Want to step away from the city centre to somewhere with a bohemian, village atmosphere? Some say the Walcot area is to Bath as Brooklyn is to New York. With a close but welcoming community, it’s an area far enough off the beaten track to maintain a tranquil air of independence. Known as the Artisan Quarter – for good reason – its boutique shops and artisan eateries sit alongside public works of art on walls and curb sides adding to the inspiring feel.
Intrigued? Mike James of the successful Savouring Bath food tours has put together an itinerary to follow for a day out in Walcot and The Paragon...
9am – Wake up at Picnic Coffee, a hotspot for artisan coffee aficionados
9:30am – Sample handcrafted cheeses at the Fine Cheese Company’s shop and café
10am – Peruse ‘knick-knackery’ at the antique and flea market in the Old Cattle Market – remember it’s on Saturdays only!
10:30am – Rummage for retro and vintage ephemera in the Yellow Shop
11am – Continue on to eclectic interiors store Graham & Green and browse their range of high quality homewares and fantastic gifts
11:30am – Head up the steps beside the old Ladymead drinking fountain to see the exterior of No.1 The Paragon, where Jane Austen stayed on her first visit to Bath
11:45am – Cross over to the Vineyards to visit the Museum of Bath Architecture and see the incredible 1965 model of the city
12:45pm – Tuck in at Aqua Restaurant and enjoy contemporary Italian cuisine in a fine church house
2pm – Return down the steps to Walcot Street and visit the Bath Aqua Theatre of Glass – they run plenty of interactive glassblowing demonstrations
2:45pm – Visit St Swithin’s Church, where slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce was married, and where Jane Austen’s father is buried
3:30pm – Venture back to the upper reaches of Walcot Street, and sample the baked delights of Roux-Scholar John Murray at Didi Cakes
4:00pm – Finish with a welcome glass of wine at Corkage where you’ll get the best advice on great wines from proud owner Marty Grant, and a menu of small plates designed by Michelin-trained chef Richard Knighting
Showing that Bath really does has more to offer than meets the eye, to find out more about the Walcot area, this quieter corner of the city, head here.
Mike James is the owner of Savouring Bath who operate food sampling tours in the city. Their Guilty Pleasures tour offers tasting experiences in Walcot on Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from February to November.
