A Regency guide to Bath
Once a year, the cobblestone streets of Bath are awash with ladies and gentlemen dressed in 18th or 19th-century costumes. Bonnets, long floral muslin dresses, scarlet military uniforms and top hats are everywhere, fronting the city's much-loved Georgian façade.
These are the scenes from the Jane Austen Festival, a 10-day-long event that transforms Bath into a bygone era. It's the longest and oldest Austen-related festival in the world.
More recently, Netflix's Bridgerton has used Bath as the backdrop to its period drama, so it's perhaps unsurprising that Bath's Georgian allure is experiencing a renaissance.
Noteworthy developments in recent years have made it easier to live out your Regency fantasies, from the reopening of Britain's oldest lido to the UNESCO accreditation as one of the 'Great Spa Towns of Europe'. One might say, "It's a truth universally acknowledged" that if you want an authentic Regency escapade, Bath is the place to be.
Where to stay: find a comfy and affordable bed for the night with Travelodge*, which has various hotels in and around Bath for less.
Bath World Heritage Centre
Among the newest additions to the city is the Bath World Heritage Centre, which celebrates the city's distinctive culture, history, landscape and architecture.
The centre features interactive exhibits and displays encouraging you to find secret details hidden within the Royal Crescent and to learn about curses the Romans placed on their enemies.
You'll also discover why Bath was awarded a second UNESCO accreditation and about the adventures that Jane Austen experienced at Sydney Gardens.
Cleveland Pools
Opened during Austen's lifetime, the Grade II-listed Cleveland Pools complex is the oldest public, open-air swimming pool in the UK. It was recently reopened following an 18-year campaign and a £6.8 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Historically, it was known as Cleveland Baths and, due to its high subscription fees, swimmers were often among the wealthy; the main pool was men-only, while women were relegated to a ladies' plunge pool.
Concealed by bushy trees, a row of Georgian terrace houses and an immaculate walled garden overlooking the meandering river, swimming here feels like splashing back in time.
Bath walking tours
Undoubtedly, it's the architecture that draws many to Bath, namely the rows of crescent-shaped, golden-coloured Bath stone buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, Palladian bridges and the ostentatious, Gothic façade of Bath Abbey. On a quiet night, when wildlife and human activity have ceased, Bath looks and feels like it did during Austen's day.
Discover sights well-known to Austen by following the self-guided Footsteps of Jane Austen Tour or embark on the Bath Insider Tour, which takes you around the Bridgerton film sets.
The latter is guided by Daniel, a local who knows the history behind each place, some of which have stories Lady Whistledown would love. Along the way, you'll find Abbey Green, the heart of the Bridgerton world, where a white shopfront doubled as the Bridgerton Modiste.
You'll recognise the triangular front door where Anthony visited his lover, Siena, and the Royal Crescent, which brings you to the Featheringtons' home. Make sure to look out for Beauford Square, which is the market where Eloise and Penelope walked, debating the mysteries of being 'with child'.
Thermae Bath Spa
During the 18th century, a 'spa culture' was born in Bath, with socialites taking the waters for its healing and beneficial properties, which were believed to relieve rheumatism and gout.
You can't swim in the baths today, but the Thermae Bath Spa has natural thermal waters, a warm rooftop swimming pool and spa packages that'll send you into blissful oblivion.
Regency-themed dining
Continue to discover the healing properties of the spa water at The Pump Room, a neo-classical restaurant featuring a fountain and opulent colonnades that have been welcoming high society since the Georgian era.
Austen and her peers descended on The Pump Room to "take the waters". Beware, the water tastes strange because it has 43 minerals in it!
And if you need a place to relax after this, book into Jane Austen's family home, where Austen began writing The Watsons, her earliest and unfinished novella. Situated opposite Sydney Gardens, this Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse has been converted into an apartment, covering the rooms that used to be the family's kitchen and butler's pantry.
Regency-inspired museums
Across the road from Austen's former home are Sydney Gardens and Holburne Museum. During Austen's time, Sydney Gardens was known as a "pleasure garden" because it was where the elite and fashionable, including royalty, went for public breakfasts, orchestral performances, entertainment and fireworks.
Today, follow the Jane Austen Trail around Sydney Gardens, taking in the Loggia, canal bridges, the Kennet and Avon Canal, and a long stone seat, as well as the Holburne Museum, recognisable as Lady Danbury's house in Bridgerton.
It was a Georgian villa-style hotel during the Regency period, but today the museum houses 18th-century artworks by Sir William Holburne.
The Assembly Rooms is another excellent Regency-themed museum. It was once the epicentre of Georgian social life, where young women paraded looking for eligible husbands. On the lower ground, the Fashion Museum displays 100,000 artefacts from British history.
Lastly, the Jane Austen Centre is a museum celebrating the life, times and work of Jane Austen. Regency-costumed guides are on hand to impart all the juiciest gossip and details about the author.
The museum has videos about Austen, letters written by her, and fun activities like writing with a quill pen and ink and having your picture taken with the world-famous Jane Austen waxwork. The top floor Regency Tea Room sells "Tea with Mr Darcy" and "Mrs Bennet's Cake of the Day"; both are a must try!
Climate in Bath
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  7 |
7 |
 10 |
 12 |
 16 |
 19 |
21 |
20 |
18 |
14 |
10 |
8 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  18 |
 14 |
16 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
 12 |
13 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
The above guide shows the climate in Bath. Find out more about conditions across the county in our complete guide to the climate in Somerset.
Ready to discover Regency Bath? Find a great value place to stay with the latest offers from Travelodge, which has three properties within proximity of the centre.
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