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?

Must places in the uk I have visited recently have been like this. Just arrived back from overseas 6 months ago. The uk in general has a huge litter problem at the moment. It is absolutely awful!

Tourists have always visited Bath all year round. I have lived fairly close to Bath for about 30 years. Just after the pandemic I was appalled at the state of it. The last time I visited (November) I thought it had improved somewhat.

Local refuse collection and cleaning services have been cut back year after year as local authorities have swingeing cuts from central government. The Conservatives support this wholeheartedly. They don't believe in the public good.

👏🏻 fucking tories

We went to Bath the first week of January and really enjoyed it. Certainly did not consider it grotty or unkempt- quite the opposite. January is never a good look for the UK though. We also live in a tourist area that has become a bit down at heel in the past 10 years so do have an eye to the tourist market.

I really loved Bath. I loved how compact it was. I enjoyed the restaurants (although largely limited by a DC with food issues). I did not like Sally Lunn's very much- it was clearly a tourist trap which was a shame. The waitress we had there though was delightful though and so friendly and with such a lovely smile.

I live outside of Bath and the only way to access the train station, RUH or the M4 is to drive through it. The P&R to the hospital is unreliable if you have an appointment and you can't leave the car at the P&R overnight if you're using the train for a trip. The P&R nearest to me gets flood quite a lot as there is no drainage system. If the LA want those of us living outside of Bath to use public transport more then they really need to make it better.

Bath is just as lovely as it’s always been. I don’t think it’s changed since the pandemic. It is still cleaner than 99% of other cities and has a lovely coffee shop vibe.

The central places have always been busy since the redevelopment of the centre, but places on the edge of the centre are quieter and lovely.

I was most recently there in Oct 2021 and April 2022 (DD was at uni there for 4 years until last summer) and the main thing I noticed was the number of homeless people and beggars. I now live in a country where this is rare, so that may be less evident to others who are in the UK. I'm probably going back again in July as I'm doing my doctorate at Bath uni, so I will see if much has changed. Mostly I'm so pleased to be back in the UK and surrounded by familiar things (Primark, Greggs and Pret ) that I don't like to be too critical of anywhere I visit.

Couldn't agree more.

I live on the edge of Bath and the bus service is absolute rubbish. Don't turn up on time, break down, get cancelled. You can't rely on them to get you where you want to be at the time you want to be there. If it was better I would probably ditch my car entirely. As it is, I can't.

Agree, I'm also local but for me to use the P&R I have to drive into bathroom get to it or miles around therfore it's easier to drive into the city. We do tend to go to Bristol as its easier to park etc although further away in distance.

Bath council is majority lib dem and the MP is a lib dem too.

They've always been a bit useless, but the final straw was the clean air zone. It has pushed far more lorries and cars to roads like ours on the edge of Bath. Our clean air doesn't matter it seems.

The council is intent on pushing cars out of the city, but appear to be doing nothing to improve the public transport system.

They spent a huge amount of money on a bus lane a few years ago that was very badly planned. They then had to spend even more money changing it to how it should always have been. Useless.

Bath is outrageously toursity all the time now, all year round

Only thing keeping the city alive I think!

I haven't been in since Sept and don't know when I'll go in again. Last time I went shopping I bought nothing but ordered online as soon as I got home due to not being able to find anything I wanted in my size.

Tourists like yourself!

I found the same for Tunbridge Wells. I think some of the wealthier towns are suffering most obviously. We just don't need that much retail

Yes, Kingston used to be a great shopping town, now it’s miserable. The high street has been taken over by vaping shops and American candy —money launderers—, a lot of the mid range clothes shops went under and I think they were a draw.

Meanwhile other smaller local towns are getting busier.

Don't you mean down the plughole op??

I worked in bath a few years ago and it was always a shit tip walking from the station to office on a Monday morning before the street cleaning began.
Rest of the week was fine. Other than Christmas market time (shudder).

@MrsMoastyToasty went to Cribbs after Christmas for the first time in years and I was shocked at how busy it was, was great to see so many shoppers.

I'm not a tourist to Bath

I went to sixth form in bath - a VERY long time ago and it had a very seedy underworld then with a huge drugs problem. The age old rural poverty being disguised by beautiful scenery…

Still going on in Twerton...horrible part of the city.

My daughter has lived in the town centre for 9 years. She's hoping to move to Bristol as Bath has gone a bit meh for her. I've noticed a lot of lovely shops are now gone and it does feel a bit different. Still rammed though. Last time my dh went down to pick her up he was hit with a clean air zone charge as he didn't know they had implemented one and my dd doesn't drive. So a heads up for anyone going down to the town in a car x

Same thing has happened to Canterbury, looks a bit run down and neglected now. Two big department stores closed down a few years ago and are still boarded up. It's a shame.

There's no clean air charge for cars, though. Just taxis and anything van-size or larger.

I drove today to get to the pool and parked at Avon Street. It was fine. Pleased to see Morrisons have taken the old New Look site!

There is no way in a million years I would use a Park and Ride and add 30 minutes to my 15-minute drive. I've lived here 15 years and never have. Have you seen the queues to get on the bus?

Are there any cities that look better now than they did 5 years ago?