Ten other reasons to visit Bath
» Bath Abbey. Built, rebuilt and modified since Anglo-Saxon times, the abbey you see now is the last major Gothic church to have been built in England, so it represents the pinnacle of the art, a magnificent building, dignified and full of light. Side attractions include displays of ancient bits and pieces dug up from the site, and the walls are plastered in memorial tablets to all the wealthy Bath residents who died in times past. You could spend days just reading these things alone. See www.bathabbey.org
» Prior Park Landscape Garden. A wonderful 18th-century landscaped garden, running in tranquillity down a small, steep valley to the edge of Bath, with lakes, a grotto and a ‘wilderness’ woodland area with mazy paths. Ornamental features include a Palladian bridge (one of only four in the world) with genuine 18th-century graffiti. No booking needed on weekdays. Note there is no car park. See www.nationaltrust. org.uk/priorpark
» Victoria Art Gallery. The permanent collection of British and European paintings, from the 15th century to the present is not huge, but punches well above its weight in quality, with works by Turner, Gainsborough and Sickert, plus a nice collection of porcelain, and some stunningly beautiful
glassware. Currently also hosting an exhibition of nature paintings by British artist Kurt Jackson. Advance booking needed. See www.victoriagal.org.uk
» Herschel Museum of Astronomy. William Herschel and his sister Caroline were jobbing musicians in 18th century Bath, but in their spare time they looked at the stars, and discovered Uranus, whose name has delighted schoolboys (and many adults) ever since. The museum in the house where this remarkable duo lived is done out in appropriate period style and tells you all about them. Advance booking needed. See herschelmuseum.org.uk
» Holburne Museum. This grand and imposing Georgian building at the end of Great Pulteney Street (with a more recent blue-ish cube tacked onto the back – sounds terrible, but it works) is the essential museum of all things artistic and decorative from Bath’s golden Georgian age.
It really does bring you face-to-face with the tastes and passions of wealthy 18th century people and is crammed with beautiful things –
Chinese porcelain through to paintings by the likes of Zoffany, Stubbs and, of course Gainsborough. Currently also hosting an exhibition of Canaletto paintings, many of which you’ll remember from your mum’s best table-mats. Advance booking needed. See www.holburne.org
» Jane Austen Centre. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a city which once counted Jane Austen among its residents must be in want of a museum all about her. Also a Regency Tea Room. Advance booking needed. See www. janeausten.co.uk
» Museum of Bath at Work. The antidote to all the Regency Bath stuff – a museum of Bath’s rich heritage of invention and industry, from gas to stone-mining, construction, cabinet making, dockside-crane manufacture, cars, fuller’s earth and Plasticine. Its centrepiece is the recreated premises of Victorian engineer and fizzy drinks manufacturer JB Bowler. Advance booking not needed. See www.bath-at-work .org.uk
» Museum of East Asian Art. A fabulous collection of art and crafts from China, Japan, Korea and south-east Asia, dating from around 5000BC to the present day. Worth a visit for the lovely things in the gift shop alone! Advance booking advised, but not mandatory. See www.meaa.org.uk
» No1. Royal Crescent. Magnificently restored town house from Bath’s Georgian heyday; rooms laid out in exquisite style with authentic furniture, paintings, textiles and carpets and recently re-launched as an “immersive experience” with sound and film introducing you to the family and servants who lived there. Advance booking needed. See no1royalcrescent.org.uk
» Films and TV. Have you any idea how many costume dramas for film and TV have been made in Bath? No, we don’t know either, but there are loads of them. If you fancy wandering around looking for the locations, you’ve missed the point; everywhere in Bath has appeared in a screen drama sooner or later. There’s a PDF “Movie Map” you can download from fashionmuseum.cn/ pdf/Bath_Movie_Map.pdf though it doesn’t include more recent productions such as Bridgerton or the very enjoyable detective drama set in the present day, McDonald & Dodds.
» FOR MORE … on a day (or week) in Bath, including details of guided walks, smartphone apps, open-top bus tours and more, see visitbath. co.uk