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Bath

Elegant Georgian streets and calm stone crescents set the tone in this city where history filters through daily life. Bath’s enduring appeal lies in its lively rhythm: local markets nestle between intricate facades, while riverside parks host impromptu moments of rest. Walkable lanes encourage slow wandering, rewarding visitors with details at every turn—from honeyed façades to tucked-away green spaces. Here, centuries-old traditions sit alongside the activities of a thriving urban centre, inviting you to experience both the grandeur and the intimacy of the city’s character. Every visit reveals another layer, whether you seek a reflective morning stroll or the bustle of a creative neighbourhood, making it easy to feel close to the place—and its enduring spirit.

Bath Published
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Essential Bath Experiences

Start here: a compact selection that shows you Bath’s city-sized story in a day or two. Use Top-Rated Things To Do to prioritise must-sees, then follow the 48 Hours Itinerary for a practical, time‑tested route that balances Roman baths, Georgian crescents and relaxed cafés. Layer in deeper context with History, Heritage and Everything In-between to understand why sites matter, and pick up contemporary programmes in Cultural Fix for current exhibitions, theatre and live events. Together these guides give you a short, confident plan: where to arrive, what to linger over, and how to connect the city’s buildings to the stories behind them.

Bath holds two UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions—City of Bath (1987) and Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021)—a rare double status that recognises the entire city and its spa heritage.
Bath holds two UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions—City of Bath (1987) and Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021)—a rare double status that recognises the entire city and its spa heritage.

Bath holds two UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions—City of Bath (1987) and Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021)—a rare double status that recognises the entire city and its spa heritage.

UK National Commission for UNESCO

Live Like a Local

Want a more personal Bath? Choose experiences that pull you into everyday life. Book a hands‑on class or workshop through Authentic Experiences to learn a skill, meet makers and spend time in neighbourhood spaces. If you prefer a friendly, curious approach to the city, read Not your Average Traveller for offbeat routes and practical tips that avoid the tourist track. When you’re ready to leave the city for a few hours, consult Day Trips for short drives and rail runs to coastline, countryside and nearby towns — all easy to fit into a relaxed itinerary.

Every day, about 1,170,000 litres of 46°C spring water rises from Bath’s thermal aquifer to feed the Roman Baths—a natural flow recorded on site for thousands of years.
Every day, about 1,170,000 litres of 46°C spring water rises from Bath’s thermal aquifer to feed the Roman Baths—a natural flow recorded on site for thousands of years.

Every day, about 1,170,000 litres of 46°C spring water rises from Bath’s thermal aquifer to feed the Roman Baths—a natural flow recorded on site for thousands of years.

Roman Baths (official site)

Bath Food Traditions

Bath’s food scene is a satisfying blend of heritage and fresh discovery. To start, the city’s Fish and Chips remains a steadfast staple—seaside flavours and unfussy service that locals swear by, whether you’re picking up golden batter and thick-cut chips from a corner chippy or joining a busy queue at a beloved shop. Sunday in Bath takes on its own local ritual, with the Best Sunday Roasts drawing both residents and visitors to crisp potatoes, slow-cooked meat, and rich gravy in pubs where tradition is respected. Walk towards the heart of the city and you’ll find it’s made for wandering: Local Markets & Foodie Experiences serve as meeting grounds for producers and passionate eaters. Stalls brim with Bath’s flavours, from small-batch cheese to indecently good bakehouse finds—a practical introduction to the city’s culinary foundations.

The Royal Crescent’s single façade spans roughly 500 feet and is carried by 114 engaged Ionic columns; behind it sit 30 individual houses built between 1767 and 1775 by John Wood the Younger.
The Royal Crescent’s single façade spans roughly 500 feet and is carried by 114 engaged Ionic columns; behind it sit 30 individual houses built between 1767 and 1775 by John Wood the Younger.

The Royal Crescent’s single façade spans roughly 500 feet and is carried by 114 engaged Ionic columns; behind it sit 30 individual houses built between 1767 and 1775 by John Wood the Younger.

Historic England