If Jane Austen could see me… (or why I love Bath)

 Since my first visit, every time I have family or friends travelling from abroad I take them to Bath. It keeps growing as a city but it is its most traditional features that keep on amazing me. There are so many things to see and do and eat that one visit is not enough. If you are planning a visit do check out the Visit Bath website or app for inspiration. If you are a Jane Austen fan and you have not been, this is your place! Walk up Gay Street and feel transported back to Georgian times, who knows, you may find your own Captain Wentworth.

 Last Thursday I visited Bath with my aunt and cousin. Wherever you park make your way to Cheap Street (you can download a free map from Visit Bath). There you can see Bath Abbey, The Pump Rooms and the Roman Baths Museum. There are lots of tourists and locals but I couldn’t help imagining all its visitors: from Romans to Georgians to Victorians to now me. I was very tempted to pretend I was just out of a Jane Austen novel!

 Go up Union Street (do taste the fudge from the shop in the corner of Union Street and Cheap Street, it is melt in the mouth delicious), Milsom Street, turn left on George Street and go up on Gay Street. The slight slope is worth it as you will get to a beautiful example of Georgian architecture: The Circus. It was designed by John Wood the Elder and finished in 1768 by his son (it has curiously the same diameter as Stonehenge not far from Bath). Follow Brock Street and there you will see one of Bath’s most iconic views: The Royal Crescent (this time designed and built by John Wood the Younger). N0. 1 Royal Crescent is a museum (managed by Bath Preservation Trust) that shows how people lived in Georgian times: we were welcomed by the housekeeper and in all the rooms helpful volunteers told us more about Georgian daily life. 

 We had some fun with the wig scratchers and our newly acquired knowledge: the Georgians used the skin of mice to make fake eyebrows!!!

 Before walking back you can visit The Assembly Rooms (managed by the National Trust) and the Fashion Museum. From The Circus follow Gay Street down towards Bath Abbey and you will walk by the Jane Austen Centre: Janeites of the world do visit this place, you will not regret it. Unfortunately, we did not enough time for these places last week!

Follow Gay Street and turn on Westgate Street to go back to The Pump Rooms. There are many places to have afternoon tea in Bath and many have their own uniquene style but none speak Bath Afternoon Tea more than The Pump Rooms. All visitors feel in awe straight away when they get in and see the magnificent chandelier, the musicians beautifully playing live and they take a look at the tiered stands with their mouth-watering treats. Thanks to the Duchess of Bedford (she is credited for creating the concept of afternoon tea on a visit to Belvoir Castle) we were about to be delighted with the Traditional Pump Room Afternoon Tea. They have a wide variety of teas so I chose Darjeeling, while the others preferred English Breakfast.  You can also add champagne but I was driving back to London afterwards so it was not an option.

Everything is as delicious as it looks. The sandwiches (cucumber, egg and honey roast ham) and cheddar scones were so very fresh but my absolute favourite from the savouries was the poached salmon shot, I was very happy to eat two as my cousin does not like fish. The warm scones with clotted cream (so very English and so very delicious that my aunt wanted to take some back home with her) and strawberry jam were delightful (I have to say that at Treats & Co we do bigger scones). My aunt’s favourites were definitely the cakes (everyone that knows her will not find this strange): the chocolate and coffee opera cake, fresh fruit tart, the raspberry choux and the macaroons were gone in less than a minute. 

After the afternoon tea we walked by the river on Grand Parade, visited the Guildhall market and browsed the lovely shops around Abbey Green. Bath is such a beautiful city that I cannot wait to go back: if you live in the UK and have not been or you live abroad and are visiting then make your way to Bath, you will not be disappointed.