The gorgeous UK city with thriving high street that's been crowned 'the best in Britain'

Bath is famous for its architecture - both Roman and Georgian. The city's streets surrounding the historic baths and neighbouring cathedral are must-sees for visitors, despite its otherwise quiet social scene. But despite this, Bath has been named the UK's best city. It is also known for its Christmas markets, worth making a weekend visit, with Bristol under half an hour away.

With each city rated out of 100 by their readers, Condé Nast Traveller awarded Bath as 'Britain's best' with an impressive score of 97.78. This was a surprising leap ahead for Bath, after it was ranked in sixth place just last year, in 2024. What appears to have caused this new lease of life is the "recentlyrevived restaurant and bar scene," wrote the magazine.

Perfect for a tranquil getaway, Bath includes five-star stays such as the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, praised by Time Out and offering 45 bespoke rooms. Additionally, the city hosts the beautifully feminine No. 15 by GuestHouse Bath; and a luxury spa hotel, the Gainsborough Bath Spa.

Visitors may not be aware of the city's array of independent businesses, with local produce littering its high streets. Beercraft of Bath is a brilliant bar that sells over 550 beers, amongst which are Verdant Brewing and Electric Bear craft beers. Homefront Interiors presents a homely selection of cards, prints, ceramics, and even jewellery. Similarly, Icarus Jewellery has been praised for its "original, high-quality silver jewellery, some of which is designed by its founder, Dilek Koroglu," reports the Metro.

A booklovers' dream, the city is home to its oldest bookstore, George Bayntun Bookshop. The store's namesake was appointed as a Bookseller by Her late Majesty, Queen Mary, in 1950, and the Bath shop can be found within an old Post Office sorting office. Converted in 1938, the building still boasts its antique furnishings, much to the delight of its customers, shares Whatshotblog. With first editions, prints, preloved stories and maps on sale, the store is one not to miss.

The Olive Tree Restaurant, located in the Queensberry Hotel boasts Michelin-starred status, starring executive head chef Chris Cleghorn and a menu locally sourced British staples. Influenced by Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant caters to vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans too.

The modern French Chez Dominique offers a range of à la carte to three-course prix fixe menus. The ambiance is described as "a slice of Paris," writes Wanderlog, and it comes with a semi-private room with a view over the weir. For more adventurous eaters, Yak Yeti Yak, a family-run restaurant providing authentic Nepalese cuisine, and Noya's Kitchen, known for its "refined Vietnamese dishes and 5-course dinners," are both rated as top eateries, scoring a respective 4.7 and 4.8/5 on the Wanderlog website.

Note that on Condé Nast Traveller's list, Manchester was a close second with 96.30, beating the capital London in third, with its score of 92.56, proving to readers that visitor's are prioritising nostalgia and culture over the typical city-break life.