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What to do when it rains in Bath

Don’t let drizzle dampen your travel plans, as the Georgian city of Bath proves there’s plenty to do indoors. By Alissa Jenkins

Meet the Georgians

Wedgwood vase at The Holburne Museum, Bath.
Renaissance treasures to 18th-century porcelain and paintings, plus masterpieces by iconic painter Thomas Gainsborough, can all be admired at The Holburne Museum.

Renaissance treasures to 18th-century porcelain and paintings, plus masterpieces by iconic painter Thomas Gainsborough, can all be admired at The Holburne Museum.

It’s just up the road from the Sydney Place address that Jane Austen called home for three years.

Bathe in Bath

Thermae Bath Spa in Bath, England.
Do as the Celts and Romans did more than 2000 years ago and soak in Bath’s naturally warm, mineral-rich waters at Thermae Bath Spa.

 

Do as the Celts and Romans did more than 2000 years ago and soak in Bath’s naturally warm, mineral-rich waters at Thermae Bath Spa, where an indoor bath, open-air rooftop pool, aroma-filled steam rooms and spa treatments are all for the taking.

Just a three-minute walk away are the Roman Baths, which you can tour (mostly undercover) for a taste of history.

The one to splurge on

Originally built in the 1800s, The Gainsborough Bath Spa is a hotel with a difference. with its own access to the city’s famed thermal springs, The Spa Village Bath, as it’s known, treats guests to a unique indoor bathing circuit and treatments.

And the designer guest rooms are equally gorgeous.

Cuppa tea and a bun?

Fashion Museum in Bath, England.
The Assembly Rooms, Fashion Museum.

 

Once a hub for chic Georgian society (and more recently a film set for The Duchess, Vanity Fair and Pride and Prejudice), the Assembly Rooms are a grand setting for tea and a Bath bun (a local delicacy).

Then venture downstairs to the Fashion Museum for a world-class collection of historic dress.

Britain’s best

Marlborough Tavern in Bath, England.
Few places are as tasty (and cosy) as the Marlborough Tavern.

For a classic British pub to while away a rainy afternoon, few places are as tasty (and cosy) as the Marlborough Tavern.

Great home-cooked gastro-pub fare, with service to match, it sits just around the corner from architectural icon, the Royal Crescent.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Prepare the plastic…

Bath's shopping precinct, Milsom Street.
Make a beeline for Milsom Street.

 

The city’s illustrious Bath stone streetscape is not only primed for photo ops (even in the rain), it also houses a shoppers’ paradise.

Make a beeline for Milsom Street where you’ll find more boutique (and expensive) stores at the top of the street, mainstream stores at the bottom, and a maze of offshoot laneways along the way.

 

 

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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.