Bath

Bath is one of Britain's most appealing cities. Exquisite Roman and Georgian architecture, hipster hang-outs and swish spas make it hard to resist.

Architecture

Bath's extraordinary array of architectural treasures has earned the whole city Unesco World Heritage Site status. It's easy to see why. Bath is home to one of the world's best-preserved Roman bathhouses – sited here because of hot springs that bubble up at a toasty 46°C (115°F) degrees. In the Circus and Royal Crescent, the city has some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings.Their construction turned Bath into the destination for 18th century society. That sophisticated spa town tradition continues at Thermae Bath Spa, a luxurious new/old building combo that offers views of the cityscape from its alfresco roof-top pool.

History

This city's history isn't all about the architecture. For many Bath is synonymous with the English writer Jane Austen. The author of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for two of her novels. An ideal introduction is the Jane Austen Centre, where guides in period costume and a Regency tearoom help bring the era to life. Other heritage drawcards include No 1 Royal Crescent, which provides an insight into the furnishings behind the sweeping semi-circular facade, and the extensive folk art collections of the American Museum in Britain.

Culture

As befits a city that's long been a leading light in the cultural scene, contemporary arts make a strong showing in Bath. A batch of quality festivals include those themed around theatre, classical music and literature – they're scheduled away from the main (and very crowded) summer season and are a great focus for a visit.

Year-round, evening entertainment includes an art house cinema, comedy club, and the historic Theatre Royal, which has a main stage, studio venue and – unusually – a space specifically for children's and young people's shows.

Food & Drink

Although less obvious an attraction than the city's architecture and history, Bath's pubs and restaurants have real appeal – taking time out in them is one of the best ways to get to know the modern city. Eateries include refined period tearooms, classy restaurants, retro cafes, artisan bakeries and a crop of quality gastropubs.

Bath's drinking dens are also a true highlight – heritage pubs, trendy bars, bistros and boozers beloved by the music crowd, you'll find them all here. And, because of Bath's compact size, venues are largely within easy walking distance.