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Landmark
Royal Crescent
Crescent of 30 terraced houses designed by John Wood the Younger, overlooking Royal Victoria Park.
A mini guide to
Georgian Bath
The Royal Crescent, the Circus and Queen Square on the hill above the city
Photos
1 / 6Welcome to the area
The Royal Crescent, the Circus and Queen Square on the hill above the city
Georgian Bath was planned on the hills above the old city. John Wood the Elder and his son laid out Queen Square, the Circus and the Royal Crescent in the 18th century as terraces of honey-coloured stone.
Some of the houses are now museums: No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Herschel Museum and the Jane Austen Centre. Royal Victoria Park and the Botanical Gardens lie just below the Crescent.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Landmark
The Circus
Ring of three-storey townhouses forming a circle with three entrances, begun by John Wood the Elder.
Museum
No. 1 Royal Crescent
Historic house museum in the first house of the Royal Crescent, presented as a Georgian home.
Directions Website Report a problem with No. 1 Royal Crescent
Museum
Jane Austen Centre
Museum on Gay Street about Jane Austen and her time living in Bath.
Museum
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
Former home of the astronomer William Herschel and his sister Caroline, now a museum on New King Street.
Directions Website Report a problem with Herschel Museum of Astronomy
Museum
Museum of East Asian Art
Museum on Bennett Street holding more than 2,000 objects of East and Southeast Asian art, from ceramics to jade.
Directions Website Report a problem with Museum of East Asian Art
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Georgian Bath and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
The Assembly Rooms are closed
The National Trust says the Bath Assembly Rooms are closed for conservation and a new visitor experience, with reopening planned for 2027.
2
Walk up, then down
The Circus and the Royal Crescent sit on higher ground north-west of the centre. Climb first, then walk back down through Queen Square.
3
Wear sensible shoes
Pavements are steep in places and the Georgian streets are paved with stone. Comfortable shoes help.
4
Visit a house museum
No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Herschel Museum and the Jane Austen Centre are all in Georgian houses. Check each museum's own site for opening times.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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More areas to explore
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Bathwick & Widcombe
Great Pulteney Street, canal locks and Prior Park across the river
Open the mini guide →
12 sights · 31 places to eat
Abbey & Roman Baths
The Roman Baths, the Abbey and the Pump Room around the Abbey Churchyard
Open the mini guide →
10 sights · 34 places to eat
Milsom Street & Walcot
Georgian shopping streets, a riverside bridge and independent cafés north of the Abbey
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Georgian Bath (area photo): Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Royal Crescent: -wuppertaler, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The Circus: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- No. 1 Royal Crescent: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jane Austen Centre: Fahdshariff at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Herschel Museum of Astronomy: Nveitch at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Museum of East Asian Art: Rodw, CC0, source
- Queen Square: Richard Vince, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution: Daderot, Public domain, source
- Royal Victoria Park: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Royal Victoria Park Botanical Gardens: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lansdown Crescent: NotFromUtrecht, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Beckford's Tower: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bathwick & Widcombe: Neiljforsyth, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Abbey & Roman Baths: Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone), Public domain, source
- Milsom Street & Walcot: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Bath