Twenty-four hours in Bath
So much to do, so little time. Here's how to squeeze every bit of style and fun out of my favourite British city.
At the beginning of the year I decided that 2026 was going to be my year of rest, relaxation and gardens. The first two are a bit of a struggle truth be told but the last one is going rather well. I will, of course, do a big round-up for you all at the end of the year.
A garden is actually how I ended up in Bath last month. Caisson Gardens, to be precise, which is a slightly under the radar garden lovingly built over the last decade by a local husband and wife. It is just outside the city of Bath, which is one of those English cities that Americans invariably prefer to London, because it is exactly like the Pride and Prejudice fantasies half the world has of us.
I love Bath. Adore it in fact. In another life I’d quite liked to have lived there actually. Pretty architecture, good shopping, lots of lovely places to eat and you can get to very fashionable Somerset in under half an hour. (Still desperate to try Margot Henderson’s The Three Horseshoes).
So off I went with my mother-because she is getting on a bit now and we do not spent nearly enough time together, taking the morning train up from London Paddington with M&S sandwiches in our lap.
We had no more than 24 hours in the city and managed, somehow, to cram in an awful lot, which, if I saw any of you in person, I would urge you to do the exact same itinerary.
So here goes…as ever if you’ve anything to add to the community please feel free to share in the comments.
Happy Sunday all!
Farrah x
STAY
There are lots of good places to stay in Bath- but because it’s such a popular destination I have found most hotels in the city centre a bit noisy for my liking. So instead we headed to Relais and Chateaux’s The Bath Priory which is a gorgeous old stone mansion right by the park with a sensational garden. It’s a little like staying at the home of a friend’s very rich parents (although I don’t actually have any of them, but I am using Saltburn as my reference) with lots of imposing art on the walls, croquet on the lawn and eggs and soldiers for breakfast. All totally British and very lovely. We stayed in a suite because it had one of those grand sweeping balconies that Bath is famous for and I have never stepped out onto one. (Coffee on there, just as dawn was breaking was the perfect antidote to a very tough working week.) In short The Bath Priory is one of those hotels that they don’t really make anymore- all manners and white napkins and drinks on the terrace at sundown. I miss hotels like that. I hate over-engineered mod cons that give me a nervous breakdown and self check-ins and ‘cool’ vending machines because management can’t be bothered to offer room service. If you aren’t able to stay here then I would instead suggest dinner one evening, for we had one of my best meals of my entire year here. The restaurant is small and quaint, the service friendly but discreet and the food absolute heaven. We had a perfect piece of sea bass on a bed of something pureed and delicious, as well as dainty meringues for desserts and a little cheese. A shout out to the spa too, which is an Occitane spa no less, so very good treatments with great products that smell of the South of France.
Persephone Books
This charming book store is not to be missed. Not only because their cloud-grey book covers are probably the most stylish books you’ll ever find (they make excellent gifts incidentally) but also because they specialize in neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women. The staff are also exceptionally helpful. I came away with a fabulous little book called Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll. (And if you can’t get to them they do a lovely book subscription.)
Devol
This place sells the most insanely beautiful kitchens and it’s worth stopping by just to furnish your kitchen fantasies. The shop is in an old Georgian townhouse so it’s also a good excuse to have a nosy into what one of those is like inside. but the best bit is that they sell a lot of Devol’s lovely little knobs and tea towels to take home with you.