Forget the typical New Year’s resolutions to give up chocolate, do more exercise and eat healthier – why not make yours a trip to Bath in 2019? From being a top wellness destination perfect for blowing away the cobwebs after Christmas, to having a summer full of festival fun to look forward to, there are plenty of reasons to come to Bath in the new year...
1. Find Your Feel-Good Bath
Bath and its surrounding countryside is a top destination for wellbeing, not only thanks to the natural thermal waters and spas, but also because of the many things you can do here to feel good. Whether dining out and relaxing in cafés, or exploring independent shops; whiling away an afternoon in one of our museums, getting fresh air in the countryside, or enjoying one of the city’s lively festivals and watching live sport or theatre performances, there are plenty of ways to feel good in Bath.
From January to early February 2019 we will be celebrating all of the above with Feel-Good Bath. Whether you indulge in a spa offer in one of the city’s luxurious hotels, learn a new skill in a crafting class or feel refreshed on a New Year’s wellbeing walk, there will be lots to get involved with!
2. Discover Remarkable Bath
Fascinating Roman legacy? Check. Breathtaking architecture? Check. It’s no secret that Bath is a remarkable place to visit – with the whole city a designated World Heritage Site, it wears its history on its sleeve. Peek beneath the surface of this well-known past however and you’ll discover a wealth of little-known but no less fascinating stories.
Find out about the city’s regal history, of when the first King of England was crowned in Bath Abbey, and learn how the country’s postal system was reformed in Bath, plus much more, on a trip to Remarkable Bath in 2019.
3. Catch Festival Fever
Whilst you’d have thought it’d be hard to beat the 2018 Bath Festival, 2019 is set to surpass it and be bigger and better than ever. The line-up hasn’t been announced yet, but rest assured that it will once again bring some of the world’s leading writers, musicians and cultural figures to Bath from 17th–26th May, with another fabulous Finale Weekend taking place from 1st–2nd June.
It’s not just the Bath Festival on the cards in 2019. As a flavour of some of the events to come – Bath Comedy Festival will bring the laughs from 27th March–14th April; Bath will get creative with Fringe Arts Bath, 24th May–9th June; Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park will return to Royal Victoria Park from 21st–23rd June, bringing a glorious three-day feast; and Bath Carnival will once again paint the town a rainbow of colours on Saturday 13th July.
4. Have a Feast in Bath
A visit to Bath is a must if you’re a real foodie, and even if you’re not, you’re bound to find something in the city to tickle your taste buds, with plenty of places to Feast in Bath whatever your taste or budget. Whether you discover a local delicacy, a restaurant that shoots straight to the top of your list of favourites, or a cosy pub steeped in history, Bath has a satisfyingly broad mix of local and global, homemade specialities and cutting-edge cuisine, and a range of options for vegetarians and vegans.
5. Uncover Bath’s Independent Spirit
Historically the city has been the place to come to get inspired, and today is no different, as Independent Bath shows – it is thriving with small cafés, restaurants and shops. Check out the wares of local makers, from craftsmen to food producers, at many regular markets – Green Park Station’s Bath Farmers’ Market and Bath Artisan Market to name but a few. You can also browse the shops on Walcot Street and in Bath’s Upper City, Bartlett Street, George Street and Margaret’s Buildings, plus in Kingsmead Square, and pick up something unique, safe in the knowledge it’s been sourced locally.
6. Follow in Jane Austen’s Footsteps
Tread Bath’s Georgian streets just as the city’s most famous author-resident did in the eighteenth century. Experience Jane Austen’s Bath with the annual Jane Austen Festival, 13th–22nd September, the programme of which always includes plenty of Austen-related events, from talks to workshops, kicking off with the spectacular Regency Costumed Promenade. To get in the mood for September, visit The Jane Austen Centre in 2019 or download an Austen walking tour to see the city through her eyes.
7. Get Active
With the New Year bringing resolutions for the months ahead, make yours a trip to Bath and its surrounding countryside, the perfect location to get outdoors and try something new. With stunning walking routes around the city and beyond, including garden walks at the National Trust’s Prior Park and wellbeing rambles on their Bath Skyline, there’s no excuse not to lace up your boots and get some fresh air. Bike Bath also returns to the city on 30th June, with three new routes of 80, 50 and 25 miles to try, and if you prefer to spectate, cheer on Bath Rugby or Bath City FC at one of their home games.
8. Explore Bath’s Unexpected Side
As if all of the above isn’t reason enough to visit Bath in 2019, make it the year of discovery. Whilst the city’s history is well-known, there is so much more to see and do in Bath than you might expect, whether paddleboarding with a backdrop of Pulteney Weir, drinking craft beers in the very taproom they were brewed in, getting an authentic taste of the city on a food tour, or trying your luck with a thrilling game of poker, find all this and much more on a trip to discover the unexpected side of Bath.
Looking to plan your 2019 trip to Bath? Head to our accommodation pages to plan the perfect stay, and visit Great Western Railway for a convenient way to travel to Bath.
