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Free tour

Bath's hidden history

Duration: 1h and 45min
Languages: English
Guru: Susan
Registered on December 10, 2022

Hello! My name is Susan and I have a background in ecology, art, and counselling. I have loved Bath since the moment I saw it over forty years ago and it is an absolute pleasure to share with you the less obvious spots in the city. Come join me!

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  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Bath is a gem of a place to visit any time of the year with so many things to do amongst it’s stunning architecture 🎇

Join me on this intimate tour (5 people max) as I show you the hidden side to Bath. Be sure to wear suitable clothing and give yourself plenty of time to find parking/bathroom, et cetera.

This is an illustrated amusing tour that I have aimed at grown-ups. We cover some of the more brutal sides of history - it is not suitable for young children or for pushchairs.

While I'm not a historian, I am a keen local, who follows a carnivore lifestyle, and I love the history of monasteries and sharing the history of this place, so come along as we find the lesser-known and older parts of the city.

In the first part of the tour
I will endeavour to paint a picture of two periods in Bath’s history - how Bath looked before the massive rebuilding of the city in the 18th century, and Anglo-Saxon, Bath with its delightful monastery and huge gatehouses and walls.

We discover what we can still see of the Anglo Saxon monastery and follow the route of ancient walls of Bath, look at how they were a vital part of King Alfred's defence against the Danes, see the original Roman and Saxon layout of the city and the part they played in Bath surviving very turbulent times.

The second part of the tour looks at the challenges faced developing the land across the river, and the magnificent job the Georgians did to overcome them, then we explore a delightful green space behind the Holburne Museum and learn about its colourful history.

We start by walking the line of the wall, south through the site the monastery orchards to the place the magnificent monastery Gatehouse stood.

We then move onto the southern line of the city wall to where the pretty Southgate once stood.

From there we explore the history surrounding the hot springs and the lovely buildings surrounding them.

Further around we see where the massive Westgate once dominated the skyline, then continuing to the northern wall, we find a piece of the original mediaeval wall still intact.

As we complete the circuit of the walls we move to the Northgate, and end with the only Gatehouse still partly intact, the very lovely Eastgate.

Now we take a look at what was once called Bath New Town, where the fabulously wealthy Pulteney family created a massive extension to the city by building luxurious homes on their farmland.

Walking Great Pulteney Street to the end we walk alongside the delightful Sydney Pleasure Gardens, then look at some of the enormous houses on the outskirts of the city before we finish the canal. 


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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Old Police Station, Orange Grove, Bat...
    Old Police Station, Orange Grove, Bath BA1 1LP, UK
    View on map

    Meeting point is between Orange Grove and Browns brasserie & bar just east of the abbey. I will be wearing a dark or light grey jacket/coat, trousers & cap & carrying a dark backpack 👌

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Saw Close

    We uncover the history of this lively corner and see extraordinary continuity of use from the earliest days of Bath.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    The EASTGATE

    Very hidden, we look at the history of this, the only surviving gate of the ancient fortifications of Bath, and the once beautiful courtyard beside it.

  • 3
    Outside visit
    Pulteney Bridge

    A beautiful bridge with a fascinating backstory.

  • 4
    Outside visit
    North Parade Buildings

    Here we see the hidden layers of Bath’s history and what remains of the monastery.

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Bath Street

    The site of the Sacred Springs.

  • 6
    Outside visit
    SouthGate Bath

    The site of the ancient southern entrance to Bath.

  • 7
    Outside visit
    Westgate Street

    We see the site of the ancient West Gate of Bath and its history.

  • 8
    Outside visit
    Northgate Street

    The site of the ancient North Gate into Bath.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

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(409 ratings)
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4.62
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4.8
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4.83
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4.75
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
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