Well hello to you my reader chums! Travelling around England and the rest of the UK and seeing more of what's on my doorstep has become a goal of mine, as I'm usually travelling abroad. Bath is a city that has been on my must-see list for a while and my partner and I decided to book a long weekend there so I could see what it was all about.
If you fancy a trip to Bath and want some personal insight, here's my 3-guide to Bath and everything I got up to.
Day one - Getting to know the city
Brunch at The Courtyard Café
When I arrived in Bath, the first thing on my list was grabbing something to eat (after a long drive) and through recommendation, I went to The Courtyard Café, tucked away down a quaint road. This café was cute, the best way to describe it with a tiny, homely feel and reflective ceiling. They also had an outdoor dining space but it was too cold. I loved it here because of their cheesy crumpets - such a moreish and wholesome dish to set us up for the day.
Visit The Roman Baths
The biggest and renowned tourist site in Bath is undoubtedly the Roman Baths and you can't go to the city without a visit here. Tickets cost around £20 each for adults (depending on the day you go) and I'd advise booking in advance. It wasn't too busy when we went all things considering but for a Friday in January, busier than I would expect. Seeing the Baths in person was such a fascinating and insightful experience and I love roaming around, listening to the history on the free audio guide. You could easily spend one to two hours here, depending on how much detail you'd like to learn.
Afternoon snack at Mrs Potts Chocolate House
I'm chocolate obsessed and when I saw the Mrs Potts Chocolate House on TikTok, I made sure to give it a visit (twice) during my time in the city. On the first occasion, I tried their delicious and rich 'Matilda' chocolate cake and it tasted like heaven (giving me a sugar high for sure). I absolutely loved it and because of that made sure on day two, I tried their hot chocolate to take around in the city.
Mooch in Toppings and Company Booksellers
I'm a bookworm and one of the things I adored about Bath was their gorgeous bookshop scene. The most famous that I saw wherever I researched was the Toppings and Company Booksellers. This place was like a maze for books and there were too many to look at but I loved the variety and how busy it was - it makes my heart happy to see many people invested in the book world.
Get your city bearings
As Bath is such a beautiful city with typical traditional architecture, it's wonderful to take a walk around and gain your bearings around the city. Whether you love boutique shopping or admiring the architecture, taking a walk around allows you to get your city bearings and know your way around.
Visit Pulteney Bridge
When mooching, you'll probably come across Pulteney Bridge and I would take some time to admire it in all its glory and take a wander along the river and across the bridge itself.
Dinner at The Hope and Anchor
Bath boasts a diverse range of restaurants, from classic British pub grub to pizzerias or Thai restaurants that it can seem impossible to know where to dine. We were staying slightly out of the city in a nearby village and had dinner at The Hope and Anchor. This pub is slightly upmarket with a delicious menu and cosy vibe.
Day two - Exploring the sights
Visit Bath Abbey
On the second day in Bath, you'll have more of an idea of where everything is and delve more into other gorgeous sights, such as the Bath Abbey. I walked past the Abbey plenty of times on the first day but only went inside it on the second day. I'm obsessed with churches and Bath Abbey was certainly unique and glorious to admire. Tickets cost £7.50 each for adults and you can buy in there but if you're visiting during a busy time, I'd suggest buying them in advance.
Wander in Mrs B's Emporium
This bookshop has to be one of my favourites ever and I came home with a stack of books from it. Like Toppings and Company booksellers, it was a maze of endless book varieties with a quirky interior. But the best part was the staff were all trained to give personal recommendations based on genres and authors you like. I told them how I adore thrillers, murder mysteries and a list of authors I read a lot of and they recommended so many apt books I've not heard of but were right up my street.
Visit The Circus and The Royal Crescent
You can channel your inner Bridgeton with a visit to The Circus and The Royal Crescent. Both are quite near each other and are free to roam around and get that much-needed photo. I loved walking around these sights because they made me feel a little royal and fancy. I'm pretty sure you can also go on a Bridgeton tour and they'll show you the houses/streets used in the series.
Go to Bath Artisan Market
I'm a market girlie and love roaming around markets wherever I am, including Bath. The Bath Artisan Market was a local paradise with fresh produce, crafts and second-hand books. You can easily spend a while here walking around and finding some gems to take home as souvenirs.
Try the classic buns at Sally Lunn's
Bath is known for the 'Bath Buns' and at Sally Lunn's, you'll have the complete traditional experience, trying a bun (sweet or savoury), in a quintessentially British café. I loved Sally Lunn's as not only are you enjoying a delicious treat but knowing there is a lot of history in the building makes the experience even more authentic.
Eat gelato at Swoon Gelato
When I'm on holiday, ice cream is a must and I couldn't resist trying the gelato on offer here, even if it was January! Swoon Gelato had an authentic feel to it with an array of delicious flavours to offer - I had the hazelnut and adored every bite.
Play games at Thirsty Meeples
My partner loves board games and he found a board game café right in the centre of the city. We decided to book and spend a few hours playing games and honestly, I loved the energy here. Everyone was enjoying their games, the staff were fab at recommendations and the café offered various foods from cakes to cool alternatives of fizzy drinks.
Dinner at The Circus Restaurant
I wanted to try out one of the higher-end restaurants in Bath as the weekend we went was also our anniversary and we wanted to celebrate with a lovely dinner. The Circus Restaurant blew my taste buds away. Their menu was small but well-thought-out with a variety of dishes for the different palates. I'm still salivating over the starter, main and dessert.
Day three: Visit sights nearby
Go to Prior Park Landscape Garden
You can easily spend more time in the city on the last day, soaking up more of the shops, endless museums and cafes, or head out of the centre to one of the nearest National Trust sights, Prior Park Landscape Garden. Tickets are around £8 and there is no parking onsite, yet you can easily get a bus from the centre or park on one of the local streets nearby. Prior Park is a breath of fresh air from city life. The endless greenery makes for an impressive nature walk around. Plus, the main bridge and buildings are superb to admire as you soak up the open space.
Head over to Castle Coombe
Bath is near the Cotswolds, around half an hour (depending on which part you visit). With such close distance, I'd recommend spending your last afternoon heading over to the Cotswolds. We went to Castle Coombe, a small village in the Cotswolds which is stunning but exceptionally small and we only ended up needing 2 hours here. I would say come and see Castle Coombe as it is charming and what I'd picture the Cotswolds to be but there are also many other spots in the Cotswolds you can venture to.
I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning your trip?
Thank you for reading <3
Fab itinerary for Bath! I'd not been before and then went twice in 2023 and adored it. It is now my favourite city. I didn't realise there was a board game cafe...must do that on my next visit x
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