City Breaks In and Around Bath

For those who like to combine exploring a beautiful city with some country pursuits, there can be few better places in the UK, or even anywhere in the world, than Bath. It's many attractions have made it one of the most popular short break destinations in the UK.

Bath is surely one of the world's most beautiful cities, but what many of us find even more beautiful is the surrounding countryside. Even more beautiful still is the fact that you can drive straight out of the city and into that rolling countryside with such ease compared to many of the UK’s other city tourist destinations.

Bath offers stunning architecture, excellent shopping, iconic attractions and some of the country’s best walking opportunities right on the doorstep. So the city really does offer something for everyone, and is unequalled for those of us who want to combine a little cultural activity, a little shopping, fine dining and country-walking, all over the course of one long weekend.

The best time to do this for many of us is in the spring or autumn. During these times of year, the West Country is at its most beautiful. In spring, the first flush of life transforms the landscape, which forms such a stunning backdrop to the city. Bath takes on its classic “scrubbed clean” look if you’re lucky to get some early sunshine, and the weather is ideal for hill-walking.

The summer has its own charm, but the heat can make everywhere feel a little sultry. The autumn’s burst of colour again makes an amazing and contrasting backdrop to the city’s famous white buildings, and is again ideal weather, on the whole, for walking and other country pursuits in and around the city. Be sure to pack your best base layer (the weather in spring and autumn is extremely changeable) and your walking boots as well as your evening wear! Try the Merrell sale if you need to buy a new pair of walking boots before you go.

Where to stay in Bath

If you’re looking for the best place to stay, then the city has something to suit everyone’s pocket. Towards the top end of the scale, the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel and the Villa Claudia both offer excellent potential choices in elegant, traditional English houses. The Macdonald Bath Spa was previously a private house and dates from the 1830s. The house boasts a long sweeping driveway, with a stunning seven acres of landscaped gardens. There are 129 bedrooms, all reflecting the atmosphere of a private house. The hotel’s Vellore Restaurant, formerly a ballroom, offers traditional English food in an elegant setting, whilst the Alfresco is the bustling colonnade restaurant, with views out across the gardens.

Villa Claudia meanwhile is a Victorian House dating from 1896, very close to the city centre and convenient for the city’s many restaurants and excellent shopping facilities. As its name suggests, the Villa is ideally placed if you want to explore the old Roman Baths, Holburne Museum and Bath Abbey to name just a few places to visit.

For customers on a tighter budget, then consider the Griffin Inn’s impressive but affordable four star accommodation. The Inn is located on the peaceful Beauford Square, adjoining Queen’s Square and just a short distance form the Theatre Royal and the Thermal Spa complex. The Inn provides an excellent central base for exploring the city.

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