Shopping · Bath · United Kingdom
Shopping in Bath
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
Bath has an unusually strong mix of independent shops for its size, alongside the Southgate centre's high-street brands and antique dealers in the Upper Town. Best souvenirs: Bath Oliver biscuits, Jane Austen books and prints and Somerset cider.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 5
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Bath Oliver biscuits
Where to shop
Milsom Street
Bath's main Georgian shopping street with fashion, homeware and the Milsom Place courtyard.
Walcot Street
The artisan quarter with independent makers, design shops and reclamation stores.
Southgate
An open-air shopping centre near the station with high-street and fashion chains.
Bartlett Street and the Upper Town
Antique shops and small boutiques near the Assembly Rooms.
Pulteney Bridge
Tiny shops on the bridge selling gifts, maps and souvenirs.
Markets
Guildhall Market
A covered market off High Street with stalls selling cheese, sweets, books, crafts and bric-a-brac.
Bath Christmas Market
Wooden chalets around the Abbey and the Roman Baths selling crafts, food and drink, usually from late November to mid-December.
What to buy
Bath Oliver biscuits
The city's own 18th-century cheese biscuit, sold in delis.
Jane Austen books and prints
Editions and Regency prints from bookshops and the Jane Austen Centre.
Somerset cider
Bottles from local farm producers, sold in bottle shops and delis.
Bath stone and ceramics
Small carved pieces and locally made ceramics from Walcot's craft shops.
Roman Baths replicas
Replicas of curse tablets, coins and the head of Minerva from the Roman Baths shop.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Sally Lunn bun, Bath bun, Bath Oliver biscuits and Cream tea. Sally Lunn's Eating House on North Parade Passage, in one of the oldest houses in Bath. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| City Centre | $$$ | Abbey Churchyard, the Roman Baths and pedestrian shopping lanes |
| Royal Crescent and the Upper Town | $$$$ | Grand Georgian terraces, the Circus and the Assembly Rooms |
| Walcot | $$ | Bath's artisan quarter of independent shops and makers |
| Widcombe | $$ | A village-like corner across the river below Prior Park |
| Kingsmead and Southgate | $$ | Modern shopping streets and chain hotels between the station and the centre |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in GBP. Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is usual for good service; check whether a discretionary service charge has already been added.
- Queue patiently at attractions, bus stops and in shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January; the busiest months are July–August.
- May: Bath Festival — music and literature (usually May)
- May: Bath Fringe Festival (usually late May to early June)
- September: Jane Austen Festival — Regency costume promenade and events (usually mid-September)
- October: Bath Children's Literature Festival (usually late September to early October)
- November: Bath Christmas Market (usually late November to mid-December)
- December: Bath Christmas Market continues (usually until mid-December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and couples
City Centre
Abbey Churchyard, the Roman Baths and pedestrian shopping lanes
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Bath?
Bath Oliver biscuits, Jane Austen books and prints, Somerset cider and Bath stone and ceramics.
+Where is the best shopping in Bath?
Milsom Street: Bath's main Georgian shopping street with fashion, homeware and the Milsom Place courtyard.
+What are the best markets in Bath?
Guildhall Market and Bath Christmas Market.