Travel
One of the best of Tub: from books and buns to baths and boats
An extremely cool, modern metropolis, Tub gives a shocking mixture of arts, tradition, structure and outside actions. And whereas the Roman Baths and Georgian Royal Crescent are indispensable sights, there are a number of excellent retailers, galleries and music venues that make Tub particular.
Soak like a Roman in a rooftop pool
Tub was born of geothermal springs which circulate from the earth at a toasty 46°C (114ºF). These arch lovers of luxurious, the Romans, noticed their potential and constructed a cutting-edge bathhouse. Virtually two centuries later, the Thermae Tub Spa means you can also blissfully float in mineral-rich waters.
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The complicated has therapeutic massage jets, whirlpools, an ice chamber and steam rooms. However the massive draw is the open-air, rooftop pool. Schedule an evening session, and you would be soaking underneath the celebrities with views of illuminated rooftops because the steam rises throughout.
Tour Bridgerton filming areas
When it premiered in late 2020, Bridgerton shortly grew to become Netflix’s biggest-ever series. A report 82 million households watched within the first month. Set in Regency London, the present was filmed extensively in Tub and metropolis buildings are clearly identifiable behind the motion.
The Go to Tub web site lists the locations for a self-guided tour taking in Woman Danbury’s mansion, the house of the Featheringtons and the Assembly Rooms, the settings for these lavish balls. Or guide a tour with BritMovie Tours for an anecdote-filled, two-hour guided promenade round Tub’s Bridgerton areas – spiced with scandal, naturally.
E-book a Studying Spa
Novelist Jane Austen lived in Bath within the early 1800s. Mary Shelley wrote much of Frankenstein whereas within the metropolis. So what higher to do in a geothermal city awash with literary hyperlinks than take pleasure in a Reading Spa? Run by the attractive bookshop Mr B’s Emporium, these one-off experiences mean you can sit down with a bibliotherapist over espresso and cake to debate what you like to learn. They then scour the cabinets for armfuls of books to fit your tastes. All it’s a must to do is resolve which to take house.
Sadly, there’s a giant backlog for in-person classes. Mr B’s bespoke reading subscriptions (the place a devoted bookseller selects a guide for you every month) are different whilst you wait.
Have a good time Jane Austen’s Tub
This yr, December 16, 2025, marks Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Have a good time the beloved author at a festival designed to focus on her work and affect throughout literature and tradition. There will likely be particular occasions, excursions and talks devoted to Austen’s work, which was impressed by and set in Regency-era Tub.
Expertise the Roman Baths
Though the Roman Baths are undeniably a vacationer attraction, they’re additionally the important thing to unlocking each Tub’s historic narrative and town you see right this moment. The Romans constructed the splendid bathing complicated in 70AD and right this moment the cluster of atmospheric swimming pools, courtyards and displays are introduced vividly to life by projections, soundscapes and CGI shows.
The baths are beside a temple to the therapeutic goddess Sulis-Minerva. It’s this connection between the geothermal waters and well being that has helped town flourish and has funded grand constructing initiatives – from the Roman period to the spa city and vacationer hotspot it’s right this moment.
Book tickets online and intention for a slot very first thing within the morning.
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Delight within the Royal Crescent
An beautiful semicircle of grand honey-colored houses, Tub’s Royal Crescent is one other of town’s can’t-miss sights. The terrace of 30 homes sweeps for 150 meters (492ft) round a manicured garden and was constructed between 1767 and 1775.
This beautiful place inevitably featured as a backdrop in Bridgerton. One of many homes, the museum No 1 Royal Crescent, appeared because the Featheringtons’ house. E-book a go to to see lavish Georgian furnishings, and the pots and pans of the servants’ quarters. After a June 2021 reopening, the story of the home and its residents has been dropped at life by new digital projections and soundscapes.
Cycle via a musical, mile-long tunnel
In a metropolis of splendid sights, the concept of biking via a tunnel may appear odd. However Tub’s Two Tunnels Greenway is a novel biking expertise. It runs from East Twerton, east of town middle, to Midford, 3.8 miles (6.1km) to the south.
After views of the Royal Crescent, riders enter the Combe Down Tunnel. At 1672 meters – or slightly greater than a mile – this subterranean stretch is the longest traffic-free cycling tunnel in Europe. It’s additionally full of interactive sound and lightweight installations. Your motion via Passage, an set up by United Visual Artists and the composer Mira Calix, triggers audio-visual displays set in 20 separate alcoves. It’s an unforgettable trip.
Rent a row boat
If guests stray from Tub’s streets, they most likely hop on a boat trip from Pulteney Bridge. However a extra atmospheric technique to discover is by strolling a mile northeast of town middle to rent your craft from the Tub Boating Station.
This Victorian boathouse rents classic wood rowing boats, Canadian canoes and punts. You then get to propel your self alongside some 2 miles of river, searching for birds like kingfishers, herons and moorhens en path to the Bathampton Mill pub.
Uncover the Circus & the Georgian Gardens
After visiting the Royal Crescent, one among Tub’s massive attracts, many guests absorb the Circus en route from town middle as a little bit of a sideshow. This implies they miss an intriguing perception into town’s previous. A hoop of 33 sleek townhouses break up into three semicircular terraces, the Circus options stonework with lovely emblems and symbols.
A brief stroll away, down Homosexual St and again alongside Royal Ave, sits one among Tub’s unsung sights. The Georgian Garden is ready behind No 4 The Circus. The compact house has been restored to resemble a typical city backyard courting from round 1760. Full with genuine vegetation and a duplicate of a chic 18th-century backyard seat, the house gives a uncommon glimpse into life behind Tub’s grand Georgian facades.
Clamber up Tub Abbey’s tower
Tub’s famously fabulous structure has guests tracing trails from the Roman Baths to the Georgian Royal Crescent. However one of the best ways to see these beautiful buildings initially is to really look down on them from the roof of Bath Abbey.
Through the medieval abbey’s Tower Excursions, you’ll climb 212 steps, navigate a stone spiral staircase, weave previous bell ropes and emerge onto the roof for panoramic views. From right here, town’s structure and road plan seems like an enormous animated map.
See a movie in an artwork deco cinema
In a metropolis wealthy in historical past, it’s becoming that one among its impartial film areas is historic, too. The Little Theatre Cinema was constructed by group theater pioneers in 1935, primarily to display screen newsreels and documentaries.
Since then, it has added a second display screen, and it now focuses on artwork home movies and overseas language flicks. It additionally hosts autism-, toddler-, child- and dementia-friendly screenings, and has an artwork deco really feel.
Go to a terrific grassroots gig
Touring all that beautiful structure can depart you gasping for a pint. Handily, Tub is blessed with some good, lovely pubs, together with locals’ favourite, the Bell Inn. This vigorous, live-music pub is owned by the shoppers – round 500 of them purchased it in 2013.
The inn is a living-wage employer and is a part of the Musicians’ Union Fair Play Venue Scheme, which helps performers get a good deal. The Bell can also be house to seven actual ales, bar billiards, an actual fireplace and live music classes thrice every week spanning jazz, blues, Cajun and folks.
Get pleasure from a Tub “bunn” at Sally Lunn’s
The story of those scrumptious baked items is a positive draw to style one among Tub’s most pleasant treats at Sally Lunn‘s. After Solange Luyon fled France, she took a job on Lillyput Alley in Tub, peddling baked items. Quickly sufficient, she started making and promoting her personal tackle the competition bread she missed a lot from her hometown in France. Finally, the bread gained an unimaginable following and continues to be offered and sought out right this moment – the Sally Lunn Bunn.
Make your individual bauble
Tub Aqua Glass makes a speciality of making aquamarine artworks utilizing strategies that haven’t modified a lot since Roman occasions – lots of the items echo kinds of the period. Most guests spot the store close to Bath Abbey. However in the event you stroll 10 minutes north to the outlet on Walcot St, you possibly can watch the artisan glassblowers at work.
The doorways to the workshop are sometimes open to disperse the warmth. Go to on Friday or Saturday and head inside for a more in-depth look. Or book activities which might be extra hands-on: selecting the colours for a customized bauble, crafting glass artworks or hiring a glassblower for the day.
Get pleasure from excellent buying
Bath’s shops are a number of the finest within the west. Excessive-quality, impartial shops line the slim lanes simply north of Tub Abbey. Milsom St is sweet for upmarket trend, whereas the SouthGate buying middle has all of the excessive road manufacturers.
Bookworms love Mr B’s Emporium and Topping & Co – the latter has rolling library ladders and free pots of espresso. Walcot St, town’s self-styled Artisan Quarter, has the Tub Aqua Glass outlet, the workshop and retailer of famend weaver Katherine Fraser, and the fabulously pungent Advantageous Cheese Co store and cafe.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe primary go to of Hawaiian royals to London two centuries in the past will characteristic in a brand new exhibit on the British Museum.
Hawai’i: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans is a “dazzling celebration of the wealthy artistry of Hawaiian makers, previous current and future”, based on the museum.
The exhibition, which opens in January, will commemorate greater than 200 years for the reason that go to of Hawaiian King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu to London in 1824 when the royal delegation have been searching for an alliance and safety from the Crown.
This journey to the capital included a go to to the British Museum – the primary file of Native Hawaiian royals on the museum.
Royal Assortment Enterprises LtdThe exhibition will characteristic round 150 objects and artworks together with many by no means seen within the UK.
Among the many highlights is an ahu ʻula, a feathered cloak despatched in 1810 by the primary king of unified Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha I, to King George III.
Lent by King Charles III from the Royal Assortment, the cloak will probably be on show for the primary time in over 100 years, alongside the Hawaiian king’s authentic letter requesting assist and safety from the British Crown.
Trustees of the British MuseumGuests to the museum will probably be greeted on the steps of the Nice Courtroom by a nine-foot (2.7m) picture of the god Kū, the god of warfare and governance, dressed with a recent loincloth and standing atop a pole rediscovered inside a historic plinth.
A finely carved drum accompanied by an historic chant recounting early Polynesian migrations to Hawaii will characteristic alongside a bowl with determine, not too long ago returned from mortgage to Hawaii’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, that represents actions of individuals and objects between the Pacific and the UK.
The Anglo-Franco proclamation of 1843, on mortgage from The Nationwide Archives, highlights the UK and France’s formal recognition of Hawaii’s independence and emphasises diplomatic bonds between the nations.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe creation of the exhibition concerned “the meticulous conservation of ancestral treasures and the inclusion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) all through the area”, the British Museum mentioned.
Dr Alice Christophe, head of Oceania on the museum, mentioned the exhibit is a tribute to Native Hawaiian makers, previous and current.
She added: “It tells the story of the deep and layered relationship between Hawaii and the UK, reflecting on care, sovereignty and the complexity of allyship.
“We hope this present will spark conversations and uplift folks within the archipelago and past.”
The exhibition will run from 15 January to 25 May 2026.
France is a rustic steeped in historical past, and nowhere is that this extra evident than its fantastically preserved medieval cities.
From Alsace’s timber-framed homes to Provence’s dramatic hilltop villages.
These cities permit guests to step again in time, wander cobblestone streets, marvel at historical structure, and expertise the appeal of bygone eras.
On this listing, we’ve gathered 20 of the best-preserved medieval cities in France that you simply completely should see.
20 Greatest Medieval Cities in France To Go to
Scroll down to find the 20 finest medieval cities in France that needs to be on each historical past buff and tradition fanatic’s bucket listing!
1. Riquewihr, Alsace
Riquewihr is a picturesque village in Alsace typically described as some of the lovely in France.
Its well-preserved Sixteenth-century structure, with colourful half-timbered homes lining slender cobblestone streets, makes it really feel like stepping right into a fairy story.
Guests ought to come right here to expertise the distinctive Alsatian tradition, discover the encircling vineyards, and style the area’s well-known wines.
Don’t miss the Dolder Tower, a Thirteenth-century defensive gate, or wine cellars providing tastings. The Alsace villages are among the most picturesque places in France.
2. Eguisheim, Alsace
Eguisheim, a cute fairytale town in France, is thought for its concentric round format and vibrant floral shows.
The city’s magnificence lies in its colourful medieval homes, charming central sq., and surrounding vineyards.
Guests will take pleasure in strolling by the slender streets, visiting the Chapel of St. Leo IX, and mountain climbing the close by Three Castles path.
The city can also be well-known for its storks, which nest on rooftops throughout summer time.
3. Rocamadour, Occitanie
One in all France’s most unique towns is Rocamadour, a vertical village dramatically constructed into the face of a cliff. Its beautiful location and spiritual significance make it a must-visit place that needs to be in your France bucket list.
The city is dwelling to a number of vital spiritual websites, together with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Guests can climb the Grand Escalier (Nice Staircase) to the château on the prime, which gives breathtaking views of the Alzou Canyon.
4. Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne
Sarlat is without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval cities in France, well-known for its golden stone buildings and gastronomic delights.
Guests ought to come right here to wander the labyrinthine streets, discover the bustling market, and take pleasure in native specialties like foie gras and truffles.
Don’t miss the panoramic view from the highest of the Sainte-Marie church tower or a go to to the Manoir de Gisson.
5. Dinan, Brittany
Dinan is a walled city recognized for its spectacular ramparts, half-timbered homes, and picturesque port.
Guests will love strolling alongside the previous metropolis partitions, exploring the quaint Rue du Jerzual, and having fun with a meal at one of many cafes alongside the previous port.
The city’s magnificence is enhanced by its location overlooking the Rance River. Go to the Château de Dinan and climb the Tour de l’Horloge for panoramic views.
6. Honfleur, Normandy
Honfleur, with its picturesque previous harbor and slate-covered home facades, has lengthy been a favourite topic for artists.
Guests come for the charming ambiance, maritime historical past, and glorious seafood eating places.
Key points of interest embody the wood Church of Saint Catherine, the Eugene Boudin Museum, and the gorgeous Jardin des Personnalités.
7. Perouges, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Perouges is a superbly preserved medieval walled city that appears frozen in time. Its cobbled streets and stone homes make it a preferred movie location.
Guests ought to expertise life in a Fifteenth-century city, style the native specialty “galette de Pérouges,” and benefit from the peaceable ambiance. Don’t miss the central Place du Tilleul or the Eglise-Forteresse.
8. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Occitanie
Perched excessive above the Lot River, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a shocking medieval village that has impressed many artists. Its magnificence lies in its dramatic setting, Gothic facades, and slender alleyways.
Guests can discover quite a few artisan outlets, hike within the surrounding space, or take a ship journey on the Lot River. The village is especially magical within the night when the day-trippers have left.
9. Gordes, Provence
Gordes is a placing hilltop village within the Luberon area, well-known for its stone buildings cascading down the hillside.
Guests come for the breathtaking views, particularly at sundown, and to discover the encircling lavender fields and olive groves.
Key points of interest embody the Sixteenth-century château, the close by Sénanque Abbey, and the standard Tuesday market.
10. Locronan, Brittany
Locronan is a small city that has maintained its Renaissance appeal, with granite homes and an exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the dearth of seen trendy infrastructure, making it really feel actually timeless. The city is thought for its spiritual heritage, conventional Breton festivals, and as a filming location.
Don’t miss the Church of Saint Ronan or the native artisan workshops.
11. Cordes-sur-Ciel, Occitanie
Cordes-sur-Ciel, or “Cordes within the Sky,” is aptly named for its hilltop location, typically shrouded in morning mist. This bastide city is thought for its well-preserved Gothic structure and thriving arts scene.
Guests ought to come to discover the medieval homes, go to artisan workshops, and revel in panoramic views of the countryside. The city hosts a well-known medieval competition every July.
12. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks in France, a medieval marvel that rises dramatically from the ocean.
This UNESCO World Heritage website is a small rocky island topped by a shocking abbey and surrounded by a picturesque village.
Guests are drawn by its distinctive structure, wealthy historical past, and the fascinating phenomenon of maximum tides that isolate and join it to the mainland.
Discover the winding streets, go to the magnificent abbey, and be taught concerning the website’s significance as a pilgrimage heart.
13. Minerve, Occitanie
Minerve is a small village with a dramatic historical past, perched on a rocky peninsula between two deep gorges. Guests come for its Cathar historical past, beautiful pure setting, and glorious native wines.
Discover the village’s slender streets, go to the Twelfth-century church, and be taught concerning the Cathar siege on the small museum.
14. Monpazier, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Monpazier is without doubt one of the best-preserved bastide cities in France, recognized for its excellent grid format and exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the well-preserved medieval and Seventeenth-century structure, the lined market corridor, and the peaceable ambiance.
15. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is nestled between two rocky cliffs, with a star suspended on a series between them.
The city is known for its advantageous porcelain and proximity to the Verdon Gorge – one of many best places in the French Riviera area.
Guests ought to discover the slender streets, go to the Notre Dame de Beauvoir chapel perched above the city, and store for native ceramics.
16. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Occitanie
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a serene medieval village tucked right into a dramatic gorge on the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela.
Its UNESCO-listed Gellone Abbey, with its exceptional Romanesque structure, rises above a maze of slender streets and stone homes.
Don’t miss the abbey’s lovely cloister, the Place de la Liberté with its historical elm tree, or the satan’s bridge spanning the gorge.
17. Conques, Occitanie
Conques is a jewel of Romanesque artwork nestled in a wooded gorge in Occitanie.
Its magnificent Abbey Church of Saint Foy, with its intricate tympanum and golden reliquary, has drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years alongside the Santiago de Compostela route.
Don’t miss the treasury’s medieval goldsmith assortment, the carved capitals within the cloister, or the sundown view from the Bancarel viewpoint.
18. Najac, Occitanie
Najac is a shocking medieval fortress city perched dramatically alongside a single ridge excessive above the Aveyron River.
Its majestic Thirteenth-century royal fortress stands on the highest level, whereas the village’s stone and half-timbered homes stretch alongside the ridge in a novel linear format.
Don’t miss the Gothic church of Saint-Jean with its uncommon fortified options, the panoramic views from the fortress hold, or the traditional lined market corridor the place native farmers promote their produce.
19. Vézelay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Vézelay is a hilltop village in Burgundy topped by its magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene.
This UNESCO World Heritage website rises majestically above the Remedy Valley, its golden stone glowing within the sundown whereas its medieval streets are lined with historic homes and ramparts.
Don’t miss the spectacular views over the Burgundian countryside, or the home the place Jules Roy lived, now a literature museum.
20. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a remarkably preserved medieval city perched on a hilltop close to Good, remodeled into an inventive haven within the twentieth century.
Its large medieval ramparts encircle slender cobblestone streets lined with elegant stone homes, whereas up to date artwork galleries and boutiques occupy historical buildings.
Remaining Ideas on The Greatest French Medieval Cities
Exploring France’s medieval cities is like stepping right into a residing historical past e-book.
Every village gives a novel glimpse into the nation’s wealthy previous, well-preserved structure, and timeless appeal.
From the long-lasting Mont Saint-Michel to the lesser-known gems like Perouges, these cities present unforgettable experiences for historical past lovers, tradition lovers, and informal vacationers alike.
Able to plan your trip in France? Use our complete France Travel Guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the unbelievable locations.
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