Where to eat
La Bertinet Bakery serves some of the best pastries and bread in the West Country and has its own cookery school (bertinet.com); meanwhile, the superior caffeine at Colonna & Small’s will wake you up for a bracing walk around the city (colonnaandsmalls.co.uk).
Shop for Keen’s Cheddar, home-made onion chutney and farmhouse butter at The Fine Cheese Co (finecheese.co.uk). Don’t miss Acorn Restaurant, which serves some of the most innovative vegan food in the city (acornrestaurant.co.uk). For the freshest oysters, razor clams and seafood, head to The Scallop Shell — be sure to try its special curry sauce (thescallopshell.co.uk).
What to do
Dutch masters, fine English beadwork and intricate tapestry are housed in the Holburne Museum, one of the most beautiful buildings in town (holburne.org). Drop by the Jane Austen centre, where there’s also a lovely tea room; if you’re truly a dedicated fan of the Pride & Prejudice author, visit vintage to vogue in advance for appropriate attire (janeausten.co.uk; vintagetovoguebath.co.uk). Don’t miss the city’s world famous roman baths and the modern Thermae Bath Spa to test the mineral-rich waters (romanbaths.co.uk; thermaebathspa.com).
Where to shop
New in town, premium skincare line Aesop has opened on new bond street, with an Austen quote on the ceiling (aesop.com). Peruse handblown vases and contemporary crockery at Danish homeware store Hay, and Astier de Villatte at Nam (hay.dk; namstore.co.uk). Topping & Company and Mr B’s Emporium are independent bookshops with excellent event programmes (toppingbooks.co.uk; mrbsemporium.com). For bespoke stationery visit Meticulous Ink, which uses presses from the 1960s (meticulousink.com).
Where to stay
Set in classic surroundings amid a row of handsome Georgian terraces, No 15 Great Pultney Street mixes historical charm with contemporary art (rooms from £112 with breakfast; mrandmrssmith.com). If you’re looking for a base just outside the city, Lucknam Park has an award-winning spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a 500-acre estate with horse stables. Ask the concierge about scenic local walks or take a class in the hotel cookery school (lucknampark.co.uk).
