101 places to go: Bath

The next entry in our ‘101 Places to Go in the UK, Ireland and France’ is a great all-weather destination, offering unrivalled historic beauty and unspoilt heritage.

But as good looking as Bath may be, the reason for its inclusion this week has more to do with its brains.

Now in its 16th year, the Bath Literary Festival is one of the most important events on the UK’s cultural calendar. Eschewing the usual celebrities reading from their books (probably for the first time!), Bath Lit Fest sustains its popularity by focussing on what its audience wants, which is books – and lots of them. Of course it helps to have the festival take place in the fantastic Georgian surrounds of the city.

This year’s programme features appearances and events from Griff Rhys Jones, Howard Marks, Dr. David Starkey, Kazuo Ishiguro and many more. Find more info on the event website. And if this doesn’t satisfy your literary leanings then you might enjoy our Magical Literary Tour, a handy guide to UK locations that have inspired the written word.

Here are a few of our favourite things to see and do in Bath:

• The Roman Baths – Well, they are how they city got its name, after all. One of the most significant remnants of Roman life, this attraction offers a fascinating window into ancient times.

• Of all the tales of Jane Austen, her own is probably the least well known. Well, a visit to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath can fix that. Find out about the author’s time in the city and its influence on her classic works.

Have you been to Bath? Let us know your favourite places to go and things to see.