A Weekend in Bath

With its honey coloured Georgian architecture, Roman roots, thermal spa and rolling hills of countryside, it is easy to understand why Bath is in the top 10 most visited spots in the UK! Whilst being a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is also an immersion of culture and modern amenities- making it the perfect weekend break. I am also lucky enough that it happens to be my home town- so I thought I would bring you a true locals guide to your weekend away in the beautiful city of Bath.

One of the most wonderful things about Bath is its compact size- basically everything is walking distance! Therefore, when looking for accommodation, it's best to try and find some within the city so you don't need to worry about public transport. Here's some of the best accommodation in the centre, with something for every budget.

£- Bath Backpackers:

If you are hoping to save your funds for the numerous activities around Bath, check out the wide range of hostels available in the city! Bath Backpackers starts from £26 a night and is right in the centre of the city. Visit Hotel

££ - Brindleys:

Brindleys is a six bedroom little hotel in a quiet part of town, just a short distance from the city centre. Enjoy the French decor, sunny courtyard and organic breakfast every morning. Visit Hotel

£££ - The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa:

If you are looking to treat yourself, then check out The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa- one of the most famous addresses in Bath. The hotel is situated right in the centre of the stunning Royal Crescent and features a spa with six treatment rooms and pool. It is also a child free zone! Visit Hotel

Friday Evening:

Once you've checked into your accommodation, head straight into the city centre and go for some dinner! Bath has a huge array of restaurants, with a style to suit every budget.

£- Chaiwalla:

Chaiwalla is the only West Country Indian to be voted one of the Top 5 Vegan Curry Houses in the UK by Vegan Life Magazine, and it's easy to see why. Keep your eyes peeled, as the little establishment is easily missed, tucked away behind a little green door just off Kingsmead Square. It's take out only, so grab your delicious food and head to the Abbey Courtyard for dinner with a view!

££- Real Italian Pizza Company:

My favourite restaurant in Bath! An independent, authentic Italian restaurant serving the most delicious stone baked pizzas and range of pastas! Make sure you ask for seating outdoors in the gorgeous courtyard- they even have heaters for the winter months!

£££- The Circus Restaurant

Located in one of the most iconic settings in Bath, the independent restaurant is a softly lit venue inside a traditional Georgian building, serving seasonal British and European food. Prepare for a relaxed atmosphere, a stunning setting and delicious food.

After dinner, try something a little different and delve into the other side of Bath’s history…with a spooky ghost tour. Meet outside the Bath Abbey at 8pm for a thrilling walk around Bath’s most haunted areas, uncovering stories of murder, witch burnings, duels and torture! The tour is suitable for all ages and costs £10 per adult, and £7 for children and students.

Finish off your Friday night (and shake off those creepy ghost stories) exploring some of the numerous bars and pubs! Pop to the Bath Brew House to sample some of the famous Bath Ales then wander down to The Canary Gin Bar for some specialised cocktails- don't miss the Jane Austen themed drink!

Saturday:

Start your Saturday morning with some well needed coffee. Although Bath has all the standard coffee haunts of a big city- Starbucks, Costa Coffee and several Nero's, it also boats an influx of independent coffee shops scattered around the city. My all time favourite is The Colombian Coffee Company, situated at 6 Abbeygate Street. The cafe is right on the corner of The Abbey Green, a location which was used extensively as the location for the outdoor market in the Netflix hit Bridgerton! Other top contenders are Mokoko Coffee, which lives on the Bath Abbey Churchyard or The Good Day Cafe just two minutes walk away on Upper Borough Walls.

With your coffee in hand, head up through the centre of Bath along Milson Street, stopping to take a look in some independent clothes shops on route. At the top of Milson Street, turn left onto George Street then right up Gay Street to lead you onto The Royal Circus, a stunning ring of Georgian buildings that date back to 1754.

Carry on through to the left, and find yourself suddenly standing in the Royal Crescent- one of the most famous landmarks in the city. The row of 30 terraced houses are all built in the characteristic honey coloured stone and are laid out in a sweeping crescent with views of Bath.

Next, take a step back through history and pay a visit to Number 1. Royal Crescent. The charity run museum is decorated and furnished exactly as it would have been during the period 1776-1796, with each room lavished with historic furniture, pictures and objects. Admission is £10.90 for an adult, £5.40 for a child and £9.80 for students.

If this isn't really your thing, instead wander back through the Royal Circus, this time taking a left away from the city centre, and pay a visit to the Fashion Museum! The Fashion Museum is within the Assembly Rooms (which is an 18th century Ball Room and is now a popular location for Bath weddings) and takes you on a journey back through fashion- starting all the way back at the 18th Century and finishing in modern day. Tickets are £9.50 for an adult, £7.25 for a child and £8.50 for a student.

TOP TIP: If you are also planning on visiting the Roman Baths, purchase a Saver Ticket instead! This gets you entry to the Fashion Museum, the Victoria Art Gallery and the Roman Baths for £26 for an adult, £16 for a child and £24.50 for a student. Even if you aren't interested in the exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery- it is still cheaper to buy the Saver Ticket rather than separate tickets for the Fashion Museum and the Roman Baths.

By now, it is probably time for some lunch. Head back into the centre of Bath and cut through the Abbey Green for a visit to the world famous Sally Lunn's Eating House to try one of the now legendary Bath Buns. Step into one of the oldest houses in Bath, take a look around the kitchen museum which showcases the exact kitchen used by Sally Lunn in Georgian Bath and then finally sit down to sample the famous bun. The restaurant has won countless awards for excellence and puts a real emphasis on making it an authentic historic experience!

Afterwards, walk back through the Abbey Green into the Abbey Courtyard and take a while to marvel over Bath Abbey- keep an eye out for the sculptures of angels climbing up to heaven on stone ladders on the front of the Abbey, representing Jacob's Ladder (though interestingly, some angels are also depicted through upside down figures as climbing down the ladder!)

Step inside and take some time to admire the gothic architecture. If you are looking for an extra special experience, take the Tower Tour where you can climb 212 steps to the top of the Abbey to visit the ringing chamber, bells and clock face. You will also be treated to stunning 360 degree views over the entire city!

A trip to Bath wouldn't be complete without a trip to the infamous Roman Baths. Located adjacent to the Abbey, the Roman Baths are a well preserved thermae that were constructed within the first few decades of Roman Britain, between 60-70CE. The Baths were used for public bathing until the 5th Century CE, then sat in ruins until they were redeveloped during the Early Middle Ages. Now, the site is surrounded by a museum that can be explored with the aid of an Audio Guide. Keep an eye out for my favourite item in the Roman Baths- the little messages and curses written on pieces of metal and thrown into the Baths to petition the gods for very parochial concerns, such as asking the Gods to punish the person who stole their gloves- it seems people haven't changed very much in 2000 years!

Admission to the Bath's is £19.50 for an adult, £12.00 for a child and £18.50 for a student on weekends, and £17.00 for an adult, £9.50 for a child and £16.00 for a student on a weekday.

Once you've explored the ancient Baths, step next door into the Grand Pump Rooms for some afternoon tea. The historic Rooms were built between 1786 and 1790 and is the setting for several Jane Austen novels, including Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Check out the impressive ceiling and during your visit, make sure you try some of the natural hot spa water from the Roman Baths! It contains 43 minerals - but get ready for a very unusual taste (think metallic). The spa water is 50p per glass, or is free to anyone with a Roman Baths ticket, or who is a customer at the Pump Rooms.

After that, head back to your accommodation for a well deserved break, and then get ready to start your evening exploration of Bath! Check out another one of the cities numerous restaurants- here are some more of my top picks.

£- Thai Hut

Located in Green Park Station, this little Thai hut is a family run business and serves up aromatic traditional food with heaps of flavour! Super tasty, and super affordable- what more could you possibly want?

One of my favourite places to eat in the city is The Oven- an independent Italian restaurant! Grab a table outside on the street with views of gorgeous Georgian buildings and tuck into a fresh oven baked pizza- you won't be disappointed!

££- The Oven

One of my favourite places to eat in the city is The Oven- an independent Italian restaurant! Grab a table outside on the street with views of gorgeous Georgian buildings and tuck into a fresh oven baked pizza- you won't be disappointed!

£££- Sotto Sotto

Experience a classic Italian menu with a contemporary twist at the very popular independent restaurant Sotto Sotto. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, tucked away in candlelit vaulted cellars with bare stone walls revealing the traditional honey coloured Georgian stone. If you are looking for an impressive meal in a romantic setting, this is definitely the choice for you.

After you’ve eaten, head to The Krater Comedy Club at Komedia for 6:30pm for an entire evening of stand up comedy. (If none of the above options appealed to you, you also have the option of buying a combination ticket at Komedia which serves you dinner as well as the comedy!)

Sunday:

Start your Sunday the right way with coffee! Check out the one of the independent coffee shops you missed yesterday and then wander through the centre of Bath, past the Abbey and towards the beautiful Pulteney Bridge. Completed in 1774, the bride was built by William Pulteney to connect Bath to land on the other side of the River Avon. Interestingly, it is also one of the few bridges in the entire world to have shops built into the side! The bridge looms up over the weir, creating a beautiful snapshot of Bath.

For the best views of Pulteney Bridge and the Weir, take a stroll through Parade Gardens. The pleasure gardens cost £1.50 per person to enter, and throughout the summer there is live music playing in the bandstand, entertainment for children and a quaint cafe serving sandwiches, cakes and cream teas.

Next, take a walk down one of the most beautiful streets in Bath- Great Pulteney Street. Unsurprisingly, with the towering rows of historic Georgian houses, the street has been the setting for many films over the years- including Les Misérables, Vanity Fair, Persuasion and The Duchess- bringing big names like Keira Knightley and Reese Witherspoon to Bath.

Wander down the historic street until you are facing the magnificent building of the Holburne art Museum- which you might recognise as Lady Danbury's house in the Netfllix hit show Bridgerton. Either explore the exhibitions at an admission price of £11 for adults or £7 for children or students, or just wander around the side of the building and have a coffee in the museum cafe! (It's not too soon for another one right?) The museum backs onto Sydney Gardens- bask in the outdoor courtyard and then take a relaxing walk around the gardens. They are the only remaining eighteenth- century pleasure gardens in the entire country. Keep an eye out for the Georgian buildings scattered through the gardens, and then follow the path up through the gardens until you reach the canal. With the intricate iron bridges winding patterns across the canal, this is a really beautiful hidden spot in Bath to enjoy the tranquillity, away from the bustle of the city.

After that, make your way back up Great Pulteney Street and across to Gay Street, to pay a visit to the Jane Austen Centre! Learn about how Bath would have looked through Jane Austen's eyes as a bustling social and fashion hub, dress up in traditional period outfits, experience writing with quill pen and ink and have your photo taken with the famous Jane Austen waxwork. If you are a Mr. Darcy fan- this is definitely not one to be missed!

Then spend the rest of your Sunday afternoon relaxing before the week ahead at one of Bath's most popular attractions- the Thermae Spa. The Spa uses the cities natural, mineral rich hot springs to create a place of tranquility, featuring a heated rooftop pool, an indoor Bath massage jets, gentle whirlpools and a lazy river, several spa treatment rooms and a restaurant. Entry to the spa is £35 per adult on a weekday for 2 hours in the spa, or £40 at the weekend. The absolute perfect way to finish off a historic weekend in the beautiful Roman city of Bath.

However- if you would rather spend the afternoon soaking in more of the area, explore the Bath Skyline walk and admire the city from above. Only a short stroll from the city centre, the 6 mile walk takes you through the skyline hills above Bath, through meadows, historic woodlands and rolling valleys. This is the perfect way to really take in the beauty of not only the city of Bath, but the beautiful countryside and nature surrounding it. Start on Bathwick Hill at Cleveland Walk, and follow the 'Bath Skyline Walk' signs.

Time for a last meal to finish off a perfect weekend! Here are a few more of my favourite options:

£- LJ Hugs:

Located right in the centre of town, LJ Hug's is the perfect budget-friendly (but still delicious) option! Known as Bath's Cajun cuisine specialists, choose between chicken thighs or beef chilli and sweet potoe fries or classic fries, all serves with a range of sauces to suit your chilli desires! Every meal is priced between £2 and £7 and is served with fries and salad.

££- Pintxo de Bath:

Pintxo is the most gorgeous little tapas restaurant in Bath, inspired by the Pintxo bars of San Sebastián. They create a traditional experience serving exquisite Spanish food, sherry, wines and cocktails! (Don't forget to save room for their delicious desserts!)

£££- Olive Tree Restaurant:

The Olive Tree is one of Bath's longest established independent restaurants and is the only restaurant in Bath with a Michelin Star! This is in addition to the 3 AA Rosette status the Olive Tree already holds! Pay a visit for a truly memorable experience.

There you have it- the perfect locals guide to a weekend in one of the most beautiful cities in England. Bath is such an amazing place with so much to offer! This guide has just been the tip of the iceberg of all the beautiful little neighbourhoods and corners still left to explore- this will definitely be a city that you visit time and time again.