Beat the winter blues with a pre-Christmas shopping break

20th October 2010

New website dedicated to winter breaks at: www.visitbath.co.uk/winter

The beautiful World Heritage City of Bath is an ideal place to beat the winter blues and is fast-becoming synonymous with the festive season, making it popular for pre-Christmas shopping breaks.  Visitors to Bath this winter will be in for a treat with the country’s favourite Christmas Market returning to the spectacular setting between the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey to celebrate its 10th year.  There are also lots of new shops to discover with the final phase of SouthGate shopping area recently completed.

To celebrate winter breaks in Bath, Bath Tourism Plus has launched a brand new ‘Winter Highlights’ website complete with information on shopping, the Bath Christmas Market, places to stay, things to do and events and festivals: www.visitbath.co.uk/winter.  There is also a ‘Winter Highlights’ brochure available to order through the website or by calling the Bath Tourist Information Centre (0906 7112000, 50p/min).

It will be an exciting time to visit Bath this winter with the final phase of SouthGate recently completed - providing shoppers with even more choice.  After several years of redevelopment SouthGate has been transformed into a shopping area that blends seamlessly with Bath’s beautiful Georgian architecture.  SouthGate has an eclectic mix of shops including Kurt Geiger, All Saints, Tommy Hillfiger and popular high street shops such as New Look and H&M.  The final phase of development in October also welcomed Urban Outfitters and a flagship, 125,000 sq ft, Debenhams department store.  Head through Bath towards the top of town to discover the city’s boutique and independent shops where you’re sure to find something a little different - perfect for working through that Christmas list!  Pay a visit to the oldest department store in the country, Jolly’s, or pick up a special gift at the Prince of Wales’ new Highgrove shop on Milsom Street, where all the products are inspired by the organic gardens at Highgrove, in Tetbury.  The shop offers a range of exclusive home and garden products, carefully selected from ethical and sustainable sources, many produced by British artisans and craftsmen.  With lots of back streets and alleyways full of hidden gems that shouldn’t be missed, visit www.visitbath.co.uk/shop to see a complete guide to shopping in Bath.

Last year the Bath Christmas Market was voted as the best in the UK, and the fourth best in Europe, and has grown in popularity since it began ten years ago.  With over 120 traditional wooden chalets decorated in festive style, shoppers can browse the range of high-quality gifts on sale or stop at one of the catering stalls for some warming food or mulled wine.  The Bath Christmas Market has been extended for 2010 and will run for 18 days from 25 November to 12 December.

Unlike other cities that begin to wind down for the winter season, Bath will be gearing up for this year’s festivities with a number of special events.  Why not take some time out from shopping and enjoy one of the city’s events?  ‘Christmas at Claverton’ at the American Museum will run from 26 November to 19 December, and visitors will be able to see the house decorated in ruby red and glittering gold.  Jane Austen fans will love ‘Jane Austen’s Regency Christmas’ where they can step back in time and find how Bath’s most famous resident and friends and family entertained themselves during the festive season (20 November – 31 December).  Join in traditional family fun at the annual pantomime in the Georgian Theatre Royal from 16 December to 23 January - this year will be showing Aladdin - or enjoy ‘Carols by Candlelight’ at the famous Pump Room which will see the Bath Bach Choir perform its annual carol concert (15 – 17 December).  Get in the festive spirit and sing-along at the Shopper Carol Services at Bath Abbey, which run every Saturday during the Christmas Market.

Famed for its natural hot springs, Bath is the best place to warm up!  The Thermae Bath Spa costs just £24 for a two-hour session and is a truly unique experience - after all, where else in the UK can you bathe outdoors in the middle of winter?  Thermae makes an ideal retreat for some R&R time after a day’s shopping.  A choice of over 50 treatments is also available when booked in advance.

For ideas and inspiration on making the most of a pre-Christmas break in Bath, see www.visitbath.co.uk/winter for further information or contact the Tourist Information Centre on 0906 7112000 for expert advice.

-  ENDS  -

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.