36 Hours
36 Hours in Bath, England
Hot water mingles with 2,000 years of history in Bath, the spa town in southwest England. Named for its ancient, thermal-spring-fed Roman pools, Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the beautiful backdrop to Jane Austen films and the Netflix series “Bridgerton.” But the town is not resting on its past. Impressive restaurants like the Elder, which opened during the pandemic, add finesse to regional British fare, while a new museum dedicated to Mary Shelley, who wrote most of “Frankenstein” while a teenager in Bath, celebrates the city’s literary side in good, spooky fun. While centuries’ worth of visitors have flocked to Bath for a steaming soak, the sweeping Georgian architecture and rolling, lush countryside also attract active travelers to enjoy the area on foot, bicycle or even a kayak.
Recommendations
- The Roman Baths, a preserved ancient spa complex and museum, offers immersion in the city’s history, even if visitors cannot soak in its famous hot water.
- No 1. Royal Crescent, a museum in a restored townhouse, recreates the interior of a wealthy Georgian family home.
- Thermae Bath Spa offers a contemporary way to enjoy the city’s hot water.
- Oak is a mostly vegan restaurant that grows some of the produce that ends up on diners’ plates.
- Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein offers visitors creepy, experiential ways to explore the “Frankenstein” author’s life and legacy.
- Herschel Museum of Astronomy is the house where William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 while living with his sibling and fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel.
- Bath Aqua Glass lets you blow a glass bauble for a personalized souvenir.
- Royal Victoria Park and Hedgemead Park bookend an architectural walk through the city.
- Original Wild, a local outdoor adventure company, will take you on a paddle-powered tour of the city.
- No. 15 by GuestHouse, a hotel occupying three Georgian townhouses, serves afternoon tea with style.
- Corkage is a wine bar and restaurant with an inviting terrace.
- The Green Bird Cafe is a pit stop for coffee and snacks.
- The Bell Inn is an independent pub that serves real ale and has live music.
- The Fine Cheese Co. sells cheeses made by small producers who use traditional methods.
- The Elder serves British fare, with emphasis on local produce and game, amid elegant wood-paneled décor.
- Bathwick Pharmacy stocks modern pharmacy products in a shop whose interior dates to 1826.
- The Antique Map Shop sells maps of the British Isles, Europe and the Americas, most over a century old.
- Independent Spirit of Bath sells locally produced drinks alongside international favorites.
- Dangleberg is the place to get spicy or fermented condiments.
- The Yellow Shop is a nostalgic haven for vintage and new clothing.
- Bath is a walkable city. But if your feet get tired, the Bathrider all-day ticket covers most buses in the city center for 5.60 pounds, or about $7. Parking is limited in the city center, although foreign-issued disability parking permits are accepted for visitors with mobility issues.
- The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is a peaceful aerie and a stunning example of Bath’s Georgian architecture. Rooms start at £319.
- Eight, in two townhouses in the city center, has 20 rooms, each with its own spirit. Rooms start at £130.
- Cheap and cheerful, the YMCA Bath hostel is off Walcot Street, the creative heart of the city. Rates start at £22 for a bed in a dorm, with a variety of private rooms available.
Itinerary
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