Shop in festive style in the Ultimate Spa City

20th October 2008

Bath has been a fashionable place to shop since Georgian times, when fashionistas flocked to the city to purchase the latest styles and trends. Today it still offers visitors that 'something special' and for Christmas shoppers it is a perfect choice. Bath boasts a city centre that is packed with small, independent shops, alongside every high street name you could wish for and a festive Christmas Market - all set in beautiful Georgian surroundings. And after a day of exploring all that Bath has to offer, where better to relax than in the Ultimate Spa City?

Bath makes a memorable shopping destination with a distinctive difference; almost 50% of the city's shops are independently owned offering shoppers a personal service and unique products. Streets are packed with stylish boutiques, irresistable designer outlets and shops selling tempting treats. There is a diverse range of shopping areas, all within an easy walk, including hidden gems well worth discovering. Unlike many other cities with big shopping centres and cloned high streets, you can stroll along Bath's cobbled streets and picturesque passageways and discover areas such as Margaret's Buildings, Bartlett Street or Pulteney Bridge where you will find luxurious handbags from Bath-designer Liz Cox, beautiful dresses from Mee Boutique and labels such as Nougat and Stiky Fingers at Pinkstripes. After enjoying Bath's boutiques and independent stores, head towards Stall Street and Union Street and find all the well-known high street shops. A guide to shopping can be found on the visitbath website www.visitbath.co.uk/shopping and includes maps of all the different shopping areas which can be downloaded for free making it easy for visitors to find their way around.

Arrange a shopping day in Bath between the 27th November and the 7th December and experience the Bath Christmas Market. This popular and special event takes place every year in the stunning location between Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Over 100 traditional wooden chalets decorated in festive style sell handmade and unusual gifts and offer everything needed for the perfect Christmas celebration. For visitors who have been to the market before, a return trip is recommended as this year will welcome 26 new traders who will be selling new and exciting products. The Bath Christmas Market website gives further information for visitors including a list of stallholders www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

The opening night of the Bath Christmas Market also coincides with the switch on of the Christmas Lights and start of Late Night shopping in Bath when shops open until late every Thursday from the 27th November until Christmas. Visitors are recommended to use the city's Park and Ride facilities and public transport to reach the city centre for shopping during the festive period.

Spa culture was invented in Bath so is a 'must' for visitors. With the opening of Thermae Bath Spa, it is now possible to wallow in the thermal waters which have played such a key role in the city's history. The rooftop pool with views across the Georgian skyline surrounded by green hills beyond is an unforgettable experience and a wonderful place to relax and unwind after a long day of shopping. Affordable and accessible, with two hour spa sessions costing just £22, a voucher makes a great Christmas gift and can be purchased from the Spa or online via www.visitbathshop.co.uk.

In between shopping and relaxing in the Spa, visitors are in for a treat with Bath's vibrant restaurant scene and evening entertainment. If you love food you'll love Bath and Jamie Oliver must have agreed as he recently opened his flagship restaurant, Jamie's Italian, in Milsom Place in Bath. There is a welcome café or restaurant on every street giving shoppers a chance to re-fuel before heading back to the shops; the city has all sorts on offer from Nepalese cuisine at Yak Yeti Yak to fish and seafood at Onefishtwofish and Modern British at The Circus Café and Restaurant. Evening entertainment is equally as diverse with performances at the Georgian Theatre Royal, film from around the globe at the Little Theatre Cinema, live music at Moles or cabaret and comedy at Komedia, a new venue opening on the 13th November. The www.visitbath.co.uk website gives further suggestions on where to eat and entertainment to enjoy.

In the run up to Christmas Bath is buzzing with a variety of festivals and events and a full programme can be found on www.visitbath.co.uk. Some of the highlights throughout December include Jane Austen's Regency Christmas at the Jane Austen Centre, Christmas at Claverton at the American Museum, Shopper's Carol Concerts at Bath Abbey and the Milsom Place Chocolate Festival which takes place on the 6th December and gives visitors the chance to meet award winning chocolatiers in the chic and elegant courtyards of Milsom Place.

With its beautiful backdrop of Georgian buildings, a unique mix of shops and plenty of opportunity to relax there is no better place to shop for Christmas and visitors looking for something special are sure to find it in Bath.

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Notes to Editors:
For further information or images to illustrate this information, please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk.

Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk

For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk

Bath Christmas Market
Bath Tourism Plus is the company responsible for the marketing and operation of Bath Christmas Market, which attracts approximately 200,000 visitors per year to Bath.

For more information about Bath Christmas Market, visit: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

Travel to Bath
Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world.

High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports. Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre's main shopping and tourist areas. See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Bristol International Airport is just 15 miles from Bath and operates direct flights from New York and Orlando in the USA, as well as most major European and UK airports. An express bus service to Bristol Temple Meads train station operates throughout the day, and Bath is just a 20 minute train journey from there. See: www.bristolairport.co.uk

Bath is also easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales. There are 3243 pubic car parking spaces in Bath with the main long stay car parks at Charlotte Street and Avon Street.

There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre. There is also a Park & Ride service that operates on Saturdays only from the University of Bath.