmly set on the coffee, which changes constantly to reflect how different beans can change in flavour depending on the seasons and where they’ve been grown.

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6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Bath

If you’re ever in need of a spot for retail therapy, you could hardly have picked a better city than Bath with a versatile array of shops. Ladies come from far and wide to peruse the pre-owned designer wear of Grace & Ted, meanwhile gentlemen make their way to John Anthony for the finest in men’s fashion. Here, you can also read about Bath’s shopping centres and the city’s handful of marvellous markets.

Southgate is Bath’s main shopping centre, with more than 50 different stores and several restaurants for you to explore while pacing its pedestrianised streets of Georgian-style buildings designed to blend in with the city’s iconic architecture. In terms of stores, there are designer brands like All Saints, Tommy Hilfiger and Kurt Geiger. There are also high street favourites, such as Laura Ashley, Topshop and Debenhams. It is also where you will find Bath’s Apple Store, Boots and Urban Outfitters.

If you’ve got the budget for a bit of boutique shopping, make your way to Milsom Place. Housed in a stunning series of beautiful Georgian buildings, courtyards and terraces, it is by far Bath’s prettiest shopping centre. It also houses some of the city’s most stylish eateries, including Hunter & Sons which is one of the best places to eat in Bath, thanks to its habit of using fine local produce and palate-pleasing dishes. In terms of shops, you will find Bath’s branch of Hobbs, other designer retailers like Ted Baker, as well as homeware specialists Yves Delorme and True Grace, while shoe-enthusiasts won’t want to leave Bath without a visit to Chanii B.

You can also pay a visit to the Bath Guildhall Market which is the oldest shopping venue in the city, and home to a historic market that has been trading on the site for more than 800 years. Inside, you will find a couple of dozen traders offering everything from loose leaf teas and local cheeses to fancy dress costumes and fine jewellery. Its main attraction is the 18th-century market pillar, or ‘The Nail’, which is believed to be where the saying ‘pay on the nail’ came from.

Bath Artisan Market is the city’s favourite independent market for hunting down unique and quirky items from local artists and makers. There is also a delicious range of street food and pop-up cafés and bars for you to sample. When it comes to second-hand shopping and bargain hunting, Bath Vintage & Antiques Market is hard to beat. It is a treasure trove of decorative antiques, collectables, furniture and jewellery, and is well worth taking the time to explore.

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7. Bath living costs

Budget guide:

  • One-way Ticket (Local transport): £2.50
  • Meal out: £15.00
  • Fast Food (McDonalds): £6.00
  • Gasoline (1 litre): £1.33
  • Cinema ticket: £12.25
  • Taxi (normal tariff): £2.80

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8. Festivals and events in Bath

Bath has a number of eclectic festivals and events throughout the year, including:

  • Bath International Music Festival. The 17-day-long Bath Festival is an exciting multi-arts event.
  • Party in the City. This exciting evening of music has about 2,000 performers in attendance from various music genres playing at multiple venues across Bath.
  • Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Billed as the largest such festival in Europe, this event highlights plenty of family-friendly fun activities, including arts, crafts, and games.

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9. Travel in and around Bath

By and large, Bath is small enough to get around by foot. You can walk your way from the Royal Crescent to Bath Abbey in 15 minutes, and it will only take you five more to get to Bath Spa railway station. If you need to go further afield, the city is served by several reliable local taxi companies, as well as Uber drivers.

By plane

Bristol Airport is the city’s nearest international airport. If you’re flying into Bath, there are a number of ways you can make your way from the arrivals lounge to any one of our hotels near Bristol Airport.

By train

Bath Spa railway station is the city’s only major railway station. It is to the south of the city centre, sitting on a meander of the River Avon. The station itself was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1840 for the Great Western Railway, who still manage it today.

There are regular services to London Paddington via Swindon, which takes roughly an hour and a half. Plus, its quick connection with Bristol Temple Meads opens up the opportunity to travel by train to the counties of Devon and Cornwall.

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10. Explore the UK from Bath

Bath is an ideal base for you to start exploring neighbouring cities, towns, and the rest of the UK. There are always opportunities to plan exciting day trips or getaways with friends and family.

Bristol

Bristol is a vibrant city in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Being the starting point for early voyages of exploration in the New World, Bristol has always been famous for the city’s centuries-old heritage and it is irrepressible creative spirit. Well known for its harbour, blended architectures, and contribution to arts and science, this city is also a great place for other commutes, whether it is shopping at Bristol Shopping Quarter or watching football at Ashton Gate Stadium.

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Cotswold

With its rustic rural charm, rolling hills, vibrant market towns and picture-perfect villages, the Cotswolds offers nearly 800 square miles of unspoilt countryside, perfect for that weekend getaway with friends and family.

Packed with picturesque villages built of Cotswold stone, beautiful churches and vast manor houses, you can delve into its history or take on exciting leisure activities such as scaling through the heights of Broadway Tower and surround yourself with nature at Westonbirt Arboretum on your way to discovering one of Britain’s most spectacular locations.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the Seven Wonders in the world and an absolute must-see when planning your trip to the UK. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a walk around the beautiful Stone Circle and learn more about the history, the mastermind behind engineering and why it is conserved by many spiritual places for healing.

Here you can also experience a fantastic audio-visual 360 degree view from inside the stones, a truly magical experience for young and old. Outside the Visitor Centre, you can also admire the traditional Neolithic houses and see how people lived 4500 years ago. You can also step inside the house where you can learn more about the former inhabitant’s daily activities.