Last Updated on May 29, 2024
Art and Culture in England’s premier Georgian City
If like me your idea of a good time is visiting theatres, art galleries and museums, then a trip to Bath, England’s premier Georgian city, is a must. Bath is a city where the contemporary sits cheek-by-jowl with the worlds of Georgian England and Ancient Rome. creating a beguiling mix of architecture, ancient sites and art and cultural spaces. The city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and deservedly so. At only 2 hours from London by car and with good rail connections Bath is easy to access with many car parks and good hotels in the city centre. We were invited to stay at the Abbey Hotel (review later in the article) which has a central location and can be highly recommended.
Art in Bath
There is a plethora of possibilities for Art lovers in Bath this spring/summer with the city having over 20 art galleries. If you’re in the mood for buying some new work there is the Bath Contemporary Artists Fair.
If you want a hands-on art experience then you can sign up to a Pour & Draw pop-up drawing session in a Bath venue with sessions ranging from life-drawing or doodling to ceramics and watercolours.
You may recognise The Holburne Museum as it’s situated in a fabulous 18th-century Georgian building that is also the home of Lady Danbury in the Netflix series Bridgerton. The Holburne features a mix of the contemporary and the classical with a fabulous permanent collection including some very fine ‘16th and 17th-century Italian and Dutch paintings, silver, sculpture, furniture, porcelain and diverse objets d’art and 18th-century paintings by such artists as Thomas Gainsborough, George Stubbs, Johan Zoffany and Thomas Lawrence’.
The Holburne Museum has two exciting exhibitions at the moment. Henry Moore in Miniature is a fascinating insight into the world-famous sculptor’s process and practice featuring small, hand-held sculptures, small maquettes of his larger works and a selection of found objects from the artist’s studio.
But possibly more eye-catching is the work of social media sensation Mr Doodle who has created doodles and activations both in the Holburne and across the city!
Artist Sam Cox’s (Mr Doodle’s) “graffiti spaghetti” is the perfect pathway into the art scene for youngsters who may be less interested in Dutch still lives and English portraiture. The exhibition runs until September 1st.
The Victoria Art Gallery is described as “Bath’s public art museum showcasing fine art, sculpture & decorative arts”. The top floor is shut for refurbishment but the ground floor houses a stunning 100-poster exhibition entitled Toulouse Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre which includes the classic ‘Chat Noir,’ posters featuring the dancers of the Moulin Rouge, and gorgeous commercial art posters from 1890s bohemian Paris by Alphonse Mucha and others (showing until 29 September 2024).
If popular culture is more your thing then channel your inner Thelma and Louise at the American Road Trip exhibit at the American Museum & Gardens – There’s an original 1958 Harley Davidson Duo Glide motorcycle and lots of neon and billboards tracing the history and mythology of road travel in the USA. So why not “Hit the Road, Jack!” and head up to the American Museum.
There are fabulous gardens, a series of transatlantically transplanted historic rooms including a saloon, a wonderful collection of quilts, and many other fascinating displays.
Literary Bath
Bath has a tremendous literary history and has plenty of bookshops including Topping and Company which has a full calendar of literary events. The city’s literary history is tied up with Jane Austen and The Jane Austen Centre is situated on a street where the Austen’s lived. With costumed staff and a hilariously delivered spoken introduction, it’s a fascinating journey into the world of the Austen family and a celebration of one of England’s greatest writers.
Theatrical Bath
The Theatre Royal Bath is one of British theatre’s great producing houses and right now is on a hot streak, reworking a series of 20th-century classic plays. Director Lindsay Posner’s production of Arthur Miller’s A View from The Bridge starring Dominic West is transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Richard Jones’ visceral production of Sophie Treadwell’s extraordinary play Machinal has been running at the Old Vic (see our review) and Posner has returned to the tiny Ustinov Studio, the Theatre Royal’s studio theatre, with a terrific production of Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea starring Tamsin Greig and her Green Wing co-star Oliver Chris (see our review).
Historic Bath
For a fascinating insight into fashionable Georgian Bath a visit to No. 1 Royal Crescent, the first house to be built in the iconic 30 property location, is a must. The interiors and furnishings are exquisite and you get a wonderful sense of the lives of the privileged and not so fortunate.
Another place that is a part of the fabric of the city is Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum. Situated in Bath’s oldest building that dates from 1482, they have been serving Bath’s famous Sally Lunn bun since 1680 and it’s the perfect pitstop for a hungry visitor. And the buns are fab!
No visitor to Bath should miss out on The Roman Baths which are amongst the best-preserved Roman remains in the world. With ancient pools and sacred springs as well as a museum that gives a fascinating insight into this crucial part of Britain’s history.
Bath Festivals
Bath has a series of festivals over this summer that are well worth a visit with something for everyone. There’s The Bath Festival, The Bath Fringe Festival, The Iford Manor Jazz Festival, The Bath Carnival and the If Opera Festival.
Where to stay in Bath
We were invited to stay at The Abbey Hotel in Bath just around the corner from Bath Abbey, Sally Lunn’s and the Roman Baths. We stayed in a junior suite, which felt brand new and had a large bedroom and bathroom.
The bedroom featured a very comfy four-poster bed, large flatscreen TV, a tea and coffee machine, a large wardrobe and crisp dressing gowns and slippers.
The bathroom (also huge!) has a stylish walk-in shower, and a stand-alone bath, luxurious Templespa toiletries and an old-fashioned feature sink along with wooden floors.
After an excellent night’s sleep, we had a splendid breakfast – there’s a buffet of pastries, meats, cheeses, cereals, juices and hot drinks – as well as cooked options. We had the Vegan breakfast and the Eggs Royale. For a city centre hotel that offers a combination of luxury and location The Abbey Hotel delivers.
More Information about Bath
Bath is a city that I keep coming back to. It’s a place that exudes style and history with a ‘wow’ factor that never fades. For more information on planning a visit to Bath and the surrounding area, check the Visit Bath website.