Summer shopping in the spa city

12th June 2009

The flights are booked, the villa looks great but what are you going to wear? If your summer wardrobe looks "so last year" head for Bath for an update and enjoy the city at its best with the Bath stone sparkling in the sunshine.

Shopping in Bath makes perfect sense when you have limited time to tick off all those holiday essentials. It is so compact and walk-able and yet has all that you might need and lots that you don't really need but is hard to resist. Who wants to shop in a faceless, covered shopping mall when you can enjoy the sunshine and discover the retail gems in this World Heritage City?

This summer's fashions are so colourful and tempting. Look for a floaty, silky sundress or kaftan at one of Bath's great independent fashion boutiques like Mee or Prey. For something a bit different, Instant Vintage has lacy tops that would be cool and cute for a hot summer's evening. Milsom Street is the main retail artery in the city with great brands like Ted Baker, Reiss and Hobbs as well as one of the country's oldest department stores, Jolly's. For pretty beach baskets, cool cool bags and hampers, picnic rugs and tents visit Cath Kidston, the shop that has introduced designer camping to the Festival set.

After all this retail therapy, take a break for a coffee or light lunch. Head for the Parisien Café or the terrace at the Moon and Sixpence for al fresco fun in the courtyards of Milsom Place, Bath's latest sophisticated shopping and dining venue at the heart of North Bath. This is about as Continental as it gets without getting on a plane.

Schools out and the party on the beach beckons so consult the Jack Wills Summer Holiday Handbook for an array of bright bikinis, vests, shorts and must have Aisling Tea Dress. As well as Jack Wills Bath has a good sized Top Shop and H&M located in Southgate and a range of teen brands clustered around the Corridor including Superdry, Weird Fish and Animal. Pulteney Bridge is not to be missed; one of the very few bridges in the world with shops over it and you will discover some great boutiques like Pink Stripes and Joules. For the unreliable British summer pack some distinctive Joules wellies but for sunnier days there are flower print shorts, cropped trousers and swim wear plus lots of very practical kit like a "Rock pooler" towelling top, in fact gear for the whole family.

For children at the bucket and spade age there is JoJo Maman Bebe or Funky Babini and check out the "babies on the beach" section at the White Company for the Olivia Frill Swimsuit and matching sunhat. The White Company also has luxurious beach towels and wraps and cover ups like their broderie anglaise tunic that doubles up as a top over jeans in the evening.

For last minute leg waxing and that important pre holiday pedicure, Bath has more than its quota of beauty parlours. Green Street House and Champneys are right in the centre but call ahead to make an appointment to avoid disappointment.

Summer celebrations require special outfits and accessories. Located in the Old Post Office L.K.Bennett has a well deserved reputation for footwear ranging from pretty pink pumps to purple patent platforms as well as smart dresses and jackets. Independents like Sassy and Boo in Margaret Buildings stock the kind of clothes that make you stand out from the crowd like Blank's vintage style party frocks.
Bath Tourism Plus is championing the cause of Bath retailers because so many visitors love to shop in the spa city "people are attracted to Bath for all kinds of reasons;, for the history, the Georgian architecture, the Roman Baths and the hotels and restaurants but when they get here they find it hard to resist our wonderful shops," said Jasmine Simmons of Bath Tourism Plus. For a map to take guide you through retail heaven and take you off the beaten track plus information about shopping in Bath check out www.visitbath.co.uk. The new Bath Travel Guide gives advice on access and parking but savvy shoppers use Park and Ride every time.

-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
For further information or briefings please contact Lucy Weaver by email lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk or 01225 477441 or Nicky Hancock at Hancock Communications on Tel: 01225 332299 or e-mail:nicky@hancockcomm.com

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.