'Prettiest city' an hour from Cardiff named a world top 10 food destination

View of Avon River and bridge over it in Bath, England, with trees on both sides at sunset
-Credit:Getty


Wales is hardly lacking for great food and spectacular surroundings, but anyone who fancies a change doesn't have to travel far to reach one of the 10 best places in the whole world to eat.

The Michelin Guide, which lists the very best places to eat across the world, has released its list of the 10 most exciting places for foodies across the globe.

Among them is the historic Georgian city of Bath, in Somerset, less than an hour's travel from the Welsh border. Bath - the only UK entry in the list - has 13 restaurants in the Michelin Guide, including The Olive Tree, the city's sole Michelin Star venue.

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And it's hardly lacking for historic attractions too, with the Roman Baths, the world-famous Pulteney Bridge, and Bath Abbey, all surrounded by beautiful Georgian architecture.

A view of Georgian houses in the historic Circus in Bath
The Georgian architecture of the Circus in Bath

Author Jane Austen even called the place home between 1801 and 1806 - and the city is preparing the mark the 250th anniversary of her birth this year. Period fans will also recognise Bath as one of the filming locations for Bridgerton.

Other recommendations include include vegetarian restaurant Oak, Japanese venue Robun, and the quaint Beckford Bottle Shop, which is located just around the corner from the picturesque Georgian Circus.

"The picturesque UNESCO heritage spa town of Bath, known as England’s prettiest town for its Roman-built baths and Georgian architecture, is set to host several costumed balls in honour of English writer Jane Austen, who called the quaint town home in 1801-06," the Michelin Guide said.

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"The city's restaurants are also noteworthy, thanks to chefs and farmers putting the Somerset region’s produce in the limelight, like at OAK, where the chefs plate up plant-led food prepared with ingredients plucked right from the owners’ garden."

The full Michelin Guide list

A drone view of Bath in Somerset, with buildings to the left, the river in the centre, and playing fields to the right, with hills in the background.
A drone view of historic Bath

Europe

  • Vienna, Austria

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

  • Bath, England

The Americas

  • Austin, Texas

  • Miami, Florida

  • Mexico City, Mexico

Asia

  • Bangkok, Kohn Samui and Phuket, Thailand

  • Osaka, Japan

  • Fujin, China

  • Da Nang, Vietnam

How do I get to Bath?

By road:

Bath is located 10 miles south of junction 18 of the M4 motorway. A journey from Cardiff will take between 90 minutes and two hours. It can also be reached via the M5 for those travelling from North Wales

The city operates a Clean Air Zone to battle congestion, and has three Park and Ride services available.

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Coach services to Bath run from most major towns and cities in Wales and elsewhere.

By train:

Bath Spa railway station is located in the city centre, and is served by Great Western Railway services, which runs through South Wales. A trip to or from London Paddington takes 80 minutes.

By air:

Bristol Airport is closest to Bath, at 19 miles away. An Air Decker bus service runs between the airport and Bath, taking around one hour to reach the city.

Travellers landing at Cardiff Airport can catch a train at Barry Rhoose Station to Cardiff Central, where they can board a service to Bath.

A regular coach service also runs from Heathrow Airport, which is 100 miles east of Bath, with a journey time of between two and three hours.

Travellers landing at Gatwick Airport, which is 140 miles east of Bath, can take a train from the airport to Reading railway station, and then a connecting service to Bath.