Bath - gone downhill?

[SecretPeston]

Today was the second time recently I've had to go into Bath city centre. Prior to this, my last visits were just before the pandemic started.

I couldn't help but notice on my visit today and recently that what I remember as a clean and pleasant place to visit and shop, has really gone downhill. There was litter all around the shopping streets, it was really crowded, and a lot of shops and cafes/restaurants had closed down. That said, a lot of the cafes/restaurants looked very busy and some were queuing out of the door.

The first few times I visited Bath in 2017-2018 I remember I loved it and enjoyed my time there.

Overall today and recently it looked quite scruffy, and sad, and I couldn't wait to leave. Quite a shame.

What has happened to Bath?

Well that's sad. If Bath is no longer salubrious, there is no hope left.

I live there- it's a totally foul day with a storm and rain. I think normally it's one of the cleanest and best kept cities out there. Everywhere looks shit on an awful day!
Stuff has closed yes, but other nice things have happened and although it has some empty stuff , officially it is apparently the most resilient retail destination in the Uk.

We went to Bath the Christmas before Covid and I loved it - dead posh. But then I'm from Bradford so everywhere else looks like utopia to me.

Like Last of the Summer Wine!

The park and ride is pretty good I've always found in Bath.

The Galleries/Cabot is okay, The Mall isn't great, apart from JL and M&S.

@MrsMoastyToasty I can honestly say I never ever go to cribbs- the parking may be free , but it's a truly soulless place. I guess we are all different

The LA is really trying to discourage people from driving into Bath ... locals and tourists alike. And there really is no need to do so–just leave your car in one of the many park and rides and collect it on your way home. Once you are in the city centre you can walk everywhere faster than driving. Bath is very small.
Those Roman and Georgian streets weren't built for cars.

@NoNewsIsGoodNews I'm going to guess... the Gainsborough Spa or the Royal Crescent Hotel?

The Tories have spent 13 years dismantling public services.

I love Bath. I was there this morning and thought it was remarkably quiet compared to the businesses of Christmas.
Beautiful city-even in the rain. Yes, lots of shops have sadly closed down, but that’s true of everywhere.

I live just outside Bath and I haven’t been in since Covid, no intention of going either.
Even before Covid it was getting increasingly grubby, people begging and shops closing down. Salisbury isn’t any better and I used to love going there.

It’s happening everywhere op

Most places are covered in litter when the weather is awful - unfortunately bins are open and once they're close to full, stuff flies out and all over the place.

I was there over Christmas and it's still lovely. 2 of my chosen live there and love it.

@Horsemad Not the OP, but we like both Duke’s, which offers only breakfast (or did), and the Queensberry, which has a lovely restaurant. Duke’s is done up in traditional Georgian fashion and the Queensberry is more eclectic. Both very nice with excellent city centre locations but less grand than the Royal Crescent

My daughter and I went in August and it was fabulous! We fantasised about buying a flat in one of those magnificent Georgian buildings. The Holburne Museum was fantastic, so interesting. The streets were clean and it all had a bustling happy atmosphere. We sat in a square we recognised from a movie and listened to an amazing street musician. We had a great tea at the Pump House and overall really enjoyed the weekend.
Some of the shops were a bit pricey for what they were selling but we scored at a charity shop - my daughter got a couple good outfits and I got a Liberty print shirt for my son. Cafés were crowded but we still managed to get a table at one on Pulteney Bridge.

Good point. But also, people had left litter on benches. There were McDonald's wrappers and other take out wrappers and cups on benches. Not sure why they couldn't be put in the nearest bin...

The bins aren't open in Bath anyway because of The Gull Problem.

I'm not saying it's not grim, but it's the same all over the country - it's hardly unique to Bath and a sign that it's going downhill!

Fair enough!

Omg schooltripdrama that was the funniest thing I have read on here for ages. And your user name is spot on. When isn't a school trip a drama?

My mum lives nr Bath and I visit frequently. Covid has really ruined the high street- so many empty shops. It's sad but it's still a beautiful city and there are some new great restaurants there!

Found it hugely overrated years ago. All of those beautiful buildings carved up into flats with different style plastic windows on each floor.

It’s the same story across much of the country. So many empty units in so many high streets.