Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<p>Sure, there are the Roman Baths, Jane Austen and it’s stuffed to the gills with gorgeous Georgian architecture – cripes, the whole city’s been designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site – but there’s so much more than history to discover in Bath.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EAT</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/henrys.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56530" /><figcaption>Smoked tuna with mustard seeds and ponzu dressing at Henry’s.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Relaxed posh nosh at the Michelin One Starred&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://olivetreebath.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Olive Tree</a>&nbsp;and sustainable veggie fare at the Michelin Green Starred&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oakrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Oak</a>. Superb modern British food at buzzy neighbourhood restaurant&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thecircusrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Circus</a>. Surprise multi-course tasting menu at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://menugordonjones.co.uk/" target="_blank">Menu Gordon Jones</a>&nbsp;and the intimate&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/henrys-restaurant-bath/" target="_blank">Henry’s.</a>&nbsp;Pizza acrobat Emiliano Tunno makes all sorts of dough – sourdough, hemp, black rice, even seaweed – for his speciality pizzas (and other Italian dishes) at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://doughpizzarestaurant.co.uk/location/" target="_blank">Dough</a>.&nbsp; Everything fishy at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thescallopshell.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Scallop Shell</a>. Afternoon tea (with or without prosecco and gin), cakes and brownie boxes at Bath’s most Instagrammable cafe, the super floral&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.sltbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sweet Little Things</a>. If it’s Indian street food you’re after,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/chaiwallabath/?rf=262757704104291" target="_blank">Chai Walla</a>‘s veggie curries made by the owner’s mum and delicious bhaji roti wraps with salad, tamarind and mint sauce sold from the tiniest shop ever will hit the spot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>STAY</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/02/2020_July_The-Bird_Bath_reto1170.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50405" /><figcaption>Feathering the nest at The Bird</figcaption></figure>



<p>Opulent chic at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-bird-bath/" target="_blank">The Bird</a>, Victorian villa turned eclectic, avian-themed boutique hotel, a short hop from the city centre. Georgian townhouse hotels, the family and dog friendly&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/no-15-great-pulteney-bath/" target="_blank">No 15 Great Pulteney</a>,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/queensberry-hotel-bath/" target="_blank">The Queensberry,</a>&nbsp;with the city’s only Michelin starred restaurant in the basement and the new and fabulous&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.eightinbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hotel 8</a>. A 5-minute stroll from the centre is family-run bijou B&amp;B&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.brindleysbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brindley’</a>s has just six rooms (said it was bijou). Combine the freedom of self-catering with the luxury of a hotel with the serviced&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.thehalcyon.com/" target="_blank">Halcyon Apartments</a>. Cheap as rather stylish chips is the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-bath" target="_blank">YHA Bath</a>, a golden-hued Victorian villa with some en suite bedrooms. For the best of both worlds, stay in the countryside just outside Bath at country house hotel&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/homewood-hotel-spa-bath/" target="_blank">Homewood Hotel &amp; Spa</a>&nbsp;or the super laid back&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-pig-near-bath/" target="_blank">The Pig, near Bath,</a>&nbsp;where all the food comes from a 25 mile-radius.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OUTDOORS</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/original-wild-88.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34953" /></figure>



<p>Admire the Georgian buildings and streets around The Circus and Royal Crescent.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://pulteneycruisers.com/" target="_blank">Take a boat&nbsp;</a>down the River Avon from Pulteney Bridge or see the sites from a stand up paddleboard with&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/original-wild/" target="_blank">Original Wild</a>. For a view of the city from the countryside around it, take the six-mile circular&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-skyline/trails/bath-skyline-walk" target="_blank">Bath Skyline walk</a>&nbsp;through fields and ancient woodlands, past follies and an 18th century landscape garden.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DRINK</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/02/beckford-bottle-shop-bath-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29956" /><figcaption>Beckford Bottle Shop</figcaption></figure>



<p>You’re spoiled for choice for excellent coffee:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.society-cafe.com/" target="_blank">Society Café</a>,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.cafelucca.co.uk/" target="_blank">Café Lucca</a>&nbsp;and, where coffees change weekly,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.colonnaandsmalls.co.uk/" target="_blank">Colonna &amp; Small’s.</a>&nbsp; Stop for a pint served from the jug at ye very olde pub (first licensed 1760),&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.abbeyales.co.uk/our-pubs.html" target="_blank">The Star Inn</a>. Feel like a local at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/marlborough-tavern/" target="_blank">The Marlborough Tavern</a>. Head to&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/hare-and-hounds-bath/" target="_blank">The Hare &amp; Hounds</a>&nbsp;to combine with views and a walk.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.comptoirpluscuisine.com/" target="_blank">Comptoir+Cuisine</a>&nbsp;for champagne and cheese.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://hideoutbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Hideout</a>&nbsp;for their 200 whiskies.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thebathgincompany.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Canary Gin Bar</a>&nbsp;for guess what? Eat, party, live music and more at the urban warehousey&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.walcothousebath.com/" target="_blank">Walcot House</a>. And onto the wine: pour yourself into to the Michelin Bib Gourmand&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/beckford-bottle-shop-bath/" target="_blank">Beckford Bottle Shop</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.corkagebath.com/" target="_blank">Corkage</a>, to nibble on small plates, drink interesting wine by the glass or the bottle, then buy more bottles to take home.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SHOP</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/00-bath-found.png" alt="" class="wp-image-56566" /><figcaption>Found</figcaption></figure>



<p>Head up to the Bartlett Street Quarter at the top end of Bath’s main shopping drag to find sustainable women’s fashion<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bibico.co.uk/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Bibico</a>, women and home stores&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theloftbath.com/blue-womanandhome" target="_blank">The Loft</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.toa.st/pages/toast-bath" target="_blank">Toast</a>&nbsp;(where they will repair any Toast garment for you for free). Nearby is St Margaret’s Buildings, a little pedestrian street lined with interesting independent shops including eclectic European clothing for men and women at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.uberview.co.uk/" target="_blank">Uber</a>&nbsp;and affordable contemporary art at the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.rostragallery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rostra Gallery.</a>&nbsp;Walcot Street is known for its interiors shops. Peruse the goods in cool concept store<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://foundbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Found</a>&nbsp;on Argyle Street. Make a selection from&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.magalleria.co.uk/" target="_blank">Magalleria’s</a>&nbsp;huge range of esoteric and ultra rad mags or get lost in the labyrinthine stairways and wood-panelled rooms of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.rossitersofbath.com/" target="_blank">Rossiters</a>, Bath’s idiosyncratic, independent department store – both of which are on Broad Street. Designer makers at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBathArtisanMarket/" target="_blank">Bath Artisan Market&nbsp;</a>in the Abbey Quarter last Sunday of the month. Three brilliant bookshops:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://mrbsemporium.com/" target="_blank">Mr B’s Emporium</a>&nbsp;on John Street,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Topping &amp; Company</a>&nbsp;on The Paragon and&nbsp;<a href="https://persephonebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Persephone Books</a>(who publish neglected fiction/non fiction by women writers) in the Edgar Buildings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ICONIC HOT SPOTS</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://somerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2018/03/roman-baths.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21831" /><figcaption>Roman Baths by Lloyd Evans Photography. VisitBath</figcaption></figure>



<p>Where to start? Have tea in the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.royalcrescent.co.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Crescent Hotel</a>&nbsp;or see how the Georgians lived at the restored&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/" target="_blank">No 1 Royal Crescent.&nbsp;</a>Cameras out ready to take pix of the super symmetrical Georgian townhouses encircling huge plane trees in The Circus en route to&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-assembly-rooms" target="_blank">The Assembly Rooms&nbsp;</a>(the place to be seen in the 18th century) with the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fashion Museum</a>&nbsp;downstairs. Climb to the top of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.bathabbey.org/towertours" target="_blank">Bath Abbey</a>.&nbsp; Scare yourself at Bath’s new immersive experience, Mary Shelley’s&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://houseoffrankenstein.com/" target="_blank">House of Frankenstein</a>&nbsp;(she wrote part of her famous novel in the city). You can see the thermal waters at the historic&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/" target="_blank">Roman Baths</a>, but you can’t jump in – do that at the rooftop pool at the iconic&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.thermaebathspa.com/" target="_blank">Thermae Bath Spa</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>KIDS</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://somerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2018/03/the-egg-auditorium-Photo-credit-Philip-Vile.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21781" /><figcaption>the egg</figcaption></figure>



<p>Bath’s dedicated children’s theatre,&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/your-visit/the-egg/" target="_blank">the egg</a>&nbsp;has an eclectic programme for kids from 0 upwards, daytime shows, the chance to meet performers and a very nice cafe with healthy, veggie, vegan food – but don’t worry, there’s prosecco too. Everyone can let off steam in the huge fun children’s playground – a zipwire big enough for adults, climbing frames and slides, not – in the 57-acre<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/sport-leisure-and-parks/parks-opening-times-and-locations/royal-victoria-park" target="_blank">&nbsp;Royal Victoria Park</a>. A visit to Baths’ best toy shop is&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/my-small-world-toy-store-bath/" target="_blank">My Small World</a>&nbsp;in the Southgate centre will keep the nippers busy for a while.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>QUIRKY</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://somerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2018/03/v210-n-16-universwatercolors_2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21841" /></figure>



<p>Stand on the spot where the planet Uranus was discovered. William Herschel designed his own telescope to identify Uranus at his house, now the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://herschelmuseum.org.uk/" target="_blank">Herschel Museum of Astronomy</a>, in 1781. Sister Caroline was an important astronomer too. Find flea and food markets, indy shops and eateries under the huge glass-domed roof of former railway terminus&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.greenparkstation.co.uk/" target="_blank">Green Park Station.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CULTURE</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://somerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2018/03/Garden-Cafe.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21816" /><figcaption>Love a big glass box on the side of a period property – the excellent Garden Cafe at the Holburne Museum extends out into Sydney Gardens. Photo Holburne Museum</figcaption></figure>



<p>Catch a show at the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/" target="_blank">Theatre Royal</a>‘s main auditorium or Ustinov Studio&nbsp;<em>before</em>&nbsp;it hits the West End. Festivals aplenty: the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.bathcomedy.com/" target="_blank">Bath Comedy Festival</a>, the flagship multi-arts&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival/" target="_blank">Bath Festival</a>&nbsp;brings international musicians, writers and speakers to the city in the summer and the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/" target="_blank">Bath Children’s Literature Festival</a>, the largest in Europe, in Sept/Oct. If you must, dress up in Regency gear for the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jane Austen Festival</a>&nbsp;in Sept.&nbsp; Gallery hounds:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.holburne.org/" target="_blank">Holburne Museum</a>&nbsp;(9,000 objects and paintings) and&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/" target="_blank">Victoria Art Gallery</a>&nbsp;(along the same lines). Like your culture a bit more raunchy? Comedy, music, cabaret, burlesque and Bath’s biggest nightclub Motorcity at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.komedia.co.uk/bath/" target="_blank">Komedia Bath.</a></p>


Let’s go to Bath! The ultimate Muddy guide

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