Planning a UK City Break? UNESCO World Heritage City Bath needs to be top of your travel list for 2023

UNESCO World Heritage City Bath needs to be top of your travel list for 2023

With the cost of living crisis looming, many of us are planning our travels closer to home this year.

Are you looking for a UK City break to rival the likes of Rome & Barcelona? UNESCO World Heritage City Bath, could offer the perfect alternative to those popular European City break destinations.

The Royal Crescent (Image from Canva)

With its beautiful Georgian architecture, compact and accessible city centre and numerous green spaces, Bath makes an excellent choice for a UK City break.

Bath is famous for its golden Bath Stone buildings and Georgian architecture. One of the most recognisable sites being The Royal Crescent, 30 terraced houses in a sweeping crescent. 

Walking the quaint streets of Bath, there is amazing architecture and history at every turn. You cannot visit Bath without taking a tour of the world famous Roman Baths. The Baths date back to 70AD, which is quite frankly, mind blowing! 

Roman Baths (Image from Canva)

You can experience Bath’s natural thermal mineral water for yourself at the slightly more modern, Thermae Bath Spa, the only of its kind in Britain. The views from the rooftop pool are breath taking.

Bath is also home to numerous fabulous eateries and abundance of independent shops, all within walking distance of the train station in the city centre.

 

Where to eat and drink

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to eateries, wine bars and coffee houses in Bath. 

There are cosy cafes for that mid morning caffeine fix, Michelin starred restaurants with their tasting menus, and gastro pubs and restaurants offering a huge variety of gastronomical options to suit every taste.

Travel Daily Editor, Clare, opted for a relaxed leisurely lunch and checked out The Bath Townhouse by Coppa Club.

The Bath Townhouse is located within a beautiful Georgian building right in the heart of the City, in between the Jane Austen Centre and Pulteney Bridge, perfect for a break from sightseeing or shopping.

The interior has original art deco features, wall panelling, high ceilings and a bespoke art deco themed bar counter on the ground floor giving the venue a glamorous and elegant feel. We were warmly welcomed by the super friendly and helpful staff and the whole place had a lovely relaxed vibe, it was also extremely busy for a Monday lunchtime, obviously a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. 

The Coppa Club ethos is... 'Coppa Club is a place to just be. With friends or on your own, to work or socialise. At any time of day.'  This is very apparent in The Bath Townhouse. The restaurant is open all day and serves breakfast through to dinner. The bar is very welcoming and serves coffee and cocktails throughout the day. The snug is an area to catch up on emails or relax with a good coffee and a book. The upstairs cocktail bar and restaurant 'Upstairs at The Townhouse' really comes alive at night with regular DJ's, one to check out next time for sure.

'Upstairs at The Townhouse'

We enjoyed a delicious three course lunch with wine. Oh and a cocktail as they looked too good not to try! The rhubarb and strawberry martini comes highly recommended -  A cocktail with candy floss on the side, whats not to love?!

The menu is extensive and offers a great variety of food to please even the fussiest of diners. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options and they appear to cater well for allergies. You can scan the QR code on the menu for more detailed allergy information, but they do mark any dishes potentially containing nuts and there is an entirely separate gluten free menu. Small plates are available if you fancy a lighter meal. Families are very welcome too, with a fun and tasty looking kids menu available.

We enjoyed seared king prawns to start and then a delicious grilled and marinaded chicken with rocket and parmesan skinny fries, finished off with sticky toffee pudding. The perfect pick me up after a busy morning of shopping!

 

Where to stay in Bath

There are lots of accommodation options in Bath, from budget hostels to high end luxury.

Places we have heard great things about include...

The Gainsborough Bath Spa if your looking for a little luxury 

This luxury hotel is centred around Spa Village Bath and, uniquely in the UK, has the exclusive privilege of having access to the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies two Grade II Listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and Victorian façades in the heart of the World Heritage Site. You can visit the hotels website here Gainsborough Bath Spa

No. 15 by Guesthouse - Boutique Hotel

No. 15 is a boutique hotel set in three Grade-I listed Georgian townhouses and full of heritage.

It has 36 unique bedrooms as well as a spa and their afternoon tea comes highly recommended. You can visit their website here No. 15 by Guesthouse 

B & B's and Self Catering Accommodation in Bath

There are a wide range of B&B's and self catering or serviced apartments available in Bath if that is more of your thing. A great place to begin your search is the Visit Bath website. You can explore places to stay, things to do and whats on in Bath at the time of your visit. 

 

If you are planning ahead, Christmas is a lovely time to visit Bath. The Christmas Market is one of the best in the UK and although centred around The Abbey, the stalls spill out onto the streets of Bath and the whole city feels very festive.

You can find out more about Bath and start planning your visit by checking out the Visit Bath website here www.visitbath.co.uk

You can find out more about The Bath Townhouse and all of the Coppa Club venues around the Country here www.coppaclub.co.uk