Bath

Bath, in Somerset, grew around hot springs used since Roman times. Its Roman baths and its Georgian crescents and terraces in honey-coloured stone made the whole city a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. In 2027 the Foodies Festival stops here from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May.

Practical notes

• Direct trains from London Paddington take about 1 hour 20 minutes.
• The centre is compact and walkable.

On the tour

Bath is the second of the nine stops, between Brighton (1 to 3 May) and Syon Park, in west London (29 to 31 May).

What to eat in Bath

Bath has two buns of its own: the Bath bun, sweet and topped with sugar, and the Sally Lunn bun, a large, light bun served in the house that bears its name. Around the city, Somerset is cider country, with orchards and farm cider makers, and Cheddar cheese takes its name from the village of Cheddar, in the Mendip Hills south of Bristol.

Where to stay

The centre, within the ring of Georgian streets, puts you on foot from the station, the baths and the abbey. Bristol, a train ride west, has a wider choice of hotels and the nearest airport.