Georgian Bath - A Background Briefing For Visitors

The Basics Of Georgian Bath & What To Expect To See

The Old Disused Baths At Bath
The Old Disused Baths At Bath

Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe. Although the Roman Baths are perhaps the single main draw for visitors, it is the city itself, 'Georgian Bath' that normally leaves the fondest of memories.

Georgian Bath - How It Started

Georgian Bath started in the 18th Century when England had a succession of Kings called George. The initial impetus came from visits in 1688, 1692, 1702 and 1703 by Princess/Queen Anne who visited Bath to take the waters. The frequency of her visits led to even greater aristocratic patronage.

Beau Nash

The cream of English society attracted people like Beau Nash, an opportunist and card shark. At that time Bath was a cramped city, crammed within its city walls. Beau Nash saw an opportunity by taking on the unpaid job of master of ceremonies.


He would meet new arrivals to the city and judge whether they were suitable to join the select "Company' of 500 to 600 people at the centre of Bath society, match ladies with appropriate dancing partners at each ball, pay the musicians at such events, broker marriages, escort unaccompanied wives and regulate gambling (by restraining compulsive gamblers or warning players against risky games or card sharks).

North Side Of Queen Square, Bath

Ralph Allen

Enter Ralph Allen, a local who had made a fortune organising the postal service into something that we might recognise today.


Ralph Allen had invested in some local limestone quarries, the honey coloured stone that characterises Bath's buildings today.


With this limestone an elegant new Bath was built, much of it on the green field sites just outside the city walls together with elegant parks and avenues which the rich could promenade and flaunt their riches.

John Wood

Ralph Allen's partner in this property development was John Wood the Elder, an English architect who was responsible for most of the landmark buildings we admire today. John Wood's son, John Wood the Younger carried on after his father died, and proved just as accomplished.


The Circus

The building style used was called Palladian architecture, a European style of architecture from Italy. The picture above of Queen Square depicts what looks like a single grand building - in fact this is many individual buildings with a common frontage made to give the effect of a grand building - the Palladian style.


Grand buildings fit for the cream of society were built in this style, big enough to accommodate the aristocracy and their entourage.

The Circus and the Royal Crescent were two of the choice residential buildings which if rented would signify you had made it in society. Today, though private, you can visit one building (number 1) in the Royal Crescent furnished as if in the Georgian Era.


Other infrastructure was built, parks to promenade in with bandstands for music to entertain. Down by the river, a broad pavement in which to promenade and show off your fashions. Assembly rooms where as their name entails were where you would assemble and network during afternoon tea and dancing. The first theatre arrived.

All this, you can get a real sense of today.


This was the age of Jane Austen who lived in Bath for some time. A couple of her books are set in Bath and today the Jane Austen museum is worthwhile.

Walking Tour Of Georgian Bath

Free Walking Tour Of Georgian Bath

We only have touched upon the history and provided an outline of what Georgian Bath is all about. Do try and read up on the characters mentioned above and it will send you on fascinating tangents that will much enhance your visit.


We would very much recommend you take a free walking tour of Georgian Bath with one of the Mayor's volunteer guides.


Although free, these tours are very high quality taken by people proud to show their city to visitors.

The whole history of Georgian Bath will unfold in a two hour plus walking tour covering all that is worth seeing in Bath. You will identify what is of particular interest to you and probably realise at this point that you have not allowed enough time for your visit.

Summary of Most Popular Guided Tours From London 2013
Including Stonehenge
Stonehenge Afternoon Tour PR £35 Full Size Bus Stonehenge only. Afternoon tour leaving lunchtime. Daily.
Stonehenge & London Sights PR £49 Full Size Bus Morning tour of London on red London bus. Afternoon tour Stonehenge. Daily.
Stonehenge & Bath PR £45 Full Size Bus Admission Stonehenge afternoon in Bath. Daily.
Stonehenge & Bath IF £54 Small Group Admission Stonehenge + Roman Baths at Bath. Saturdays only.
Stonehenge & Bath AN £49 Full Size Bus Admission Stonehenge + Roman Baths at Bath. Daily.
Windsor - Stonehenge - Bath PR £71 Full Size Bus Admission Windsor, Stonehenge + Pub lunch. Flexible time Bath after tour. Daily
Windsor - Stonehenge - Bath IF £99 Small Group Admission Stonehenge, Roman Baths, but not Windsor. Mon, Wed,Fri and Sat.
Windsor - Stonehenge - Lacock - Bath PR £88 Midi Size Bus Admission Windsor, Stonehenge + Pub lunch at Lacock included - Not Tues+Sat
Windsor - Stonehenge - Oxford EE £79 Full Size Bus Admissions to Windsor Catle, Stonehenge, Walking Tour Oxford. Daily
Salisbury - Stonehenge - Avebury IF £99 Small Group Admission Stonehenge+Salisbury Cathedral. Tour Avebury. Wednesdays
Lacock - Bath - Stonehenge IF £99 Small Group Admission Stonehenge + Roman Baths at Bath. Walking tour Lacock. Tuesdays.
Stonehenge - Glastonbury - Avebury IF £99 Small Group Admission Stonehenge, Glastonbury Abbey. Fridays.
Salisbury - Stonehenge - Bath EE £74 Full Size Bus Admissions to Salisbury Cath, Stonehenge, Roman Baths. Daily
Stratford - Cotswolds - Stonehenge - Bath PR £80 Full Size Bus Admission Stratford, Stonehenge, Tour Cotswolds Tues,Fri,Sun
Oxford - Cotswolds - Bath - Stonehenge IF £179 2 Day small group with hotel Includes admissions, walking tours and good hotel. Every Weekend
Stonehenge Special Access Tours
Stonehenge - Lacock - Bath PR £99 Various Special access admission at Stonehenge plus Roman Bath
Stonehenge - Salisbury or Avebury AN £79 Various Special access at Stonehenge plus either Avebury or Salisbury
Stonehenge From Salisbury   £85 Various Evening Special access at Stonehenge from Salisbury
Cotswolds, Oxford, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwick Castle
Oxford - Stratford - Warwick Castle PR £71 Full Size Bus Admission Christ Church Oxford and Shakespeare's Birthplace + Warwick
In depth Cotswolds + Lunch - Stratford PR £79 Full Size Bus With lunch + Cream Tea in Cotswolds, Walking Tour Stratford. Tues, Thur, Sat
In depth Cotswolds + Blenheim Palace EE £79 Full Size Bus With lunch. Summer Only (May to Sep) Fri, Sat,Sun
Oxford - Cotswolds - Stratford IF £99 Small Group Guided tours of Oxford, Stratford, Burford, Boutron On Water. Thursday & Sunday
Oxford - Cotswolds - Stratford AN £75 Small Group Guided tours of Oxford, Stratford, Cream T Cotswolds. Daily.
Oxford and Stratford AN £50 Full Size Bus Includes Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
Tues+Thurs+Sat+Sun
Windsor - Stonehenge - Oxford EE £79 Full Size Bus Admissions to Windsor Catle, Stonehenge, Walking Tour Oxford. Daily
Stratford - Stonehenge - Bath PR £80 Full Size Bus Admission Stratford, Stonehenge, Roman Baths. Tues,Fri,Sun
Oxford - Cotswolds - Bath - Stonehenge IF £179 2 Day small group with hotel Includes admissions, walking tours and good hotel.Every Weekend
Canterbury, Greenwich Thames River Cruise, Leeds Castle & Dover
Leeds - Canterbury - Dover - Greenwich PR £71 Full Size Bus Admission Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Lunch Dover. Greenwich tour+cruise.
Scotland, Amsterdam & Paris
Day Trip Paris - Train & Metro/River Pass PR £119 Eurostar Train Day return on Eurostar train. Paris public transport pass and Seine cruise.
Escorted Day Trip To Paris PR £149 Eurostar Train Pickup from hotel. Eurostar day return. Fully escorted tour of Paris
Luxury Day Trip To Paris PR £209 Eurostar Train Pickup from hotel. Eurostar day return. Tour + Champagne lunch on Eiffel Tower.
3 day Weekend Break In Paris By Bus IF £229 Coach 2 nights in Paris with full sightseeing.
Optional Versailles trip.
3 day Weekend Break In Paris By Train IF £239 Eurostar Train 2 nights in Paris with full sightseeing.
Optional Versailles trip.
3 Day Weekend Break In Edinburgh IF £219 Train 2 nights in Edinburgh with guide, optional trips to Highlands. Every Friday.
3 Day Weekend Break In Amsterdam IF £229 Coach 2 nights in Amsterdam with guide and full sightseeing programme.
IF - International Friends (Uses 16 seat minibuses)
AN - Anderson Tours		 EE - Evan Evans Tours
PR - Premium Tours