What to do in Bath?

We took a wonderful (and free) walking tour of the town. I'm not sure who sponsor's them but the timing was good for the train coming from London. Here's a link ( I think-I'm not very computer literate!). My husband and I really enjoyed the tour. I've also heard about ghost tours of Bath but can't speak to that as we didn't stay over. Bet it would be fun, though.

http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-maps/explore-the-area/mayor-of-bath-honorary-guides-p43001

After touring the Roman Baths, we had lunch at Sally Lunns, The oldest restaurant there. It was delicious. There are lots of shops down quaint street, a large town square for people watching...we booked a day tour that took us to Stonehenge and Bath and had 4 hours to ourselves in Bath and wish we had more!

I visited the Fashion Museum.. I loved seeing the old clothes.. medival gowns etc.. right up to more modern stuff.. but its really the older stuff that was so interesting.

We enjoyed walking to the Grand Crescent (or whatever it's called) -- the semi-circle of apartments building in the late 1700's. The first one is restored as it would have looked about that time, and my husband really enjoyed that. It was also enjoyable walking along the canal.

I love Bath! I was there a couple of weeks ago for the Jane Austen Festival. In addition to what others have listed (including the museum at #1 Royal Crescent) this time I also went to the Holburne Museum which had a wonderful exhibition of works by Canaletto. I meant to go to the Victoria Art Museum but did not check the closed days properly ahead of time so missed out. I also like Bath Abbey.

This time I also went to Prior Park which has one of 4, I think, Palladian bridges in the world. It is a steep walk uphill to the entrance gate but a lovely setting.

I do not recommend the Jane Austen Center which sort of advertises itself as a museum but really is not.

I am not a shopper either!

Pam, I'm sure I saw you in Bath as I was there during the Jane Austen festival as well, though not on purpose! Several women were walking around period dress. Perhaps you were one of them!

We enjoyed taking the Mayor's Free Walking Tour, which meets at 10:30 & 2 outside the Roman Baths. We walked around the baths, saw the remains of the city wall, enjoyed seeing the Royal Crescent and the Circus. It is a wonderful tour to hear about the more recent history of Bath. We also explored the Roman Baths for 3 hours after the tour.

We did not have the opportunity to take in the museums, gardens, river cruise on the Avon in the area with our limited time there, but did enjoy The Gin Bar @ #3 Queen St. Over 200 gins including Bath Gin, which they distill. Would have loved to check out the American Museum as well. Only 20 minutes from Bath is the small village of Lacock, owned by the National Trust. Many period tv shows and movies have been filmed there including Pride & Prejudice and Harry Potter. It's a fascinating village, which we hope to return to on another visit to England.

My husband and I are planning a trip for next spring. We have found this site very helpful.

I agree with Pat, the Fashion Museum was great. I have never seen such a large collection of period clothing. It is all quite beautiful. You can spend as much or little time as you'd like. They rotate the collection so you never know what you are going to see.

There's a lot to do in Bath. I was recently there in July and enjoyed it a lot. Besides the Bath- I would recommend going to the Fashion Museum, visiting the Abbey (could attend Evensong), Number one Royal Crescent, Hop on Hop off bus tour. I also went to the spa and enjoyed that. Lots of coffee/tea places as well as ethnic food and fun little streets to explore (Guildhall Market). I found the parks also very lovely. If you run out of things to do in Bath then you could take a day tour to Stonehenge. Mad Max tours are also good for the surrounding sights.

We were in Bath for several days and enjoyed many of the above mentioned sites. We also really liked a Sunday walk along the Kennet-Avon canal up to a pub and ferry stop on the canal. We had a nice Sunday roast at the scenic pub then took the boat/ferry back to the city. Along the way we got to help some of the narrow boats at the locks and walk through some tunnels.

I'd put in a word for the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

Even if not interested in astronomy - it is from where Herschel discovered Uranus - the house itself is of interest, being a restored 'mid level' townhouse, rather than a 'grand' one.