Meet Bath
Bath has the potential to be the highlight of any excursion to the UK, oozing buckets of British charm from its ancient bridge to its Roman baths.
If the thought of heading to one of the more well-known cities in the UK, such as London or Manchester, doesn’t pique your curiosity, then why not give the wonderfully preserved Bath a chance to win your affections? This quaint English city doesn’t appear on many travel lists but has an understated charm that can capture the heart. If it isn’t for the awe-inspiring Georgian architecture and endless historical wonder, perhaps the many independent shops and year-round festivals will do it. As you might have guessed, even if you’re not aware of the city, Bath is home to Roman baths, the likes of which are rarely seen so well-preserved anywhere. This spa complex remains one of the ancient world’s great wonders, overlooked by the goddess Sulis Minerva’s bronze-coated statue. Here you can live like a pampered Roman, in the city that has been considered a well-being destination ever since its discovery in Roman times.
Where to live in Bath
Bath is home to a neighborhood that just missed out on the title of one of the best places to live in the UK, according to The Sunday Times newspaper. But aside from this one impressive neighborhood, Bath is a great place to live, and it’s hard not to become enamored with the wonderful Georgian streets and architecture to be found around almost every corner. Living here will feel almost as if you are transported back to Roman times, on a daily basis.
Best Neighborhoods in Bath
The best neighborhoods in Bath are Bear Flat, the city center, Combe Down, and Southdown. You can find a lot of variety in the neighborhoods here, so whether it’s views over the city you want or proximity to the center and good shopping, you should be able to easily find what you’re looking for. Plus, as we already mentioned, Bath is home to one of the top neighborhoods in the whole of the UK, according to The Sunday Times, so that’s good to know.
Quick Facts About Bath
If you’re looking to get to know Bath on a deeper level, then it’s worth peeling back the city’s layers to reveal its most interesting traits. Here are some of the most fascinating facts about the city to give you a better understanding of what it has to offer:Many people flock here in winter
Due to the natural thermal spas in Bath, it has become one of the most popular cities to visit in the UK during the winter months. This makes a lot of sense, given the city’s Roman name of ‘Aquae Solis,’ which translates to ‘Waters of the Sun.’The city was founded in the 1st century
Yes, that’s right, Bath’s history dates back an incredibly long time all the way to the 1st century. In this century, the Romans first founded the city and saw an opportunity to turn the natural hot springs into thermal spas for their pleasure.The city has World Heritage status
The entire city of Bath was granted World Heritage status back in 1987. This is due in no small part to the abundance of architectural styles and historical influence, spanning from the neoclassical Palladian to the Georgian and Roman.It’s home to the Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is a semi-circular row of 30 terraced houses that is a popular sight for visitors to see. John Wood is the architect responsible for the innovative design of the Royal Crescent, and it is widely considered one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the UK.It’s a popular filming location
Many TV and film studios have made the most of Bath’s unique architecture and history, making the city one of the most popular filming locations in the whole of England. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 100 TV productions and film studios have shot footage here since 1931.Pulteney bridge is home to shops on both sides
It’s rare to find a bridge that houses shops within its walls, but that’s just what the stunning Pulteney bridge has. First built in 1774, the bridge adopts the Palladian style and has been given the status of a Grade I listed building.Bath was targeted in the World War II.
A target for bombing raids in 1942, Hitler hoped to crush British morale by going for this culturally rich and well-preserved city. Fortunately, although a lot of the city’s buildings were damaged, the Roman and Georgian baths remained intact for the most part, and a lot of the architecture survived unscathed.Victoria park was named as a tribute to the Queen
The verdant Victoria park is a popular place to go for a pleasant walk or simply sit down and relax, and its name takes after the Queen. First formed in 1830, the park was given the name of the then 11-year-old princess, who would go on to become the Queen.Work in Bath
The county of Somerset is home to some big companies, which range from household names to family businesses. The most recognizable company based in the county is probably C&J Clark Ltd, which is behind the hugely popular shoe store Clarks. Many of the county’s top companies are focused on the manufacturing and services industries, with big electricity companies like Rotork plc and helicopter design ones like Agustawestland ltd being some of the largest.
How good is Bath for Digital Nomads or Remote Work
Remote work is changing how the global workspace operates. In a trend that is showing no signs of slowing down, remote work is rapidly on the increase all around the world—especially in a place like Bath. And about 25% of remote workers describe themselves as digital nomads—those who like to travel or stay in cities around the world while they work. So, how good is Bath for both of these growing movements?
Average Internet Speed
Bath has a high average internet speed, which is above the national average for the United Kingdom. The average speed is in the range of 24.26Mbps-68.73Mbps, while the maximum recorded speed was 878.16Mbps.Work-friendly Coffee Shops
Given that the United Kingdom has taken to the remote work and digital nomad movement well, you can expect to find a handful of great work-friendly coffee shops in Bath. Here are the top spots for working in the city: Society Cafe: With coffee shops in various cities across the UK, the Society cafe’s main goal is to provide great specialty coffee and a relaxing atmosphere. Colonna & Small’s: If cute and cozy coffee shops are your thing, then you’ll love this quaint cafe in the city center. This cafe is serious about its coffee and is widely considered one of the best spots in the city, so if you need a good coffee to get work done, this is the place to come. The Wild Cafe: The Wild Cafe doesn’t sound like the best place to work, but its cozy interior betrays its name and lends itself well to a spot of productivity.Coworking Spaces
Not only is Bath home to many great work-friendly coffee shops, but it also has a variety of coworking spaces that are centrally located and should satisfy all of your work needs. The top-rated coworking spaces include: The Guild Coworking Hub: A great place for hotdesking and finding like-minded people, this coworking space has plenty of meeting rooms at competitive prices and friendly staff to help you get settled in. Spaces Works Bath Northgate House: This unique coworking spot provides a series of spaces, just outside the city of Bath. It provides a modern working environment, and includes both hotdesking options and dedicated desks too, there are even private office spaces if you need a moment to think alone. Cowork Inc: Cowork Inc is close to the iconic Pulteney bridge, and its great facilities back up its convenient location. While both the Guild Coworking Hub and Cowork Inc are located in the city center of Bath, the Spaces Works coworking is a 20-minute drive from the city. Each of these coworking spaces offers great facilities and amenities which leaves you to get on with whatever it is you need to do.Suitable Level for Digital Nomads
Bath is a fantastic place for digital nomads to call home, first and foremost because it is one of the UK’s finest cities. If you can appreciate ancient history and culture, then you’ll fall in love with Bath not long after you arrive. There’s so much to see and do here, and a lot of it has the backdrop of gorgeous Georgian architecture. Bath doesn’t feel as chaotic as some of the country’s major cities either, which is ideal if you prefer a slower pace of life. Its small size also makes it a very walkable city, which gives you plenty of excuses to get exercise and marvel at the architectural delights all around.Visa Requirements
A standard visitor visa will suffice if you’re looking to stay in the UK for a temporary period of 6 months or less, which is ideal for a holiday, business trip, or term of study. However, if it’s residency and employment that you seek, you’ll need to consider one of the visa types that permit a longer stay. These include a number of work visas, an investor visa, a start-up visa, or an innovator visa. So as you can see, if you’re a budding entrepreneur or keen to set up shop in the UK, then you can do so in a number of ways. Each of the processes will require different paperwork, so take some time to consider what type of employment or investment you’re willing to make to secure residency.Food and Drink in Bath
If you were wondering how good the food and drink scene is in Bath, you’re in luck, because it is one of the better cities in the UK for good eats. There are Michelin star restaurants, live music venues, and plenty of local food to whet the appetite. For an unforgettable dining experience, head to the Ivy Bath Brasserie, which offers fine dining as well as English afternoon tea and a whole host of delicious cocktails. To sample a 1 Michelin Star restaurant, The Olive Tree is the place to go, with universally acclaimed cuisine. For something a little different, try Sotto Sotto, a unique cellar restaurant serving exquisite Italian cuisine right next to the ancient Roman baths. As for drinks, Green park brasserie offers up an inviting atmosphere as well as regular live music to dance the night away to. If cocktails are more your thing, then we’d strongly recommend that you go to The Dark Horse bar, which is an underground den that features a seasonal menu, and was voted one of the best new cocktail bars in the world by Tales Of The Cocktail 2016.
Restaurants
Bars
Top 6 Things To Do in Bath
For a city on the smaller side, it’s astonishing how much there is to see and do in Bath. It goes without saying that your first stop after settling into the city should be the Roman baths. It’s one of those experiences that you can’t miss if you’re in the city, and it’s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in history and soak up some of the city’s ancient charm. Once you’ve treated yourself to the delightful spa experience, you might feel energized to stroll around the city center and take in some of the most popular sights. These include the Bath abbey, which can be ascended for panoramic views of the city, the impressive shop-lined Pulteney bridge, and a bit further away the Royal Crescent.
Theatre Royal
Saw Cl, Bath
1
Alexandra Park
Shakespeare Ave, Bath
2
Museum of Bath at Work
Julian Rd, Bath
3
Sydney Gardens
Sydney Pl, Bath
4
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
19 New King St, Bath
5
Bath Skyline
Bath