What's unmissable in Bath?

[QuimReaper]

I'm spending a solo long weekend there! All I know so far is that I'm going to walk the Bath Skyline and do a lot of eating, so hit me with the best things to see, do and eat 🙂

Thanks!

I live in Bath!

The skyline walk is one of my favourite walks - the climbs are well worth it for the beautiful views! I can also recommend walking along the canal to the Dundas Aqueduct and then heading back in via the Two Tunnels - this is quite a distance, but it would be easy enough to hire a bike if that's something you'd be into.

Personally - I think the spa is overrated but I know plenty of people enjoy it.

The Baths themselves are well worth visiting - they are open by torchlight at the moment so I would recommend an evening visit (when it will be much less busy). I also love the Fashion Museum (you should be able to get a joint Baths + Fashion Museum ticket) which is close to Royal Crescent and The Circus.

If you like reading - take a trip to the new Toppings and Co bookstore - it is quite something and the staff are great.

In terms of food and drink - I always recommend Ponte Vecchio which is a lovely authentic Italian down by the river.

It was glorious when I went recently. I didn't think it would be as interesting as it was if I'm honest

Also!

Mrs Potts' Chocolate House (near the Abbey) does amazing hot chocolate/milkshakes/cakes. Tables outside are a nice place to watch the world go by.

Christmas shop if it's still there

Good Day Cafe. I spent the whole of my long weekend in bath in there. They do cookies with a bit of brownie in them called brookies. I ate about 3 of them a day! (And put on a few pounds 😳)

Good coffee, good brownies, also I had poached eggs on toast, which were nice, just not as nice as the sweet treats

Ooh fudge kitchen is also excellent!

Hi, city neighbour!

I agree with all that you've said.

Particularly recommend the Roman Baths by torchlight, although be aware that the bar alongside the Baths shuts at 9, so if you want a drink, get out to the Great Bath before 9.

A wander through Royal Victoria Park is lovely too.

OP, is it this weekend, or do you have a little more time?

If more time, and you like reading, I recommend the book "Literary Walks in Bath" Eleven excursions in the company of eminent authors (Swift and Elliott). Brilliant, more than just Austen, and easy walks through the centre.

E

Christmas shop went several years ago 😫

Nooooooooo

Came on to say Jand Austen museum is rubbish. We went last year as part of a Janey weekend (inc her house in Hamshire which is ACES) and the JA place in Bath was so poor (talk that told us nothing, grotty underground museum) that I complained and got a refund.

Lots of other great things to see and do tho.

The Beckford Bottle Shop is a bit off the beaten track but great for food and drink.

Breakfast at the Green Bird Cafe, fabulous.

Sally Lunn's buns.

@SteveHarringtonsChestHair it was very underwhelming. We paid £12 to watch someone give a brief talk about Jane Austen and her family, then walked along a corridor with plaques on the wall givingthe same information. Then sat down in a small cinema room to watch a short, badly directed and badly acted piece about Jane Austen. Then into a room where you could try some early 19th century costumes on to take a photo. No-one tried any costumes on.

One of the houses that she and her family stayed in was up the street, but is now a dental surgery. The "experience" was in the same row of houses, but not one that she lived in. Just one room was furnished as a house of that period.

Far better to go up to the Royal Crescent and visit number 1. Unfortunately we were too late in the day to do this after wasting time at the Jane Austin experience.

Yes definitely second a torchlit visit to the Roman Baths! And yes the Thermae Spa is fab (book ahead for both of these).

Here's a few more:

The new World Heritage Centre on York St (just behind the Roman Baths) is a brilliant, quick, free, interactive introduction to Bath and why it's important. Great little trail guides too.

The open top buses work out at pretty good value as you get two trips for the price of one (and the ticket is valid for two days, and you can get on/off multiple times). The commentary is really interesting and it's a relaxing way to explore the city while learning stuff.

Get a coffee and some kind of Scandi treat in Mjölk by the Abbey - top spot for buskers and people watching.

Unless you particularly want to go for a longer walk, I wouldn't do the whole Skyline - half of it is quite dull tbh. Maybe look at this one - it would give you longer to do other stuff in Bath too:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-skyline/features/brand-new-walk-to-the-view

Oh and if you're interested in Mary Shelley / Frankenstein, then the House of Frankenstein is really good too 😀

Now that sounds amazing!

It is Rolys fudge shop/pantry 😄 we spotted it a couple days ago whilst there, dd loves Rolys fudge. There’s also several big sweet shops but they are expensive.

The Roman baths are a must if you haven’t been. Because I live local I have been several times (mainly school trips as a child), there’s loads of places to eat, bakeries, posh burger place and pizza places. The abbey is pretty and there are lots of smaller shops near it, don’t stick to the main high street, go down the side roads.

Wow, thanks all so much! I'm so excited!