Yet, a little further north, alongside the River Avon, Walcot Street offers a completely different experience. This artsy neighbourhood retains its Georgian charm, but with a more relaxed, unpretentious aura. If there’s one place that can rival Bristol for coolness, it’s Walcot Street.
In the 1960s, plans for a new bypass to pass through here led to falling prices and the establishment of squats, which eventually gave birth to a new, free and creative microcosm. Since then, the area has evolved into a hub of independent shops, workshops and small galleries that reflect its artistic DNA.
In the 2000s, Walcot Street was still the ‘other’ side of the city – a bit rougher, more alternative, the place to get a tattoo or a vintage leather jacket. Today, it has matured without losing its soul: you’ll find Melanie Giles’ hair salon with its industrial aesthetic and aromatic flat whites, a Farrow & Ball store (perhaps the ultimate sign of landed gentry and prestige) and some of Bath’s best restaurants, showcasing local Somerset produce.
And yet, the spirit of the ‘Artisan Quarter’ remains alive and well. The street is teeming with antique shops, vintage shops, weaving workshops, and a sense of community is pervasive. The Bell Inn – a pub owned by its customers – plays host to live music, while Wild Walcot Garden, set in an old derelict site, offers a breath of green in the city.
Don’t miss a stop at Landrace Bakery, where locals queue for their takeaway pizza. And if you feel like Bath is inviting you to run from attraction to attraction, resist: spend a whole day on Walcot Street. Stroll, get lost in the alleys, chat to the locals, have a coffee and let the cooler side of Bath reveal itself to you.
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