A weekend in Bath

I’ve only been to Bath twice and I don’t really remember much of my first visit (a looong time ago now) so it almost felt as though I was visiting for the first time again earlier this year. I also had a different level of appreciation for the city’s grandeur this time around - thanks to a certain Netflix show (yes, of course I mean Bridgerton) which meant we squeezed a lot more in! So, keep reading for some inspiration for things to do in Bath.

where to stay

There are so many options for where to sleep in Bath including Guesthouse or The Yard. But I sometimes prefer having more room so when we stumbled across the Curator’s Apartment, we booked it immediately. It’s a beautiful, contemporary top-floor apartment in Bath’s Artisan Quarter and is conveniently a short walk from independent shops, cafes and historical spots. A full review with more photos to come soon!

It’s one of three gorgeous spaces called the Curated Collection - the Fairytale Writer apartment is next on my list because those pastel hues had me at hello…

shopping like a local

Bath will leave you spoilt for choice with its shops and you’ll find yourself at least peeking into every window, if not leaving with something new. Some of my favourites that were all down the road from the apartment:

Meticulous Ink - one for a true stationery geek. It’s a small space but not short on charm. You can expect gift cards, notebooks, calligraphy inks and more. And you can even ask the team to print you a bespoke design.
Graham and Green - this is kind of cheating as it’s not a Bath-exclusive and was actually founded in London. But this was the first time I’d come across it - it’s a huge space filled with beautiful homeware.
The Yellow Shop - this is one of the most organised vintage shops I’ve stepped into and the selection was so strong. The staff were so friendly and you can take a photo to add to their polaroid-filled wall.

As we continued to stroll towards the centre and Pulteney Bridge and beyond, we stumbled upon even more shops:

Magalleria - a dreamy magazine shop to find something fresh for your coffee table. I picked up the latest copy of Rucksack.
Found - if I had any space in my weekend bag, I’m sure I would have picked up a lot more from this shop. They stock a little bit of everything from clothing to homeware.
Perspherone Books - an independent bookshop that reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers - a brilliant idea!
Topping & Company Booksellers - whilst the Edinburgh shop will always remain a firm favourite of mine, this spot was absolutely beautiful and you could spend hours in here.
Always Sunday - the perfect shop for gift giving (even if they’re just for yourself). You can expect to find homeware, tapered candles in all the rainbow colours and lots more.
Berdoulat - this shop was just a dream from the moment we stepped in. The newly-restored interiors are just as beautiful as the collection of furniture and decorative items.

where to eat

There’s only so much you can eat on a two-night trip so the food recommendations are a little light. When we arrived at Bath station, we spotted Cafe au Lait across the road and decided to stop for brunch as we couldn’t quite contain our hunger any longer - it exceeded expectations as the food was delicious. For dinner that evening, we opted for a Smashburger takeaway.

The following day, we started our day at Good Day Cafe for pancakes and french toast - which both hit the spot. We then decided to head to one of MANY local coffee spots for our caffeine fix. We chose Mjölk - a Nordic inspired cafe serving incredible cinnamon buns that I wish I had brought home with me!

For dinner, we chose The Oven for pizzas - it’s the kind of place I would go back to again and again. The staff were so friendly and the pizzas were banging.

But, I would highly recommend visiting Bath Eats for more foodie recommendations and reviews.

wander the streets

You’ll want to make time to explore the quaint streets as they will take you back to historic England - which is probably why you often see the city featured in period dramas. Grab your camera and wander aimlessly.