Best Historic Pubs in Bath, Bath, England

Whether you are visiting Bath for sightseeing, shopping or relaxation, you will need to stop for food and drink at some point. There is no shortage of places to choose from, including lots of pubs in the city centre. Many of these are very old: this is just a small selection of the historic pubs in Bath.

Historically there was a difference between inns (which offered accommodation) and taverns and alehouses (which provided drinks and food). Coaching inns catered for passengers and drivers on long stagecoach journeys, and had large courtyards to accommodate the coaches and the horses.

Bath was an important stop on the road between London and Bristol, and as a consequence it had a large number of coaching inns. However, the stagecoaches disappeared with the coming of the railways in the 19th century, and the distinction between coaching inns and taverns gradually diminished.

The nature of inns and taverns has changed over the years, gradually evolving into the pubs that we are familiar with today. The number of pubs in Bath has steadily declined over the centuries, but there are still more than 50 to choose from in the central area.

The Garrick’s Head was originally an 18th century house, and was home to Beau Nash, the flamboyant Master of Ceremonies in Bath. It became a pub in 1805, and was named after David Garrick, a famous actor who often performed in Bath. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).