Inside Bath's Regency revival

The Hindu

2 days ago

On a recent trip to London, with a few days to explore the British countryside, we choose Bath, for several reasons. It's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, a celebration currently lighting up the city. Bath is easily accessible from London, offers wonderful hotels (refreshingly affordable), and is a beautiful Georgian town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's largely walkable, and full of museums, parks, and excellent food and drink.
Soaking in Austen
The city is now abuzz with Austen. You can indulge as much or as little as you like — from grand themed balls and the Jane Austen Festival (including a costumed promenade for those eager to stroll in full Regency attire) to the Jane Austen Centre, where visitors can learn about her life in Bath.
We join a walking tour with the Strictly Jane Austen Tours company, led by the delightful, red-haired Theresa, dressed head-to-toe in Regency costume. She weaves history with scandal, gossip, and sharp social commentary — entertaining and highly recommended. Afterwards, we enjoy a Jane Austen-themed afternoon tea at The Bath Priory, one of the city's loveliest hotels. And of course, we visit the Roman Baths (now a world-class museum) — though, for health reasons, bathing is no longer allowed. Instead, you can 'take the waters' at one of the city's central hotels, which tap into the hot springs, or visit the modern Thermae Bath Spa nearby.
Right next door, the historic Pump Room is a must-visit. Once the place to see and be seen by high society, it still serves afternoon tea and is steeped in atmosphere. You can also stop by the Bath Bun Tea Shoppe, where servers in period costume offer the sweet buns Austen adored.
One of my favourite spots in Bath is along the River Avon, which winds through the city just below Pulteney Bridge, one of the few bridges in the world with shops built on it. Just beneath lies a horseshoe-shaped weir, a magical place to sit with a local cider and while away the time.
Where to stay in Bath We stayed at The Bath Priory, a row of elegant Georgian townhouses in honey-coloured stone set within four acres of gardens. A short stroll from the city centre through Royal Victoria Park, it's a peaceful, luxurious retreat. Built as a private home in 1835 on land owned by Bath Abbey's Priory, the hotel blends Gothic elegance with comfort — plush sofas, garden views, period furniture, and quiet refinement. The bedrooms and suites are large, with many overlooking the gardens. In the heat of the summer, they offer a comfortable sanctuary. Their Regency Afternoon Tea is inspired by historic recipes such as Rout cakes and lavender shortbread, and also features savoury bites like sausage rolls and finger sandwiches. Dining options include a 3 AA Rosette fine-dining restaurant, and a relaxed pantry and terrace. (I love steak and fries, and the truffle and Parmesan fries here are to die for.) The L'Occitane spa — the only one of its kind in the U.K. — offers herbarium-inspired rituals, heated indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms, and treatments.
Going beyond books
The city is a postcard of perfectly preserved Georgian England, with wobbly cobbled streets, graceful crescents, and elegant squares. If you're a Bridgerton fan, you'll recognise many filming locations: Modiste's seamstress shop (a deli in real life), the Royal Crescent (the Featherington home), and Bath Street with its stately colonnades.
All six of Austen's novels mention Bath and two of them, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, are set here. For those less inclined to read Austen, there are several excellent film and TV adaptations they can tune into.
Austen, the unmarried daughter of a clergyman, wrote at the turn of the 19th century. Her personal struggle for independence, pointed social satire, and forward-thinking views on slavery — a subject tied to Bath's wealth — shine through in her fiction. Her work remains timeless: witty, sharp, and rich with commentary on class, gender, and marriage.
Though she lived in Bath for only five years, the city's scandals and social shallowness fed her cynicism and sharpened her pen. Austen's novels gained popularity only after her death at 41. Today, she commands a global fanbase.
Beyond the bonnet
Gabrielle Malcolm, creative director of Strictly Jane Austen Company, on bringing the novelist's world to life
What is the Strictly Jane Austen company all about?
We're a Bath-based experience company offering immersive and eclectic encounters with the Regency period, Jane Austen's works, and her cultural impact.
Was Austen a feminist?
In many ways, yes. She negotiated her own publishing contracts, which was quite bold for a woman then. She stayed outside the mainstream literary circles, but represented herself fearlessly.
Why is Austen still so celebrated?
Her characterisation is superb — vivid, relatable, and relevant. She wasn't writing 'historical romance', but contemporary social satire. Her sharp irony, wit, and ability to bring society to life make her resonate even today. Readers think of her as 'Jane', someone they could be friends with.
Are her books more popular now?
Absolutely. While they had periods of obscurity in the 19th century, the 20th and 21st centuries have seen a renewed fascination, especially through modern retellings.
Does Bridgerton help or hinder Austen's legacy?
It helps! Julia Quinn's novels wouldn't exist without Austen. Bridgerton plays with Regency tropes — a bit satirical, a bit fun, with a modern twist. It keeps the period alive for new audiences.
And Bridget Jones?
A clear modern parody of Pride and Prejudice. Helen Fielding even kept the name Darcy. Casting Colin Firth — who also played Darcy in the BBC adaptation — was genius. Fielding has openly said she 'ripped off' Austen, and did it brilliantly.
Why does Bath appear so often in Austen's work?
Bath was the marriage market of its day, a beautiful spa town with a darker side of gambling, gossip, and social climbing. Austen captured both its superficial glamour and darker reality. Bath almost becomes a character in itself — what Angela Carter called 'the skull beneath the skin.'
The writer, consultant, and entrepreneur's latest venture is bespoke small group tours, which she curates and accompanies.