Living in Bath

There is a great selection of shops in Bath including all the major high street shops in Southgate, as well as many charming, independent boutiques as you make your way through town up to Bath’s oldest shopping area on Milsom Street. Antiques and retro shops can be found in the artisan quarter on trendy Walcot Street.

New restaurants are opening regularly in Bath, giving students a great choice of places to shop and eat. The Visit Bath website is a good starting point for exploration.

Restaurants

• Clayton’s Kitchen
• PanAsia Oriental

Cafes

• Sally Lunn
• Colonna
• Boston Tea Party
• Chandos
• Cafe Lucca

Newly Opened Dining

• The Ivy Bath Brasserie – Simply sophisticated, The Ivy is the newest restaurant to open on Milsom Street offering all day dining in a French art-deco atmosphere.
• The Giggling Squid – Thai restaurant
• The Scallop Shell – Seafood
• Noya’s Kitchen – Vietnamese

AA Rosette Dining

We are spoilt for choice with fine dining in Bath. Here’s a glimpse of just a few restaurants awarded the distinguished AA Rosettes with top quality cuisine: https://visitbath.co.uk/eating-and-drinking/bath-restaurants/aa-rosette-restaurants

Afternoon Tea

Sally Lunn’s

One of the oldest houses in Bath and home of the original Bath bun, Sally Lunn’s is a must for any visitor to Bath.

The Pump Room

Enjoy the quintessential English experience of a cream tea in one of the most beautiful and historical buildings in Bath. Built in 1782, the Pump Rooms are adjacent to The Roman Baths and provide an elegant dining experience right next to the Abbey.

Dining Guides Bath

There are numerous food bloggers in Bath giving a comprehensive overview of all the cafes and restaurants available. For example, Bath Eats provides guides such as Breakfast & Brunch, Takeaway and Vegan to assist in planning your visit to Bath.

Cinema – see the big blockbusters at the Odeon in Bath, or the smaller cult films at The Little Theatre Cinema, a three-screen art house cinema in a small square near the centre of Bath. We also have a new boutique cinema in Bath where you can watch films on luxurious sofas with a fully licensed cafe-bar and lounge, visit Tivoli!

Theatre – The Theatre Royal in Bath is a beautiful example of historical Georgian theatre architecture which offers a year-round programme of top-quality drama, including many West End productions, opera, comedy, dance and frequent Sunday concerts.

Fitness & Sport – for those who want to keep fit or fancy a bit of fun, Bath’s newly renovated leisure centre has quality fitness facilities and leisure activities to help our students keep healthy and active. The centre has recently undergone a major £1m refurbishment which now holds a 120-station Gym, 25m six lane Swimming Pool, fun Leisure Pool with flumes and slides. You can take part in many team sports in 4 court sports hall and an extensive Fitness Class programme with classes like Zumba, Pilates and Circuits. (Students receive a special discount).

There is also a gym at the University of Bath open to students which will be doubling in size in Winter 2018-19 when a new £3.5m extension opens, offering a dedicated spin studio and other space and equipment across three floors.

Museums – There are many fascinating museums to visit in Bath:

Holburne Museum – The city’s first public art gallery, the Grade I listed building, is home to fine and decorative arts built around the collection of Sir William Holburne (as well as recently used for filming Bridgerton!).

Victoria Art Gallery – The Victoria Art Gallery is a public art museum which opened in 1900 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. It is a Grade II* listed building and houses over 1500 objects of art including a collection of oil paintings from British artists dating from 1700 onwards.

No. 1 Royal Crescent – No.1 Royal Crescent is a magnificently restored Georgian town house in Bath’s world-famous Royal Crescent. The rooms feature historic furniture, pictures and objects that reveal what life was like for Bath’s fashionable residents

Bath hosts many festivals including Literature, Digital, Comedy, Music and Film for every taste and interest. For all the dates and details go to https://bathfestivals.org.uk/.

Thermae Bath Spa – a beautiful spa with natural mineral waters and an open-air rooftop pool, a great way for students to relax and unwind.

Bath Abbey Tower Tour – see the best view of the city from the top of the Abbey.

The Roman Baths – the most popular tourist attraction in Bath, the Roman Baths must be seen. Try booking in the evenings for a torch-lit experience.

Bath Boating Station – hire boats for rowing, punting, or canoeing on the city’s Avon River.

Kennet & Avon Canal – walking and cycling along the canal is the best way to experience the beautiful countryside around Bath. There are many cycle hire companies available.

Bizarre Bath Comedy Walk – a guided evening walk with lots of laughs

Bristol – just 15 minutes away by train, students can discover the second largest city in the south west of England. With the historic harbourside, Clifton Suspension Bridge, and many other attractions, it’s a great day out for students.

Salisbury – this historic city is home to the Magna Carta which lives in the Salisbury Cathedral.

Lacock – this preserved village takes you back in time with its picturesque streets and historic cottages. It is home to beautiful Lacock Abbey and the site of much filming such as Harry Potter and many other historical dramas.

By the sea – students can escape the city and be on the beach in under 3 hours. Coastal towns such as Bournemouth and Clevedon are fantastic places to enjoy a bit of surfing, water sports, or coastal walks and most are reachable by bus or train.

Bath is located only one and half hours from London by train and is well served by road and rail networks. The public bus system is easy to navigate, though the city is easily walkable.