Bath

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Bath sits in a sheltered valley in south-west England, where warm mineral springs have drawn visitors since Roman times. The centre is built largely from honey-coloured limestone, with grand eighteenth-century terraces, crescents and squares surrounding medieval streets and the remains of the Roman bathing complex. Hills rise close around the city, giving many neighbourhoods open views.

Roman remains, Georgian architecture and museums can fill a full day, while the surrounding hills reveal how tightly the city sits within its valley. Weekends are busy and accommodation is expensive, so staying overnight creates time for evening streets, local restaurants and residential areas after the largest tour groups have left.