Making My Good Life

Bath, England: where all your dreams come true. Well, only if you dream about Jane Austen, Bridgerton, BBC period pieces, or a particularly memorable scene from the Les Miserables movie involving Russell Crowe. All that aside, Bath is a nice midsized city that’s not too far from London and is easily accessible. It gives you a sense of the English countryside without too much hassle.

My favorite part of Bath though is, of course, its Regency popularity. While Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Roman Baths, it’s also where many British films and tv shows were filmed. During the early 1800s it was a popular vacation destination. It became a place for the who’s who and grew in size and beauty accordingly. So while I recommend everyone go there for a nice weekend getaway from London, this one is for all the Regency fans out there. Here’s my list of the must do activities to live your Regency dreams.

Get into the Time Period

To start, I think a regency museum is a must. It allows you to learn about the time period and how important Bath was. While Bridgerton is entertaining, do not let it be your only source of knowledge about the Regency time period.

Bath has several really well done, and kind of silly and fun museums to visit. My favorite was the Assembly Rooms. The Assembly Rooms at the time would be sort of like a public dance hall. It also houses the Bath Fashion Museum that has collections from Regency all the way to Princess Diana. My favorite part was the try-on section for Regency clothes; a tear or two may have been shed whether from laughter or happiness I will not say.

Another Regency museum is No. 1 Royal Crescent. It is a house museum with docents who give information about the time period and the specific families that lived there. You can see everything from dining room to kitchens.

The last museum I visited was the Jane Austen Centre. If you are a Jane Austen fanatic this place is for you. The museum itself isn’t huge but is located in a house where Jane Austen and her family lived. You are given a guided talk by either Elizabeth Bennet or George Wickham (in costume, very thrilling!) from Pride and Prejudice. Again, there is a dress up section with a Mr. Darcy to pose beside. I will not include any pictures but it was ridiculous in the best way.

Have Afternoon Tea

After all that learning and dress up, you’ll need a break. There are few things I like more about the UK than the time-honored tradition of afternoon tea. It’s an afternoon pick-me-up and early dinner all at once. Teas can be as simple as tea and scones with clotted cream and jam or champagne and caviar finger sandwiches.

In Bath, the premier place for afternoon tea is the Pump Room. Reading those words probably means absolutely nothing to you other than the word tea. Basically, during the early 1800s, a restaurant was built alongside the ancient Roman Baths. It allowed patrons to view the baths and also drink the water which was thought to be a healing tonic but is really just a sulfurous warm glass of water that tastes terrible. Tea at the Pump Room involves white table clothes, classical music, and great service. If you don’t want to splash out for the full Afternoon Tea, you can go in and pay a few cents just to try the water and to get a quick look around.

There are a lot of options for tea and scones all around Bath, but another good option is the Jane Austen Centre Tea Rooms. Located on the upper floor of the museum, it is a cheaper alternative to the Pump Room but with the same china and tablecloth service you want in a Regency afternoon tea.

Take a Stroll

Now that you’ve immersed yourself in the time period and fueled up, it’s time to take it out on the streets. Essentially, Bath is a gorgeous city, and walking around and taking in the sights is a necessary activity. The River Avon winds through the hilly city and has a nice path to walk along the river. You can see houseboats and the aforementioned iconic dam and bridge lined with shops.

Through the cobblestoned streets you can happen upon buildings with bridges spanning walkways. The honey-colored buildings high on the hills shine in the sunshine. Around every corner there is somewhere else new to shop, eat, or look at. Next to the Pump Rooms is Bath Abbey where you can stop in and have a look around. Just outside is an open common with benches and street performers. Down the way you can eat at the iconic Sally Lunn’s and try one of their famous buns. Nearby is Topping and Company to pick up a new book for your trip. There are also several parks to stop at and take in the views.

The most iconic places to walk around are the Royal Crescent and the Royal Circus. These streets are what you see in movies and postcards. The Royal Crescent is a residential street of terraced houses built in the late 1700s. Similarly, the circus is houses but instead of a half circle, it is a full circle of buildings with a roundabout in the center. Both streets really bring the Regency vibes.

You can’t go wrong with Bath. Whether to live your Regency dreams or to visit the Roman Baths or even get away from London, Bath is a must visit. It’s also not too far from the Cotswolds, and bus tour groups from London may go from Stonehenge to Bath. It’s nice to take in the countryside and see what else England has to offer, and Bath has it all.