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Off the beaten track

One of the joys of a city break is discovering its secrets and unravelling the back streets. An historic city like Bath is compact and walk-able, a wonderful place to explore on foot and discover boutiques and cafes all without having to get on a bus or a tube. Despite its old world charm, the city is no quaint backwater; there are fashionable boutiques with the latest designer labels, fabulous gift shops and galleries, antiques and superb jewellers. Part of the fun of shopping in a city like Bath is discovering these delightful places and combining retail therapy with a weekend of indulgence in a wonderful World Heritage location.

Bath Tourism Plus, the official marketing organisation for Bath and the surrounding area, has compiled a shopping map for visitors to download free of charge from www.visitbath.co.uk. To find out more about shops in Bath, where to buy, what and how to plan your shopping itinerary, visit "www.visitbath.co.uk/boutiquebath".

Here are a few examples of the delightful alleyways and side streets packed with interesting shops, galleries and cafes.

Located between two of Bath's architectural icons, the Circus and the Royal Crescent, Margaret's Buildings is a delightful side street lined with independent shops and galleries.

Alexandra May is an Aladdin's cave, packed from floor to ceiling with glittering jewellery, gifts and scarves, masks and ornaments. With her distinctive chenille and leather bags, Liz Cox has become a landmark shop in Bath. The bags are handmade in nearby Stratton-on-the-Fosse. "We need a warning on the bags to say; if you carry a Liz Cox bag someone may come up and touch it" says their friendly store manager Meg. The bags are tactile and stylish and aficionados make regular visits to Bath just to secure the latest Liz Cox designs.

Further up Margaret's Buildings, look for Sassy and Boo where old and new work well together with vintage pieces among fine cashmere sweaters, frilly knickers, bags and accessories. Pride of place is given to hand beaded flapper dressers made to original Thirties patterns. Nicholas Cage who owns a house in the Circus nearby is a regular. Cross to Uber where "urban chic meets alpine elegance" with an altogether more masculine feel. Fashions imported from Austria and Germany include the striking Luis Tronker range. To drop a size without too much effort, the tummy tuck jeans from NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) are a great buy.

Next door the same Austrian owners have created uber-the-top, Hansel and Gretel. Here you can find all things Tyrolean from cuckoo clocks to small sized lederhosen, from candle sticks to hand carved wooden bowls. Tucked in the basement "Kaffee and Kuchen" lives up to its name, serving homemade strudel served on gingham cloths, accompanied by comforting hot chocolate with lashings of cream.

Walcot Street, also known as the artisan's quarter, is worth a detour to find interesting antiques, furnishings and gifts. Visit Waterfall Antiques and Collectables for handsome late Georgian and Victorian furniture; Shannon for more avant garde Scandinavian furniture and lighting (a million miles from IKEA); and Walcot Reclamation has a yard full of period doors, stone, fireplaces and grates as well as high quality replicas in their repro shop.

Long suffering children, needing a break from shopping can visit Crocodoodaldoo to create a very special pottery gift to take home, or call in at Tridias for wooden toys, books and games and everything a pink princess might need. Bath Aqua Theatre of Glass is spellbinding for visitors of any age offering the chance to watch the ancient art of free blown glass. The shop sells a great range of glass ornaments, jewellery and hangings. Bath Aqua Glass is handmade with its distinctive turquoise blue colour inspired by the spa waters of Bath and each piece is signed and dated.

Don't miss the British Hatter a delight, where milliner, Pamela Bromley, creates fabulously frothy hats and accessories setting the ladies of Bath up for "the Season."

It would be easy to overlook Mee tucked away on Bartlett Street. A treat for all the senses, Mee is a lifestyle boutique with clothes by Pink Soda Boutique, Juliet Dunn, Libelula, LoFlyjeans, Fleur Wood, Legacy, Traffic People and many more. Gorgeous lingerie and gifts and tempting accessories are all displayed in this delightful boudoir style emporium.

Toast and the House of Bath are also in Bartlett Street as well as Itchy Feet selling outdoor and travel gear for the adventurous explorer or wannabee adventurer. The Bartlett Street Antique Centre has a collection of stalls with silver, jewellery and art. For antiques of a very special kind, try Rare and Vintage Guitars. Mauger Modern Art, a commercial gallery showing work from well known named artists (Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Lucian Freud) and also champions emerging talent. Bath University graduate, Keiko Kenzu identified a gap in the market and has brought top quality sushi to Bath for "Japanese visitors and the huge overseas student population". Yen Sushi, this smart new eaterie opened in November 2007 and has fish delivered fresh from Billingsgate on a daily basis.

There are very few places in the world that have shops on a bridge but Pulteney Bridge in Bath, built by John Adam in 1773, is one of them. Here you will find unusual gifs in the specialist antique map shop; Bath stamps and coins; or in Pulteney Bridge Gifts. For smart affordable clothes and jewellery, Pink Stripes is a good option selling labels like Nougat, Fenwright Mason, Hunters and Gatherers and Shizaz. For flagging shoppers, Squeeze Juice Café recommends "Instant Energizer" with ginger and fresh carrot, orange and apple juice.

With two universities in the city, Bath caters to young shoppers with plenty of book, music and affordable clothing stores. In "the Corridor" Animal and Freespirit stock watches, clothes, bags and purses. Sparkles has a range of affordable jewellery and gifts and even tiaras for that graduation ball. Locally made pieces can be found at Bijou Jewellery such as bracelets knitted out of copper wire coated with silver, adorned with semi-precious stones. The Corridor opened in 1825 a few years after London's Burlington Arcade when arcades first became fashionable in the UK.

Milsom Place is the new shopping area tucked away between Milsom Place and Broad Street. Home to well known brands like Hobbs and Cath Kidston as well as some of Bath's long standing independents such as Quadri with its Alessi collection and other great gifts and jewellery, AH Moda and Image, both with a strong following for their fashion. With modern plate glass shop fronts against the fabric of historic buildings this is at the heart of Georgian Bath. This summer's opening of Jamie Oliver's "Jamie's Italian will be one of four restaurants, each with a delightful courtyard for al fresco dining.

To make the most of a short break in Bath add some time for exploring the backstreets to find all these hidden gems. Bath has all the elements for a successful short break; great hotels and restaurants; history and architecture; a theatre and year round programme of festivals. For further information visit www.visitbath.co.uk.

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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

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 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.