A UNESCO World Heritage city, Bath has its origins as a Roman spa town, and the thermal springs which first brought it to prominence are still a crucial part of its attraction for modern visitors.
Almost 100 miles to the west of London, and just a few miles to the south-east of Bristol, the Somerset city of Bath is a popular choice for a romantic getaway or a cultural sojourn. The city is connected to Bristol and to the sea by the River Avon, which is navigable by small boats, via a system of locks. The river is connected to the River Thames by the Kennet and Avon Canal, and recent restoration work means that the route is once again popular with narrow boat users. Bath is also on the National Cycle Network.
Things to do in Bath The Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex around Britain’s only hot spring. Naturally hot water still flows through the steaming pool, and visitors to the extensive ruins and treasures of the Roman Baths can also take lunch or afternoon tea in the 18th century Pump Room, and indulge themselves with a trip to a modern thermal spa at the New Royal Bath.
The novelist Jane Austen was perhaps the city’s most famous resident, and a number of visitor attractions celebrate her work and life in Regency England, including an eponymous visitor’s centre and tea rooms, and a variety of specialised tours.
Whilst there is much to see and do in the city itself, the local environs are also packed with a fascinating range of places to visit, including the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, the WWT Wetlands Centre at Slimbridge, and the stately home and animal park at Longleat. The caves and gorges at Wookey Hole and Cheddar are also within easy reach of the city.
Top Destinations
The Royal Crescent – One of the world’s best known architectural landmarks, the Crescent was built between 1767 and 1775, in response to the increasing number of visitors to the resort town and spa. Considered by many to be one of the finest achievements of Palladian architecture in Bath, the great curved façade of the Crescent consists of some 30 houses. The identical façades of many of the buildings in Bath were intended to give an impression of palatial scale and classical decorum, although they often disguised wildly differing interiors and rear exteriors. One of the properties in the Crescent now houses a fine hotel, whilst another has been beautifully restored and opened to the public by the Bath Preservation Trust, to demonstrate exactly how the interior of a Georgian townhouse might have looked and functioned.
Pulteney Bridge – Perhaps one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, and reminiscent of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, with shops built into its structure, this romantic crossing was designed by Robert Adams to connect central Bath to the other side of the River Avon, and is best viewed from the Parade Gardens Park by the Crescent weir.
Prior Park – The classical features of this Palladian gem were commissioned on a hill overlooking Bath by the philanthropist and quarry-owner, Ralph Allen, to demonstrate and promote the new, crisp stone-cutting techniques, which were being favoured by the architect John Wood to create the classical façades for which Bath later became famous. The landscaped gardens at Prior Park are now owned by the National Trust, and open to the public. The gardens include the iconic Prior Park Palladian Bridge, which is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Radstock – Once a prosperous mining town, Radstock is now home to the Radstock Museum, which houses a wide variety of exhibits, demonstrating life in Somerset since the 19th century. Near to the town, the spoil heap from the old Writhlington colliery is now the Writhlington SSSI.
Bradford on Avon – The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through this Wiltshire town, which is also the site of St Laurence’s church, one of the relatively few surviving English Saxon churches that does not show later medieval alteration or rebuilding.
This pretty, 16th-century, semi-detached holiday cottage is situated in Freshford, close to the River Frome. Full of historic charm and architectural features, the cottage provides an ideal base for visiting Bath and ...
The Mission Hall (ref 30511) and Sursum Vestry (ref 30512) sit side by side, yet are both individually private, fenced off between the two. The studio was originally The Mission Hall for the village, and this property has ...
This attractive holiday cottage is situated within the grounds of the owners’ property, tucked away in a quiet rural position, surrounded by fields and open views. The property has been completely rebuilt from an old ...
This superb 17th-century village house of great character, with its own private garden, has been elegantly restored and furnished. Situated on the village green where the ancient stocks still stand, the holiday home is ...
These attractive holiday properties lie in the peaceful conservation village of Colerne, surrounded by rolling countryside. The Grade II* listed stable conversion (PFFH) is part of the only longhouse in Wiltshire and ...
10 minutes from BathSituated next to the owner’s farmhouse, this character, detached property converted from a former wagon house offers spacious holiday accommodation, located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ...
This detached, period holiday home, renovated in 2019, is situated between Bath and historic Bristol, both with great sightseeing, attractions, designer shops, an array of fine dining offering cuisine from around the ...
Set within the owner’s 230-acre arable farm, these outstanding properties are decorated to a high standard, and each boasts a large open plan living area. There are goats and chickens on the farm, so if you are up early ...
This pair of garden cottages are set in the grounds of the Jacobean Manor House - Thickwood House, dating back to the 1700’s. During the centuries it grew to become one of the most prosperous farms in the area, and its ...
The Mission Hall (ref 30511) and Sursum Vestry (ref 30512) sit side by side, yet are both individually private, fenced off between the two. The studio was originally The Mission Hall for the village, and this property has ...
In a rural location, this well-presented, semi-detached, single storey stone cottage with a private hot tub, is near the historic spa city of Bath, 6 miles, and 11 miles from the lovely cathedral city of Wells. It is in an ...
Candlemaker’s Cottage is Grade II listed and positioned in the central part of the historic High Street of Marshfield. Internally it exudes character. Quirky kitchen with breakfast area, Aga and door leading to large ...
Candlemaker’s Cottage is Grade II listed and positioned in the central part of the historic High Street of Marshfield. Internally it exudes character. Quirky kitchen with breakfast area, Aga and door leading to large ...
Castle Cottage, Marshfield, near Bath, Gloucestershire, Stroud
This charming holiday cottage is the middle one of a small terrace of three, with fields to the rear and rolling countryside views to the front. It’s a peaceful, rural setting, yet less than 1 mile from the village and ...
These attractive holiday properties lie in the peaceful conservation village of Colerne, surrounded by rolling countryside. The Grade II* listed stable conversion (PFFH) is part of the only longhouse in Wiltshire and ...
These attractive holiday properties lie in the peaceful conservation village of Colerne, surrounded by rolling countryside. The Grade II* listed stable conversion (PFFH) is part of the only longhouse in Wiltshire and ...
These properties are set in a small cluster of houses along a no-through road, just over 1 mile from the heart of Frome, a bustling market town with weekly markets and an ever-growing popular monthly market which takes ...
This lovely detached, 18th-century holiday cottage is perched on a hill overlooking the Georgian Heritage city of Bath, with stunning and far-reaching views across the city skyline, and further superb views from its ...
This pretty, 16th-century, semi-detached holiday cottage is situated in Freshford, close to the River Frome. Full of historic charm and architectural features, the cottage provides an ideal base for visiting Bath and ...
This pretty, 16th-century, semi-detached holiday cottage is situated in Freshford, close to the River Frome. Full of historic charm and architectural features, the cottage provides an ideal base for visiting Bath and ...
Lane End, Walton Bay, near Clevedon, Somerset, Weston Super Mare
Lane End is a detached holiday bungalow with uninterrupted sea views overlooking the Bristol Channel towards the hills and mountains of south Wales. The bungalow is set in its own private gardens, a peaceful setting from ...
This single-storey detached holiday cottage is located in the picturesque village of Bathampton, on the southern banks of the River Avon, positioned just two miles from the ancient city of Bath. The village dates back to ...
Set within the owner’s 230-acre arable farm, these outstanding properties are decorated to a high standard, and each boasts a large open plan living area. There are goats and chickens on the farm, so if you are up early ...
Set within the owner’s 230-acre arable farm, these outstanding properties are decorated to a high standard, and each boasts a large open plan living area. There are goats and chickens on the farm, so if you are up early ...
This pair of garden cottages are set in the grounds of the Jacobean Manor House - Thickwood House, dating back to the 1700’s. During the centuries it grew to become one of the most prosperous farms in the area, and its ...
In a rural location, this well-presented, semi-detached, single storey stone cottage with a private hot tub, is near the historic spa city of Bath, 6 miles, and 11 miles from the lovely cathedral city of Wells. It is in an ...
These single-storey, semi-detached holiday barn conversions (refs 30996 and 30997) are situated in a converted 100-year-old barn that in 2002 was a completely derelict building. Situated in 6-acre grounds with the owners ...
These single-storey, semi-detached holiday barn conversions (refs 30996 and 30997) are situated in a converted 100-year-old barn that in 2002 was a completely derelict building. Situated in 6-acre grounds with the owners ...
This attractive holiday cottage is situated within the grounds of the owners’ property, tucked away in a quiet rural position, surrounded by fields and open views. The property has been completely rebuilt from an old ...
What a fantastic location for a holiday in the Bath area. This wonderful, semi-detached holiday cottage is situated within the gated grounds of Mill Island Moorings, with views over the Avon and Kennet River. Set in an ...
Rose Cottage is a delightful and tastefully restored Grade II listed holiday cottage with many original features, including a large stone fireplace in the living room and beamed ceilings throughout. One of a pair, the ...
Shaplands Barn has been lovingly converted - offering light and airy living. One of a pair, it lies in a quiet lane in a small village. The village is in an AONB and is famous for being on the Cotswold Way. Only 4 miles ...
Set within the owner’s 230-acre arable farm, these outstanding properties are decorated to a high standard, and each boasts a large open plan living area. There are goats and chickens on the farm, so if you are up early ...
The Mission Hall (ref 30511) and Sursum Vestry (ref 30512) sit side by side, yet are both individually private, fenced off between the two. The studio was originally The Mission Hall for the village, and this property has ...
Set in 6 acres of groundsSet in the picturesque 6 acres of grounds of Hinton Grange, a former hotel now lived in by the owners. The Campbell Cottage (27748), one of 4 cottages on-site, is a converted terrace single storey ...
This superb 17th-century village house of great character, with its own private garden, has been elegantly restored and furnished. Situated on the village green where the ancient stocks still stand, the holiday home is ...
The Mission Hall (ref 30511) and Sursum Vestry (ref 30512) sit side by side, yet are both individually private, fenced off between the two. The studio was originally The Mission Hall for the village, and this property has ...
Nestled at the end of a lane, this single-storey barn conversion is located on the owner’s working farm and has been lovingly restored from the original old stables. The internal doorways have been built with wheelchairs ...
This Grade II listed, 17th century stone cottage is set in an elevated position, above a quiet lane in the pretty Somerset village of Coleford, midway between Bath and Wells. What was once the village lock-up, and the ...
10 minutes from BathSituated next to the owner’s farmhouse, this character, detached property converted from a former wagon house offers spacious holiday accommodation, located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ...
This attractive, detached holiday cottage, adjacent to the owners’ home, is a converted hayloft. Situated within the perimeter of the city of Bath, in the village of Weston, the property has a country feel to it yet is ...
This detached, period holiday home, renovated in 2019, is situated between Bath and historic Bristol, both with great sightseeing, attractions, designer shops, an array of fine dining offering cuisine from around the ...
United Kingdom cottages
