As a lover of Roman architecture, visiting the city of Bath in England had long been on my travel wish list.  This once Roman-turned-Gregorian-era spa town is rich with heritage and history, and has served as a backdrop in literature, film and television, ranging from Jane Austin’s novels to the TV series Bridgerton.  The entire city of Bath is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason.  It’s easy to reach and is an absolute delight to uncover its many layers of history, even on the shortest of visits.  Here are my top tips and recommendations for visiting Bath:

How to Get There
If you’re traveling without a car, Bath is an easy destination to reach by train.  After arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) we took the quick 15-minute Heathrow Express to London’s Paddington train station.  From here, we booked a direct GWR train from Paddington to Bath Spa, a journey that took just under 1.5 hours.  Bath is relatively small and compact, so most hotels are an easy walk from both the train and nearby bus stations.

Where to Stay
Eight is as charming as it gets.  Located on a narrow, pedestrianized street off North Parade, the boutique hotel’s central address in the heart of Bath makes getting around on foot a breeze.  Eight originally had 8 thoughtfully decorated rooms and has since grown to 20 that spill into a second Gregorian townhouse on the nearby Abbey Green.

We stayed in the primary building and loved our cute-as-a-button Triple Room with a spacious main area and private bathroom (both with a fireplace), as well as a small “nook” with a single bed and desk that was a just-right size for our 8-year-old son.  Not only was our room a comfortable place to retreat at the end of the day, the staff at Eight were warm and friendly and we enjoyed having access to the breakfast room on the ground floor as well as the cozy lounge area downstairs with its well-curated honesty bar.

What to See and Do
The main site in Bath is undoubtedly its Roman Baths.  This well-preserved complex dates back to the Roman times when the city was known as Aquae Sulis.  A temple to the goodness Minerva was constructed here around 60AD over a natural hot spring of continuously flowing 115-degree water that was believed to have healing properties.  Over time it grew into a complex that was used for both recreation and offerings.  What we see today was restored in the 1800s, and an audioguide included in the price of admission leads visitors on a one-way path through the site, revealing its layers of history through artifacts and models.  At the end of your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the mineral-heavy spa water or can opt for afternoon tea in its accompanying Pump Room restaurant.

In the heart of Bath you’ll also find the beautiful Gothic-style Bath Abbey.  Originally constructed in the 1500s as an Anglo-Saxon monastery, it was here where King Edward I was crowned as the first king of England in 973AD.  Don’t miss the option of adding on a guided tour of Abbey’s clock, bell tower and roof where you can take in the 360-degree views high above Bath.  There’s also a fascinating exhibit downstairs that traces the story of the Abbey’s tumultuous history.

There are a ton of museums to choose from in Bath including the Victoria Art Gallery, Museum of Bath at Work, No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Holburne Museum, the Jane Austin Center and more.  Enjoy exploring the city’s cobbled streets to pop into unique shops and cafes, or soak in the grandeur of the city’s distinctive Georgian architecture on the Royal Crescent, The Circus or Great Pulteney Street across the Pultney Bridge.

There are also numerous parks and green spaces throughout the city like the Parade Gardens, Royal Victoria Park and Alexandria Park, or cross the River Avon peaceful walks to the likes of Bathampton or along the Bath Skyline overlooking the city below.

Where to Eat and Drink
From pub food and pints to sweet treats and coffee, Bath won’t leave you hungry or thirsty.  Here are some of the places we ate and drank:

Garrick’s Head (7-8 Saint John’s Place) – We ate here on our first night in Bath, which happened to be a Sunday. That meant generous Sunday Roasts with all the delicious trimmings along with pub classics like fish and chips, burgers, salads and more, paired with great drinks and friendly service.

The Raven (7 Queen Street) – By far our favorite dining experiences during this trip to the UK that we almost missed out on since they do not take bookings. Arrive early to get a table, then order at the bar once you’ve ordered from its menu centered around hot savory pies (classic or loaded, plus other customization options). Faced with even more choices to drink, try a flight of craft beers alongside your meal in this fun pub environment.

For breakfast we ate at both Eight (small assortment of dishes made to order ) and the Abbey Hotel (a la carte menu or reasonably priced breakfast buffet with variety of offerings).

There’s no shortage of sweet treats like The Bath Sweet Shop (8 North Parade Passage – old school candy shop with rows of jars filled with colorful candy sold by weight) and The Bath Bakervee (7 North Parade Passage – fist sized balls of cookie dough that magically transform into deliciously abundant cookie creations, which go great wiht a coffee from The Colombian Comany at 6 Abbeygate Street), plus ice cream shops galore!

Also Good to Know
On our last day in Bath (before catching the train to London) we booked a small group tour with Mad Max Tours to Stonehenge, Avebury and some of the nearby Cotswold villages. It was a day well spent with engaging commentary from our guide and a variety of places visited, which you can read about in my post Discovering the Mystery of Stonehenge.

ON THE MAP