On a recent trip to London we made a weekend getaway to Bath and had the best time. We’ve been to London so much but really wanted to get out of the city and explore more of England. Everyone we spoke with told us how beautiful Bath is and how we would just love it, so we tacked on a couple extra days to visit the ancient city. Named and known for its Roman-built baths, the city of Bath is a charming destination whether you combine it with your trip to London as a day excursion or if you choose to spend a longer and more relaxing time there like we did. This is my Eat + Stay + Play travel guide to Bath, England!
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Fun Facts About Bath
Bath is the only city in the UK to be a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety.
Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century.
The city is home to well preserved Roman Baths and a temple was constructed here in 60-70 AD.
During an archaeological dig in 2012, a collection of 30,000 Roman coins was unearthed believed to date from the 3rd century. It was one of the largest discovered hoards in Britain.
The dominant architectural style in Central Bath is Georgian.
The popular Netflix drama, Bridgerton, features many scenes shot on location in Bath.
Where to Eat
Clayton’s Kitchen – We loved our lunch here in every way. Chef Patron Robert Clayton delivers British fine dining set in a beautifully appointed Georgian townhouse (he has earned two Michelin stars throughout his career). The food here is absolutely delicious, of course. They offer a two and three course lunch menu or you can order a la carte. I went with the two course option and loved starting with the Roasted vine tomato & charred red pepper soup with fig leaf oil and rosemary focaccia. My second course was the Grilled Filet of Sea Bass with green beans, chive crushed potatoes and lobster sauce. My husband really enjoyed the Pembrokshire Little Haven Crab sandwich with fries. The atmosphere here is lovely and on a nice day you can enjoy their cute little terrace. If we had more time, I would have eaten here a second time. I highly recommend it!
Cappadocia Mediterranean Restaurant – Another meal we thoroughly enjoyed in Bath was at Cappadocia. They have a really beautiful setting here with paintings of hot air balloons floating above Cappadocia, Turkey. The food was next-level good. We opted for the 4-course dinner which featured a selection of hot and cold meze, main dishes of mixed grill kebab, and baklava for dessert. Arrive hungry and you’ll love it. I recommend a reservation as every table was full.
The Huntsman – I can’t come to England and not indulge in a pub lunch. There’s just something so comforting about it. We enjoyed a pre-dinner pint here as well as lunch before touring the Roman Baths. We both ordered fish and chips and it was perfect. I personally love the mushy peas with just a dash of malt vinegar and lemon juice over everything. Cheers!
Sotto Sotto – This place came recommended and you must get a reservation far in advance. One of the most attractive things about Sotto Sotto is the atmosphere. The restaurant is located in an underground cellar where you dine beneath arched stone. The wait staff was very friendly and the service was exceptional. I wanted so badly to love the food, but it was probably just “ok.” While it’s simple in its preparation and ingredients are obviously fresh and of high quality, it wasn’t the best Italian food I’ve had but it was good and the overall experience was quite enjoyable.
Where to Stay
One of my absolute favorite parts of our trip to Bath was our stay at No. 15 by Guesthouse Hotels. If you’re looking for a truly unique boutique hotel experience in Bath, I highly recommend staying here. Not only are the accommodations incredibly comfortable and luxuriously cozy, the staff is also remarkably friendly and helpful. You’ll find bits of whimsy and eclectic decor in every corner. No. 15 is truly a must stay when in Bath.
Some of the special things I loved about No. 15 were:
A spacious and elegant room with decor to envoy. The closet space is enormous as is the marble lined bathtub. We loved the view of Bath out our windows that stretched all the way to the high ceiling.
There is a diverse vinyl library for you to select records to take back to your room. Each room comes equipped with a record player!
Coffee and tea are provided in your room within an adorable dollhouse.
Premium toiletries from Wildsmith Skin are included.
Access to a pantry filled with sweet and savory snacks 24/7. There is even a fridge with different milks for your coffee and a freezer stocked with ice cream.
A beautiful bar to unwind with a delicious cocktail at the end of your day exploring Bath.
A delicious hot breakfast was included in our stay.
Our favorite experience above all was the spa. No. 15 Bath offers bespoke spa treatments using organic, vegan, and sustainably sourced oils for the “ultimate eco-luxury experience.” We booked the Copper Room Package for two and left feeling like utter jello. It was one of the best massage experiences I’ve ever had, to be honest. We started with a soak and glass of bubbles in the giant copper tub and followed that with a massage and choice of foot treatment or facial. I went facial, my husband went feet. Both of us would do it again in a heartbeat.
Guesthouse Hotels is a boutique hotel group with hotels in Bath, York, and Margate. They will soon open in Brighton as well.
Where to Play: Things to See and Do in Bath
Bath Abbey – The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Bath Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery founded in the 7th century. You will need to purchase a ticket to enter.
The Royal Crescent – The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses in a sweeping crescent shape. It is one of the best examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom. Spend some time walking through Victoria Park and perhaps enjoy a picnic in front of The Royal Crescent.
Shopping – St John’s Place is a beautiful shopping district with name brand and boutique shops as well as cafes and sweet shops. I really enjoyed just strolling through it and popping into stores here and there. Bath is such a relaxing city with great walkable areas throughout.
Enjoy a Spa Day – The Thermae Bath Spa is a very popular destination to enjoy a hot spring spa experience.
Roman Baths – On your first trip to Bath you need to see the original Roman Baths. In addition to seeing the Roman built baths and ruins there is a museum that guides you through its history. Some of the tour is underground where you’ll also see a sauna room and gym. We enjoyed this experience and spent about 1.5 hours touring it. It is self-paced with plenty of opportunities for some unique photos.
Guildhall Market – This historic indoor market is Bath’s oldest shopping venue. Around 20 vendors occupy the space selling leather goods, pet supplies, French cheeses, hardware supplies, and second-hand books among other things. The building dates from the 19th century but trading has taken place on this site for over 800 years.
Pulteney Bridge – This famous bridge stretched over the River Avon and was completed in 1774. It reminds me of the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence because it too has shops built across it.
Giant Plane Tree at Abbey Green – This is one of the oldest architecturally planted trees in the world. It was planted as a sapling in 1793!
Original Victorian Post Box – The hexagonal post box is still in use and has been for over 100 years. The hexagonal design was eventually discontinued because letters kept getting stuck inside. Look for it on Pulteney Street.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my Eat + Stay + Play travel guide to Bath, England! Have you been to Bath before?
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xo – Erin
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