Visit Bath

TEN TOP TIPS FOR A ROMANTIC BREAK IN BATH

1. Plan ahead for a perfect stay. Consult www.visitbath.co.uk. The site is packed full of useful information about accommodation, museums and attractions, shops and what's on in Bath. The special romance section covers romantic places to stay, restaurants for dinners à deux and suggested itineraries for every budget. It also has links with many other helpful websites.

2. Weekends are busy in Bath. It's the most popular time to visit, so make sure that you book hotels and restaurants in advance. Better still, plan a midweek visit with your beloved.

3. Find out what's on and book seats for the Theatre Royal, which must be one of the most romantic theatres in the country, or choose from Bath's rich programme of festivals which attract top international performers throughout the year. Sit back and let the magnificent music pluck at your heart strings.

4. Bring comfortable shoes as Bath is a compact and walkable city and can easily be explored on foot. Walk hand in hand through parks and gardens within the city or walk out into the charming countryside around Bath. The National Trust Skyline Walk is a six mile circuit of the city with magnificent views and benches for romantic moments. Or a stroll along the Kennett and Avon Canal is easy walking on the flat out to the George Inn at Bathampton or beyond.

5. Stay an extra day. With so much to see and do, it is worth staying for three nights if you have the time. If your idea of romance is simply to relax and be indulged, there are luxurious hotels with palatial suites. Several have spas and treatments are available for non-residents as well as for a truly pampering experience. Treatments can even be booked for couples at day spas like Hands on Health.

6. Don't forget to pack your camera so you can capture your romantic moments to remember your special time in this photogenic city. Look at the Top Places for Proposals on the VisitBath website for magical places to spend time together.

7. Keep it a secret! There are few more exciting surprises than a special break with your loved one. Let the hotel in on the secret and they will recommend the perfect suite, provide champagne for your arrival, chocolates or flowers or even rose petals in the bath. Hotels in Bath take pride in offering the personal touch and they will give advice on how to plan a perfect stay.

8. Buy a special souvenir...few visitors will be able to resist the temptations of Bath's cosmopolitan retail scene. As well as the usual high street brands, Bath has a high proportion of independent retailers that are unique to the city, so this is the perfect place to find an unusual souvenir like Bath Aqua Glass who will engrave your initials on a pair of swans entwined ( because swans mate for life). There are also superb jewellers for a sparkling memento of your trip. Galleries and museums also run special events and exhibitions so take home a painting or a gift from the museum shop.

9. Bespoke sightseeing. If you want to explore but value your privacy, take a personalised tour with Sulis Guides or a chauffeur driven car or limo from Chauffeurlink. They can help you explore further afield to beautiful villages like Lacock or Castle Combe or visit Stonehenge and Avebury. You can even hire a tandem or book a hot air balloon to soar above the skyline. Hail a horse-drawn carriage through the narrow streets to take you back to your hotel in style.

10. Naughty but nice. There are indulgent treats on every street corner like hand-made chocolates and champagne from Minerva, oysters at Fish Works or smelly souvenirs from Molton Brown and Space Apothecary. The Dressing Room offers discreet advice on slinky underwear and for an explosive time you can buy a Sex Bomb, bath ballistic at Lush filled with age-old aphrodisiacs.

For press enquiries please contact Fiona Humphreys fiona_humphreys@bathtourism.co.uk or Tel 0044 (0) 1225 4772284 (0) 1225 477228