Young at Heart
Ideas for a relaxing short break, sprinkled with a touch of romance:
Day One
Draw into Bath in style by train and catch a taxi to drop you and your luggage at your hotel, or simply motor down and leave the car at your hotel whilst you discover the city centre. Bath is certainly compact enough to explore on foot, but a car can be useful if you want to experience some of the romantic spots 'beyond'. Do check that parking is provided though, as many hotels operate limited 'permit' parking in the city centre.
For a little luxury why not try the 5-star Bath Spa Hotel behind Sydney Gardens. Set in fine formal gardens with its fountains and ponds, the hotel has its own spa facilities to make this an ideal retreat from the hustle of the city.
For timeless Georgian elegance and style in a central location, try the 18-bedroomed Dukes Hotel on Great Pulteney Street.
For bed and breakfast with Victorian elegance and a contemporary twist, Dorian House in a quiet residential area to the South side is one to check out. Owned by London Symphony Orchestra cellist, Tim Hugh, rooms are named after famous musical figures.
After checking in, why not take a stroll through one of Bath's green parks or along the river to the heart of the city from where you can admire the majestic medieval abbey towering above you, or spend a few special moments together gazing at Pulteney Bridge (Bath's very own Ponte Vecchio).
Suggestions for a romantic dinner on your first evening include Il Tocco d'Italia a smart Italian restaurant with spectacularly lit night-time views over Pulteney Weir or the Hole in the Wall, the oldest restaurant in Bath in vaulted cellars lit by church candles and with an extensive wine list.
Day Two
After a leisurely breakfast, stroll into town through the city's beautiful green spaces, or along the canal, to join one of the Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides free walking tours of the city. With no pre-booking necessary, tours leave daily (10.30am and 2pm, Saturdays at 10.30 only) from outside the Roman Baths and are a wonderful way to discover the city's history and unlock its secrets. Alternatively, an open-top bus tour is perhaps a less strenuous way to see the sights. Buses depart every 10 or 15 minutes from various stops around the city.
After all that history, a cappuccino in one of Bath's many coffee shops will soon have you ready to tackle the shops - Bath is definitely a shopaholic's Paradise - or as many of Bath's fine collection of museums and galleries as you can cover. Check the 'Things to Do' section of our VisitBath website for full details, as well as prices and opening times. The Roman Baths - a must-do for every visitor - offers a joint ticket with the fabulous Museum of Costume, housed in the basement of the Assembly Rooms, the hub of fashionable Georgian society.
Lunch suggestions include Bistro Papillon in Margaret's Buildings, a short stroll from the Assembly Rooms, or if vegetarian takes your fancy Demuths in North Parade Passage (next to Sally Lunns) is for you.
After lunch, why not while-away a restful hour or two aboard a narrowboat cruising the canal, or stroll together through Royal Victoria Park and its Botanical Gardens followed by tea in the Regency Tea Rooms at the Jane Austen Centre, where a whole array of different teas and tempting cakes await you.
If you fancy dinner out-of-town later, the Moody Goose at the Old Priory Hotel in Midsomer Norton, is definitely worth the 20 minute drive. Its Michelin-star team have moved from former premises in Bath to this delightful hotel in a medieval building complete with flagstone floors, romantic inglenook fireplaces and beamed ceilings. Alternatively stay in town and try the Olive Tree Restaurant at the Queensberry hotel.
The Theatre Royal has a fine year-round programme of diverse entertainment, so pre-theatre dinner at Popjoys followed by a show could make a perfect evening. Do book tickets for the theatre in advance to avoid disappointment, as popular shows soon sell out.
Day Three
Explore some of Bath's other superb heritage attractions with the Heritage Saver Ticket. For just £25 per adult (up to 4 children can go free per adult ticket) an open-top skyline bus ticket links entry to three of Bath's attractions lying slightly beyond the city limits, the Holburne Museum, the American Museum and the National Trust's Prior Park Landscape Gardens. Tickets can be purchased on board the bus or in advance from the Tourist Information Centre.
Spend your day enjoying fine art collections at the Holburne and the intriguing displays of colonial living at the American Museum before taking lunch on the terrace with its breathtaking views along the Limpley Stoke valley. Finally savour the tranquillity of Prior Park Landscape Gardens together, with its stunning Palladian bridge from which lovers have gazed upon Bath through the intervening centuries.
Take a final cup of tea and a bun at Bath's oldest house, Sally Lunns
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