I mainly write about interiors, but every so often I share travel guides to my favourite cities (if you dive into the archive, you’ll find design guides for Helsinki, Amsterdam, Paris, Porto, Malmo and many more). Today I’m sharing the CSH Travel Guide to Bath – a beautifully quaint British city known for its soft, honey-hued buildings and graceful Georgian architecture.
Stepping off the train at Bath station and walking through the town, past the old Roman Baths, classical Bath stone facades and curved terraces, it feels like you’ve momentarily stepped onto a film set (indeed Vanity Fair and Bridgerton were filmed here, among others). Coming from London, there seems to be a sense of calm and tranquility about Bath, as if a director has told everyone to hush before the action starts and a horse drawn cart crosses your path. I didn’t see any horse drawn carts of course, but it’s not hard to imagine what this spa town would have been like in its hey day.
Even though I had just 24 hours to while away in Bath, I enjoyed slowly wandering around and soaking up the quiet atmosphere evoked by the elegant architecture. Looking up at the elegant proportions and peering down into the sweet garden flats that homeowners have transformed into a peaceful pockets of greenery. After just one night I returned home feeling calmer and less in a hurry; restored for a brief moment of the frenetic pace a city like London instills in you.
Bath Travel Guide
This Bath travel guide is not about the touristy things you might see if you’re a first time visitor to Bath, but about the more local haunts and hidden gems that will feed your creative soul and fill your belly. Bath has a cultural wealth of independent eateries, design destinations and unique boutiques – there really is plenty to see away from the main hot spots if you know where to look.
PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
Landrace Bakery – 61A Walcot Street – a small bakery, shop and intimate restaurant specialising in sourdough bread. The cinnamon buns are to die for!
Berdoulat – 8 Margaret’s Buildings – a lovingly restored shop from design duo Patrick and Neri Williams, selling a range of honest homewares produced in collaboration with local craftspeople, as well as a variety of wines, herbs, spices and fresh flowers. Don’t miss Rye Bakery at the back of the store for fresh bread and patisseries brought in daily
The Beckford Bottle Shop – 5-8 Saville Row – a relaxed bistro serving artisan cheeses, charcuterie and small plates
Corkage – 5 Chapel Row – an award winning independent wine restaurant serving locally sourced small plates
OAK restaurant – 2 N Parade – A plant-based restaurant and grocer offering natural wine, sustainably grown produce and small plates
Below: 1 and 2: Landrace Bakery, 3 and 4: Berdoulat
PLACES TO SHOP
Holloways of Ludlow – 37 Milsom Street – Two storeys of contemporary design and lighting from the likes of Gubi, Northern, Menu and Carl Hansen & Son, housed in the former HAY store
Persephone Books – 8 Edgar Buildings – an independent publisher that reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers. They moved from London’s Lambs Conduit Street to Bath during the pandemic
8 Holland Street – 23 Brock Street – a new gallery and design store, specialising in European art and design from the 1900 onwards, alongside objects and textiles
nām – 22c New Bond Street – a sweet little shop selling candles, artisanal ceramics and handmade trinkets
Magalleria – 5 Upper Borough Walls – an independent magazine shop
Atelier Ellis – 98 Walcot Street – paint brand Atelier Ellis has opened its first store in a small Bath townhouse, complete with a beautiful exhibition space
Below: 1 and 2: Holloway’s of Ludlow, 3 and 4: Persephone books
THINGS TO SEE
Francis Gallery – 3 Fountain Buildings – a contemporary gallery dedicated to emerging international artists, ‘in a setting informed by Korean aesthetics, founded by Cereal magazine’s Rosa Park
The Holbourne Museum – Great Pulteney Street – better known as Lady Danbury’s townhouse in Bridgerton, this Grade 1 listed building was the city’s first art gallery, showcasing the collection of Sir William Holbourne. A three storey glass extension by Eric Parry Architects was added in 2011
Fashion Museum – Assembly Rooms – a world class collection of fashion from the time of Shakespeare to the present day
Thermae Spa – The Hetling Pump Room – book ahead to enjoy Britain’s only natural thermal waters and take in views over the city from their open-air rooftop pool
Below: Francis Gallery
STAY
No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath – guesthousehotels.co.uk – part of the GuestHouse hotel group, a boutique Georgian townhouse with 37 understated and elegant bedrooms, as well as a subterranean spa
The Yard –theyardinbath.co.uk – fourteen character filled bedrooms set around an historic courtyard that once belonged to a coaching inn
The Curator’s Apartment – thecuratorsapartment.com – a beautifully beige home away from home, inspired by the art galleries and characterful independents of the Artisan Quarter, see more here
I hope you enjoyed my Bath travel guide. 24 hours was way too fleeting and I really hope to be back again soon to see everything I didn’t get a chance to tick off my list. I might even have to persuade my husband of the merits of moving out of London!
Have you visited Bath? Do you have any recommendations to add?
