Undeniably one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the grand curvature of the Royal Crescent, was built between 1767 and 1775 and designed by John Wood the Younger. This sweeping terrace sits proudly above one of Bath’s green spaces in Royal Victoria Park and is made up of 30 Grade I Listed houses and thought to be one of greatest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK.
The crescent has played home and hotel to many notable people over the years, some of which are noted on special plaques attached to the relevant buildings. Today the landmark remains a popular location for period drama and silver screen producers, with Jane Austen’s Persuasion and 2008 film The Duchess both shooting before this architectural marvel.
If you’re looking to indulge during you stay in the city, then you may want to coincide a visit to the five-star Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, or for history buffs, a trip back-in-time to Georgian life at No. 1 Royal Crescent may also be of interest. The museum first opened in 1970, after the property was gifted to the Bath Preservation Trust. The original servants’ quarters were later bought and re-connected, with all the interiors decorated and furnished to depict the period.
No. 1 was the first house to be built in the crescent, and would provide luxury accommodation for aristocrats who came to town for social occasions. Each of the rooms feature historical objects, which form the museum collection of No. 1 Royal Crescent, giving you an opportunity to explore authentic period artefacts behind the Palladian façade. Discover the lives of both the wealthy and their servants in 18th century Bath, where enthusiastic guides are on hand to deliver stories of the past.
Please note if planning to visit, the museum is closed temporarily from 25th–29th November.
