Bath

American Museum and Gardens

The only museum of Americana outside of the United States. A little way outside of Bath in Claverton (accessible by bus), but well-worth a visit. The gardens in particular are of note, being designed by the celebrated landscape architects Oehme van Sweden. There are also extensive map and quilt collections and a programme of changing exhibitions.

Closed Jan to mid-Mar·Adult House, Gardens and Exhibition Ticket £15.50

Bath Abbey

The last Gothic church in England, started in 1499 and built on the ruins of the former Norman cathedral, this impressively large church (of small cathedral proportions) is next to the Roman Baths. A place of Australian pilgrimage: Arthur Philip, first Governor of New South Wales and founder of the city of Sydney has his burial and memorial within the Abbey. A wonderful view of Bath can be had with a trip up the Abbey tower

Mon-Fri 10AM-5:30PM; Sat 10AM-6PM; Sun 1:15-2:30PM 4:30PM-6:30PM·Adults £6.50, students £5.50, children (5 -15) £3.50

Bath Rugby Club

Professional Rugby Union club (15 a side) playing in the Gallagher Premiership, England's top tier. Atmospheric city-centre ground on the banks of the River Avon right by Pultney Bridge. Games roughly every other weekend from October–May. Ticket prices for games run between £15-35 depending on seating/standing location. If you're visiting on a weekend, watching a match is very much recommended.

Ben's Cookies

Popular with young locals, not exactly cheap but definitely worth it for a wide selection of melt-in-the-mouth cookies.

Boston Tea Party

Bustling little cafe with great sandwiches and what is possibly the best coffee in Bath. It can be difficult to get somewhere to sit.

Browns

One of a reliable chain of middle-market restaurants with branches in many of the most attractive towns in southern England including Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford, and Windsor.

£20-35

Building of Bath Museum

One of the most fascinating museums in Bath. It gives an excellent history of the development of the Georgian city, illustrated with cut-away wooden models which give a better insight than any book into the construction and structure of Georgian houses and their furnishings. It also houses a unique collection of 18th-century builder's tools. No queues, off the tourist track - but only a 7-minute walk from the Roman Baths and set in a wonderful Georgian area of the city.

Claverton Pumping Station

This was built in 1813: the River Avon powers a 24 ft (7 m) breastshot water wheel, which lifts water 48 ft (15 m) into the canal. It fell into disuse in 1952 but was restored in the 1970s.

Fudge Kitchen

Some of the best fudge you'll eat, and a discount for school children. Watch the different fudge flavours being made and then try a piece before you buy. You certainly won't regret going in there. The shop also caters for special occasions like weddings and offers a range of gifts.

Georgian garden

Dating back to 1761, this small garden has been through multiple transformations over the years. It has now been restored to a Georgian style (c. 1770–1836), with gravel, a stone path, and simple topiaries, and is open to the public. If you're near the Royal Crescent, the garden is worth a visit to step back into the Georgian era for a few minutes.

9AM–5PM daily·Free

Great Pulteney Street

Quintessential Georgian street on the other side of Pulteney Bridge. Film location for 2005's Vanity Fair (the Reese Witherspoon version). Made for casual strolling past the Laura Place fountain, down to the Holburne Museum, around Sydney Gardens, then back up Great Pulteney Street. Below Great Pulteney Street is the Recreation Ground, home of the Bath rugby union club.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy

An excellent museum if you are interested in the history of science and astronomy music and culture at the time when Bath was at the height of fashion; it is also a perfectly restored Georgian townhouse of the type lived in by people of 'the middling sort' and the Georgian garden is delightful. William Herschel lived here with his sister Caroline, and it was here that he discovered the planet Uranus using what was then the world's most powerful telescope that he had made himself in his workshop. The museum has a gallery for temporary exhibitions.

Adult £5, concessions available

Holburne Museum of Arts

Displays the treasures collected by Sir William Holburne: superb English and continental silver, porcelain, maiolica, glass and Renaissance bronzes. The Picture Gallery contains works by Turner, Guardi, Stubbs and others plus portraits of Bath society by Thomas Gainsborough.

Jane Austen Centre

The, Queens Square. This museum is very popular and a fascinating testament to Jane Austen's lasting appeal. As a museum, it is somewhat disappointing as it is in a house where Jane never lived and contains no items with any connection to her (unless you count items from recent films).

La Baguette

A popular sandwich shop on Stall Street, a minute walk from the Abbey. Sandwiches are handmade using crunchy baguettes usually for cheaper than a convenience store sandwich.

Lambrettas

Parade Park

Scooter-themed pub along North Parade (near train station and Parade Gardens).

Lansdown Cricket Club

Former early 1970s home of Viv Richards, Lansdown Cricket Club is an equally attractive ground at the upper end of Bath. Located at Combe Park, next to the Royal United Hospital (near Weston village). Bus number 14 runs to Weston from Bath town centre).

Locksbrook Inn

Charming old pub by the river locks, gets great reviews for its Sunday lunch. Dog-friendly.

Daily 8:30AM-11PM

Mission Burrito

Based on a Californian franchise, it offers much more flavour than the usual foreign attempts at Mexican.

10AM-10PM

Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights

Slightly quirky indie bookshop with a particularly interesting selection. Don't forget to go upstairs to see the sections on the first floor.

Mon–Sat 9:30AM–5:30PM, Sun 11AM–5PM

Mr. D's

A small McDonald's-like burger stand, whose burgers and shakes are quite like how they used to taste in the 1960s.

Museum of Costume

A world-class collection of contemporary and historical dress.

No.1 Royal Crescent

Visitors can see this grand Georgian town house redecorated and furnished to show how it might have appeared in the late 18th century.

mid-Feb until mid-Dec: Mon noon-5:30PM; Tue-Sun 10:30AM-5:30PM·£8.50/adults, £3.50/child, £6.50/seniors, £6.50/students

OPA

A classy bar perfect for chilled drinks, it does have a small dance floor. Opa has Bath's only Spanish Night on a Wednesday and a Gay night on Thursdays.

Parade Gardens

In the heart of town overlooking the river, this is where the locals come to laze away the afternoon. Small entrance charge for visitors but free to residents. This park normally has a topical floral display and has a bandstand for music in the summer months.

Pig and Fiddle

A large popular pub, with a less traditional approach and clientèle (mainly students) than those listed above. Space to enjoy your pint outdoors, which is well heated on cold nights.

Pulteney Bridge & Pulteney Weir

Designed by Robert Adam and completed in 1773. It is one of only four bridges in the world with shops across the full span on both sides and overlooks the impressive Pulteney Weir. Tourist trips by boat leave from the Weir during summer months.

Raphael

Reinvented as a classy nouveau French restaurant. Situated near Theatre Royal.

Open Mon-Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun noon-10:30PM

Revolution

Two-floor vodka bar with live DJ sets on weekends; very busy, magnet for fashion victims and dolly birds.

Roman Baths

Built by the Romans around 2000 years ago, and rediscovered by the Victorians, the Roman Baths are the must-see tourist attraction in Bath. The baths are fueled by England's only mineral hot springs, outputting over a million litres of hot water each day. You can wander the rooms that made up the baths, including the large open air 'Great Bath', see Roman, medieval, and Georgian architecture, and learn about the history of Bath Spa. The Baths are superbly maintained and the exhibits are filled with eye-popping archaeology. A fountain at the end offers a free taste of the (filtered) thermal water. Don't forget to pick up your free audio guide at the entrance. Reserve a minimum of 2 hours for a complete visit. As the most popular attraction in Bath there are often waiting lines at the entrance because only a limited number of visitors are inside at any time, so make sure to buy a ticket online or come early if possible.

Nov-Feb: 9:30AM-5:30PM; Mar-Jun Sep-Oct: 9AM-6PM, Jul-Aug: 9AM-10PM·Prices vary depending on month and day of the week. Weekend prices £20.50-28.00/adult, £19.50-27.00/seniors, £13.00-20.50/child, prices on weekdays are £2-4 cheaper.