In a city packed with world-class architecture, The Royal Crescent still stands out. A sweeping arc of Georgian townhouses made from warm, honey-coloured stone and fronted by expansive green lawns, it was designed by John Wood the Younger to give well-off residents the feel of country living in the heart of the city. Mission accomplished.

2. The Circus

Another Georgian marvel, this one the work of John Wood the Elder, The Circus is a 360-degree masterclass in design. Inspired by ancient pagan sites like Stonehenge and classical Roman architecture, it has long been one of Bath’s most sought-after addresses. Former residents include artist Thomas Gainsborough and Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder. 

Completed in 1774, Pulteney Bridge brings a touch of Italy to Bath. Inspired by Ponte Vecchio in Florence and lined by shops on both sides, it is one of only four such structures in the world. Viewed from across the river, the bridge’s elegant arches are complemented by the curved cascades of the weir just downstream (it looks particularly magical lit up at night).

Perched on the summit of a wooded hill overlooking the city, Alexandra Park is one of the best places to go for views of Bath and its surrounding countryside. It’s accessible by car or bus, or by climbing the zig-zag path that rewards your efforts with spectacular views once you reach the top. 

There has been a place of worship on this spot for more than 1,000 years (King Edgar, the first king of all England, was crowned here in AD973), but many of the present-day Abbey’s most spectacular features are more recent. In particular, the Abbey’s spectacular Victorian Gothic interior is the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott, who made numerous improvements between 1864 and 1874, including the addition of the soaring vaulted stone ceiling above the nave.

Get away from it all with a stroll through an immaculately designed eighteenth-century landscaped garden. Created by Bath entrepreneur Ralph Allen (with advice from famed landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown), it’s an oasis of calm just a stone’s throw from the busy city centre. Explore lakes and winding wooded paths and cross the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only three bridges of its kind in the UK.

This broad thoroughfare is the longest and widest Georgian street in Bath. The sheer scale is impressive, but the harmonious architectural detail of the buildings lining each side of the street also catches the eye. At the far end of Great Pulteney Street lies The Holburne Museum, once a hotel but now home to a dazzling collection of art and artefacts from across the globe.

Back in Jane Austen’s day the Assembly Rooms were an exclusive haunt of Bath’s rich and famous, who would gather here to dance, gamble and drink tea. Today they are open to everyone regardless of social status and, while tea is still on the menu at the onsite café, little else has changed. Wander through the opulent, chandelier-lit rooms and it’s easy to believe that the Georgians have only just left.