Given how easy it is to access Culross from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other nearby towns and cities such as Perth, Falkirk, and Stirling, this historic little town makes for a very popular day trip for those interested in Scottish and British history, as well as those who simply like to imagine what life was like several centuries ago. And imagining is easy when Culross remains entirely populated by old stone cottages and cobbled streets.

The History of Culross

For centuries, Culross existed as a small port town on the Firth of Forth. But everything changed with the discovery of coal in the 16th century. That discovery led the merchant George Bruce (who would later be knighted for his successes in Culross) to establish a coal mine in the town.

The mine opened in 1575, but in 1590 Culross’ workers dug out what became known as the Coal Pit, the first coal mine to tunnel below the sea. The Coal Pit extended under the Firth of Forth, and the coal mined there made the town a prosperous and popular place. Merchants and tradesmen filled the streets; the town was shrouded in the smells and the fog of industry. And in its centre, George Bruce built himself a grand home: Culross Palace.

Not a palace in any true sense, Bruce’s grand home was still an impressive space—one which visitors are free to explore (more on that below). Culross Palace is separated into two buildings, one built more than a decade after the other; as well as gardens and a courtyard. It is also notable for its vivid yellow exterior, and for the fact that Bruce’s “palace” was even visited by King James VI in 1617.

After George Bruce’s death in 1625, his mining legacy didn’t last too much longer. The town soon quieted and shrank as industry in Scotland moved on. But the town didn’t. Its stone cottages, as well as Culross Palace, remained exactly as they were—almost out of time.

Culross Town House (otherwise known as the Culross Tollbooth), another iconic part of the village, was built a year after Bruce’s death, in 1626, and since then the town has seen minimal modernisation. Today, Culross Palace is owned by the National Trust of Scotland; many of the town’s cottages have been converted into shops, cafes, and BnBs. Other houses are simply lived in by private residents, as they always have been.

Visiting Culross: What to Do

The best way to get to Culross is to drive. Depending on traffic, getting to Culross will take between 30 and 60 minutes from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Upon entering the town, you’ll find a free car park. And once you’ve parked, it’s a five minute walk along the edge of the Firth of Forth, past a playground and a green area, before you reach the heart of the village: Culross Palace.

That aforementioned green area is often populated by independent stalls where people sell homemade cakes and handcrafted blankets, wood carvings, scarves, and other decorations for your home. The people making and selling their crocheted hats, stained glass decorations, and moreish brownies are friendly and always happy to chat with visitors as you browse their homemade wares.

Its hard to get lost in Culross, given how the village is made up of just a few cobbled streets. Two building’s you’ll notice immediately are George Bruce’s Palace and the Culross Tollbooth. Today, the Tollbooth is a gift shop and exhibition space. And the gift shop is where you’ll find tickets to Culross Palace.

Culross is a popular tourist destination for fans of the Outlander TV drama (based on a series of historical novels by Diana Gabaldon). Outlander is a hugely popular show, especially in the US, and fans flock to Culross to see some of the show’s filming locations in person. Outlander has been filmed both on the streets of Culross and inside Culross Palace.

Culross Palace

The Palace itself, constructed as a residence for George Bruce in the late 16th century, is free to enter for anyone with a National Trust membership; everyone else must buy a ticket from the Tollbooth gift shop. Entry to Culross Palace is every fifteen minutes, and upon entry you’ll be guided to a room where you’ll watch a short video on the history of the town. Then, you are free to explore the Palace rooms and gardens.

Culross Palace is a beautiful place to explore, with so much of its interiors perfectly preserved or restored. Four-poster beds, dining tables, portraits, fireplaces, latticed windows, chandeliers, and every other element of interior decoration you’d expect to find in a grand 16th century house. You’re free to take your time as you wander from room to room—including the drawing room, kitchen, bedrooms, attic spaces, and gardens.

Shops and Cafes

It’s best to arrive in Culross in the late morning, just in time for lunch. The town has two excellent cafes that provide tea, coffee, cakes, and homemade soups and sandwiches. The first is Bessie’s Cafe and the other is the Biscuit Cafe. Both are popular places for tourists and visitors to enjoy lunch or a snack, before or after exploring Culross Palace and the town’s cobbled streets.

On the ground floor of the Town House/Tollbooth, you’ll find a gift shop which sells tickets to the Palace, as well as various knickknacks connected to Scottish history and culture. There are books on Scottish folklore, highland cow plushies, wool blankets, jewellery, and many other things to buy so that you might remember your visit to the beautiful town of Culross.

This is your complete guide to Culzean Castle, from the story of its history to all the practical details you need in order to make a rich and wonderful day of exploring this grand Scottish castle.

The History of Culzean Castle

Construction of Culzean Castle began in 1777 and was completed in 1792, designed by renowned neoclassical Scottish architect Robert Adam (Adam was also responsible for the impressive Syon House in West London and the truly iconic Pulteney Bridge in Bath).

Adam oversaw the construction of Culzean Castle for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassilis, who desired a grand seat for his earldom. The castle’s official website describes the castle, under the earl’s vision, as opulent and flamboyant, and these words couldn’t be more appropriate. There is a grandiosity to the castle and its grounds that borders on the absurd. Culzean Castle is pure pageantry, and it is all the more stunning for it.

In 1945, Kennedy’s descendants handed the castle over to the National Trust for Scotland, and today it is a popular destination for day-trips. Its location—perched atop the cliffs of Ayrshire—and its staggering grounds, decorated with exotic plants and flowers, make for a perfect place to spend a day breathing the fresh sea air and enjoying the beauty of both mother nature and human design.

When You Visit Culzean Castle

The unique thing about Culzean Castle is the way it has been presented for guests. The first thing you see upon arriving is not the great castle itself, but rather a courtyard bordered with several buildings for you to explore at your leisure. This is the Culzean Country Park Visitor Centre, and the buildings include:

• A restaurant/cafe in the old castle stables (Home Farm Kitchen)
• A gift shop that sells local arts and crafts (Home Farm Shop)
• Public toilets
• A beautiful second-hand bookshop

Many visitors chose to grab lunch or a coffee at the Home Farm Kitchen in order to fuel up for the short coastal walk over the the castle. Once you’re ready to head out, you wander past the Home Farm Shop and step out onto a path that takes you past the Home Farm Second-Hand Bookshop.

This bookshop is impressive in its size, occupying a beautiful old stone building. Bookcases line the walls and tables are decorated with books in the centre of the room. These bookcases are organised into your standard fiction and nonfiction, but interestingly the fiction sections are also divided into hardcovers and paperbacks by women and men. We’ve never seen gender segregation in bookshops before, and it’s certainly an odd choice, but you do you, shop.

The coastal walk to Culzean Castle takes around ten minutes, but you’ll be tempted to stop and take in the sights and sounds of the sea and woodland. Breathe the sea air, listen to the birds, say hi to passing visitors, and wander at your own pace.

The moment you reach the castle itself is a jaw-dropping one. The path will take you to a stone archway supported by short stone towers, and this archway perfectly frames the castle in all its opulence. Beyond the arch is a stone bridge that overlooks the castle’s impressive and colourful garden.

Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ll find the Coach House Gallery to your right and the grand castle to your left, with the wide open ocean spread out ahead of you. The gallery is open 11am—4pm and offers original artwork for sale at a range of affordable prices.

The castle itself offers visitors two options: a guided tour (these are at specific times every few hours—ask at reception for details as soon as you enter) or a self-tour. Choosing the self-tour simply means you are free to wander the house at your own pace, taking your time to admire the artwork, furniture, and decor. A guided tour will provide you with plenty of historical facts and details about everything you see as you explore.

Culzean Castle is divided into several floors with all the lavishly-decorated rooms you would expect to find in a flamboyant old castle: a library, drawing room, dining room, bedrooms with four-posted beds, a servants’ kitchen, and a grand staircase at its heart.

Beyond the castle’s reception area, the first room you’ll enter is the drawing room, and while it’s not unusual for rooms like this one—especially in European castles—to be decorated with medieval weaponry and suits of armour, Culzean Castle is unique in how its drawing room walls are lined with what must surely be hundreds of flintlock pistols. It’s unique and a little alarming, depending on your persuasion.

While on one side of the castle, you have the blue of the ocean, on the other you have the green of the gardens. You can stick close to the castle and admire the decorative canons that stand beside it, then trace the length of the castle and smell the myriad flowers which line the paths. At the end of one path, you’ll find an orangery which you’re free to pop into and explore.

Getting to Culzean Castle

The nearest large city to Culzean Castle is Glasgow, and getting to the castle grounds from there takes an hour by car. It’s a very easy and stress-free drive along a mix of motorways and main roads.

If you’re taking public transport, things are unfortunately a little more complicated. You can take a ScotRail train from Glasgow Central to Ayr (the closes town to Culzean Castle), and from there you can hop on the 60 bus, which will take thirty minutes to arrive at Glenside. Finally, you’ll need to walk half a mile (15 minutes) to arrive at the Culzean Country Park Visitor Centre.

Culzean Castle is open every day between 10:30am and 4:30pm (last entry is at 4:00pm).

Entry prices are £20 for adults, £12 for children, and £48.50 for a family ticket.

Note: Culzean Castle is a National Trust for Scotland property. Visitors with National Trust membership cards can enter for free.

Others are simply so engrossing and captivating in their subject matter, whether that be broad or specific, that we find ourselves unable to close the book. You’ll find both kinds here. This is a selection of history books that are both incredibly well-researched and written with a moreish, absorbing quality.

The Best History Books Ever Written

These history books have also been selected for their breadth of subject matter. Here you’ll find some of the most popular and celebrated history books of the past several decades, and among them some more specific, obscure, and remarkable history books.

These are books on world history, empire, the histories of specific peoples and nations and cultures, as well as history books that focus on intriguing moments in time. All of these are worth your time, and are some of the best history books ever written.

Read More: The Best Biographies Ever Written

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

Rutger Bregman is a remarkable historian. His book Utopia for Realists explored the economic history of universal basic income, and how it can be implemented.

His follow-up, Humankind, was a much grander undertaking. This is a massive history book that examines the entire breadth of human culture.

And it does so to prove one simple point: that we, as a species, are kind.

Humankind spends its time exposing lies, debunking myths, and attacking propaganda, proving that we are so much better as a global society than we allow ourselves to think.

This incredible history book examines our evolution, our social dynamics, our economics, our psychology, as well as specific infamous moments in time.

There is so much breadth here, as well as a lot of intimacy and attention to detail. It’s a book full of hope and inspiration, making it one of the best history books you’ll ever read.

Buy a copy of Humankind here!

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

Guns, Germs, and Steel is a legendary history book; one that many consider required reading for understanding how and why the world looks the way it does today.

Jared Diamond’s celebrated history book explores geography, geology, climate, biology, evolution, and more, all to explain the economic dynamics of our planet.

This is a book that explains why the world’s colonialist powers came specifically from Europe, and the answer lies in guns, germs, and steel.

The planet itself — the climate, soil, temperature, and topography of nations and continents — explains away so much of why things happened the way they did.

Guns, Germs, and Steel is a history book about the relationship between our planet’s ecosystem and the cultures, religions, inventions, economies, and industries of nations.

A truly remarkable book that really is required reading, whether you’re a history fan or not. One of the best history books you’ll ever read.

Buy a copy of Guns, Germs, and Steel here!

The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan

When The Silk Roads was published, it left the jaws of readers and critics on the floor. This was a history book that seemed to have come from nowhere and done something incredible.

Peter Frankopan’s The Silk Roads tells the geological, geographic, economic, industrial, and cultural history of the silk roads.

The silk roads were (and technically still are) a network of roads that spread like veins across Eurasia, from the eastern coast of China to eastern Europe and northern Africa.

These trade routes were necessities for entire civilisations, across centuries of history and development. And this book tells their story.

This is a book about the development of the modern world and how we got here, with a detailed focus on trade and immigration via the silk roads and beyond.

In its first half, the silk roads are the entire focus, but by the halfway point Frankopan turns his attention to empire and the ocean routes that were carved out.

A remarkable book; easily one of the best history books ever written.

Buy a copy of The Silk Roads here!

SPQR by Mary Beard

Mary Beard is a national treasure in Britain, a remarkable historian, scholar, and professor; one of the nation’s leading experts in Ancient Roman civilisation.

She has written several books on Rome, but her most celebrated book is easily SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome.

This book is exactly what it says on the tin: the entire history of Ancient Rome in a single book. An enormous undertaking that Beard pulls off flawlessly.

Across 600 pages, Beard takes us on a journey through a millennium of Roman history. Trade, conquest, war, philosophy, invention, religion, tradition, and so much more.

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the rise and rise and rise and fall of Rome is covered here, in one of the most engaging and best history books you’ll ever read.

Buy a copy of SPQR here!

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Wild Swans is a remarkable and wholly unique history book. Written as a biography which takes us across three generations of women and the history of Communist China.

In Wild Swans, Jung Chang tells us the personal histories of her grandmother, her mother, and herself.

Each of these women lived through a specific period of 20th century Chinese history, and through their stories we learn about how China rapidly changed across these decades.

Beginning before the revolution, and explaining the traditions and economics of that time, Chang then moves into the revolution.

We learn about the Kuomingtang and Sun Yat-sen, about the rise of Mao Zedong, about the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution.

We see how people lived on the ground level, what it was like to fight in that revolution, to survive the famine that came after, to handle the propaganda and torment that ensued.

And we also learn what came after, how China opened its borders in the ‘80s and what happened next.

Blending biography and history, Wild Swans is easily one of the best history books ever written.

Buy a copy of Wild Swans here!

Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici

Caliban and the Witch is the kind of history book that will be highlighted, annotated, and dog-eared to the point of being unreadable by the time you turn the final page (my copy certainly is). This nonfiction is a blend of history, sociology, and political philosophy that explores the relationship between the rise of capitalism and the subjugation of the bodies of women and minority people to better serve patriarchal hierarchies in Europe.

Beginning with the established status quo of the feudal system in Western Europe—serfs toiling in service of their lords—Caliban and the Witch teaches us about the peasant revolts and the surprising elements of equality that existed in the Middle Ages, before moving on to the rise of capitalism and how that remodelled the social dynamics between genders, classes, and races.

This is certainly a feminist text, but it is also a work inspired by the writings of Karl Marx; a book that aims to explain the reasons behind the European witch hunts in the Early Modern period, and also to present a clear historical diagram for the relationship between capitalism and patriarchy, and how those in power manipulated religious doctrine, philosophy, and the law to best benefit their consolidation of that power.

Buy a copy of Caliban and the Witch here!

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall

Prisoners of Geography was a well-hyped revelation upon its initial publication, and it has kept that legacy intact ever since. A truly remarkable book about history and geopolitics.

Similar to Guns,Germs, and Steel (above), Prisoners of Geography explores — via ten gripping maps and chapters — how borders and geography have determined how international politics have played out for centuries.

This is a book about the past, but it’s also one about right now and where we might be headed, based on the lines we’ve drawn between one another across the globe.

Examining both the natural and the man-made borders between nations, and how those borders have influenced national and international politics across the map, Marshall breaks down the landscape of geopolitics today.

This is a blend of history, geography, and politics, as so many of the best history books often are, but this is very much a book about the past as a guide towards the future.

Buy a copy of Prisoners of Geography here!

The Language Puzzle by Steven Mithen

Archaeologist Steven Mithen has blended an incredible range of disciplines—including evolutionary biology, linguistics and etymology—in order to answer the question of how human language developed in The Language Puzzle: How We Talked Our Way Out of the Stone Age. This is a thoroughly well-researched and eye-opening journey across early human history which reveals how language itself evolved.

As you move through this book, you’ll learn about humanity’s evolutionary history, its relationship to other apes, the biology of our speaking and listening organs, the evolution of languages, and so much more. This is the kind of history book that will provide readers with so many fascinating facts about language and history that you’ll want to share with your friends.

The way we see our own history and how we developed as social creatures will change as you read this, as you develop a clearer understanding of how language developed, how its role has changed and shifted, and how the evolution of language has gone hand-in-hand with our development of tools, agriculture, and society itself.

Buy a copy of The Language Puzzle here!

A Brief History of Japan by Jonathan Clements

Jonathan Clements is a remarkable historian; an expert in both Chinese and Japanese history who speaks both languages and knows both cultures inside and out.

He has written several books on Chinese and Japanese history, and here he has attempted to condense thousands of years of Japanese history into a single book.

A book that is surprisingly short, easy to follow, nicely linear, and full of information about war, religion, literature, art, tradition, fashion, theatre, economics, and politics.

There is an enormous breadth of information here. If you’re a fan of Japanese history and culture — of shinto, kabuki, ukiyo-e, samurai — you need to read this book.

A Brief History of Japan is also full of charming anecdotes and humour. It gives small insights into the history of specific arts and traditions that are so thoughtful and endearing.

Truly one of the best history books about Japan and its culture.

Buy a copy of A Brief History of Japan here!

The LGBTQ+ History Book

DK is a publishing house, owned by Penguin, that publishes large coffee table books on specific topics, from literature and music to mythology and architecture.

One of the most important, well-researched, and remarkable books they’ve ever published, written by a selection of expert contributors, is The LGBTQ+ History Book.

This is a book that traces the entire history of queer people across the globe. The scope and scale of this history book is staggering.

From the traditions of Maori people and native Americans to the social and political attitudes of Ancient Greeks and Chinese dynasties.

From the rise of Christianity to Section 28, the Lavender Menace, the AIDS crisis, and Stonewall, every corner of queer history is explored here.

Not a single stone is left unturned. By the time you finish this book, you’ll know almost everything about every nation and culture’s queer traditions for the past several millennia.

And all of it is presented in short easy-to-follow chapters full of timelines, statistics, graphs, and anecdotes about specific people from across queer history.

From the Greek heroes Achilles and Patroclus to modern lesbian and transgender philosophers, nobody is left out and no stone is left unturned.

If you want to fully understand the breadth of queer history across the entire planet and across all of human history, you need to read The LGBTQ+ History Book, one of the most important and best history books on the shelves.

(Side note: I narrated the audiobook).

Buy a copy of The LGBTQ+ History Book here!

Black and British by David Olusoga

David Olusoga’s book received more than a few awards and accolades upon its publication, including a longlisting for the Orwell Prize.

Black and British: A Forgotten History is a detailed retelling of the relationship between Britain and the people of Africa and the Caribbean.

Black and British is a richly detailed history book that recounts and explores the British Empire’s role in the African slave trade and Britain’s relationship to African and Caribbean people.

It traces Black British history from the pre-Elizabethan Middle Ages, through the colonialist days of the British Empire, to the state of Britain in the 21st century.

This is the history book we should be learning in school and beyond. Every British teenager should come out of secondary school and immediately pick this book up.

Absolutely essential reading for understanding how Britain came to be what it is today, Black and British is one of the most essential and best history books of recent years.

Buy a copy of Black and British here!

Bad Gays: A Homosexual History by Huw Lemmy & Ben Miller

This is one of the most unique, remarkable, and best history books to have been written in the past several years.

Bad Gays is a daring and exciting collection of biographies that detail the lives and exploits of some of history’s worst gay men and women: kings, tyrants, gangsters, fascists, and so much more.

From the Roman leader Hadrian to the British gangster Ronnie Kray via legendary figures like King James I, and Lawrence of Arabia, we take a detailed look at the lives of these awful people, who all happened to be members of the LGBTQ community.

One chapter focusses on the Bad Gays of Weimar Berlin. Another on the fascistic Japanese author Yukio Mishima. These are all strange, complex people who did great and terrible things.

All the while, their sexualities and gender expressions were inexorably tied to who they were and what they did.

This is a history book that humanises queerness, reminding us that we queers are as bad as we are good, because we’re human.

One repeated theme is the definition of homosexuality itself, and the clash between the unacceptable feminine expression of camp men and the acceptable sexual bonds between two burly, manly men.

Bad Gays is a detailed, wonderfully well-researched, hilariously well-expressed history book on the gays that we love to hate throughout history, and how they left their mark on the world.

Buy a copy of Bad Gays here!

The Wager by David Grann

American historian David Grann has made a name for himself in the realms of fiction and nonfiction, with his history book The Lost City of Z receiving critical acclaim and having been adapted into a Hollywood film.

The Wager once again demonstrates his talent at writing impeccably well-researched history with the flair and flourish of a great mystery novel.

This is the story of the titular Wager, a British man-of-war that set sail with a fleet of naval vessels during the war between the British and Spanish empires in 1740.

After a year at sea, the Wager passed through unmanageable and turbulent weather and was wrecked on the shores of an uninhabited and inhospitable island off the southwest coast of Chile.

David Grann tells the story of that voyage, the shipwreck, and the murders and mutiny that followed. Grann paints a luscious but uncomfortably picture of desperation, starvation, and aggression.

One of the souls that was wrecked and involved in the mutiny was the grandfather of legendary poet Lord Byron, and it was his grandfather’s experiences here that inspired several of Byron’s best works.

The experiences that these castaways went through were harrowing, and Grann captures it all in immense detail and with the excitement of a good novel. Easily one of the best history books of recent years.

Buy a copy of The Wager here!

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

It’s almost impossible, and arguably unfair, to discuss the best history books of all time without mentioning Sapiens.

This is a history book that popularised history books, had readers and non-readers alike suddenly desperate for more great works of nonfiction.

A captivating, engrossing, almost hypnotic book, Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens skyrocketed him into stardom within the historian community.

Sapiens is a book about the entire history of mankind; no small thing.

What sets it apart from other books which have set out to do something similar is the way in which its author injects so much easy-to-follow philosophy and psychology into its narrative.

And narrative feels like the right word, as this book flows with the energy of a captivating novel.

From the history of the written word to the agricultural revolution and beyond, Sapiens is a staggering work of nonfiction that took the world by storm, and rightly so.

Buy a copy of Sapiens here!

Femina by Janina Ramirez

Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It is a lengthy title, but it perfectly sums up the entire book. The European Middle Ages lasted for a millennium, from the fifth to the fifteenth century, and the history we often learn about that enormous span of time usually ignores the successes and contributions of women. This book explores and outright celebrates the female artists, scientists, leaders, and warriors of the Middle Ages.

Across nine chapters, we move forward a century at a time, and each time we also refocus on a different kind of woman: from religious and political leaders to warriors, artists, philosophers, scientists, theologians, and beyond. Not only that, but we also shift our focus to different nations—from England to Sweden, France, and Germany—all the while dispelling irritating propaganda about entire religions and cultures; most notably the Vikings.

Femina doesn’t just teach us about the many incredible warrior women, polymaths, and painters of the Middle Ages. It also reframes that entire period as something far more culturally, theologically, and ethnically diverse than what we are so often led to believe. This is a true reframing of the Middle Ages and a vitally important history book.

Buy a copy of Femina here!

The Ruin of All Witches by Malcolm Gaskill

Author and professor Malcolm Gaskill is considered one of Britain’s leading experts in the history of witches and witchcraft, and here he turns his knowledge and research skills to the history of a specific time and place.

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World is a historical account — a piece of nonfiction written with the fluidity and narrative heft of a novel — about a small New England town in the 1600s.

That town is Springfield, Connecticut; a remote town one hundred miles from Boston, MA.

We begin near the end, with the town of Springfield flooded with paranoia; residents are having dreams and fits. And a Welsh woman named Mary has been arrested for witchcraft.

Gaskill then returns us to the beginning, painting us a detailed picture of the town, its founder (William Pynchon) and its residents.

This is the story of an ordinary town of God-fearing Christians, English and Welsh colonisers who have set down roots in a small corner of New England.

It’s also the story of the first cases of alleged witchcraft in the New World. Until this moment, witch hunts and trials had been left behind, in Europe, but this is where and when they began in the USA.

Several years before the infamous Salem Witch Trials, there was the story of Mary Parsons and her husband. The Ruin of All Witches is a masterwork of history writing and one of the most unique and best history books of recent years.

Buy a copy of The Ruin of All Witches here!

The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson has written memoirs, books on travel, as well as books on science and literature. With The Mother Tongue, he turns his focus to the history of the English language.

For fans of the linguistic side of history, this is an exceptionally captivating book that delves into the origins of the English language, as well as its various accents and dialects, its global spread, and many etymological details.

It’s impossible not to walk away from this book with so many charming facts and details about the English language in your head (like how it is the language with the second-largest number of unique sounds, after German).

The Mother Tongue provides readers with all the historical, geographical, and political details that they need to build a fully-formed map of the English language and how has become what it is today.

One of the most unique and best history books about a specific topic that you’re ever likely to read.

I have my issues with Bill Bryson, but some of his books really do shine and captivate. And The Mother Tongue is the one that has captivated me the most, as someone with a love for etymology and the history of languages.

Buy a copy of The Mother Tongue here!

Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

As already mentioned (above), Bill Bryson is a huge figure in the world of nonfiction and history books. A writer of wit and savvy who has turned his attention to an array of interesting topics.

One such topic is The Bard himself. While there have been several history books about the Elizabethan period in which he lives, and biographies on Shakespeare himself, Bryson’s history book remains unique.

This short book was clearly written from the heart, by someone with a passion for what The Bard accomplished with his life, and for a legacy that hasn’t diminished in five hundred years.

Rather than being an in-depth biography, this is a history book that debunks the myths, lies, and conspiracies surrounding Shakespeare and his world.

Shakespeare sets the record straight on how Shakespeare lived and worked, the Elizabethan world in which he flourished as an actor and a playwright, and how he was inspired to write his plays and sonnets.

This book dives into Shakespeare’s youth in Stratford and his London career. It explains how he studied and learned, and what inspiration he gleaned from myths, history, and the world around him.

A brilliantly witty book written in Bryson’s now-iconic style, and one of the best history books for fans of art, theatre, and the Elizabethan world.

Buy a copy of Shakespeare here!

Normandy ’44 by James Holland

Author and broadcaster James Holland is widely regarded as one of the great British World War II historians, and he also happens to be the brother of Tom Holland (not that one), an expert on Roman and Islamic history.

Normandy ’44 is well-considered to be Holland’s greatest achievement as an historian, and one of the best World War II history books we have.

When it comes to the world wars, fiction and nonfiction play vitally different roles, and there is a weighty significance put on history being told accurately when it comes to these modern wars.

When it comes to D-Day and the battle for France, Holland tells this story with confidence, bolstered by a fantastic amount of research. There is a tense vividness to his telling in this history book.

This period of WWII has been explored numerous times, and also been put to page and screen in a fictional capacity, but the facts are laid out here in Normandy ’44 with honesty and transparency.

This is the definitive story of the Normandy Campaign. Fans of war history owe it to themselves to read this; one of the best history books about World War II you’ll ever read.

Buy a copy of Normandy ’44 here!

Persian Fire by Tom Holland

From one Holland to another. Tom Holland (not that one) has proven himself an authority figure on classical and medieval history, and here he turns to the Greco-Persian Wars of the 5th Century BCE.

While Holland has written several books on Roman history, that topic has been covered by Mary Beard and SPQR (above), while Persian history is too often overlooked by historians and academics.

Thankfully, Holland does the topic justice, and then some, with Persian Fire.

He begins by establishing the cultures, traditions, and laws of the Persian Empire and the disparate city-states that made up the islands of Greece.

The Greeks famously invented the concept of democracy, but that is a much dirtier and more complex fact than a simple titbit, and Holland elaborates on it here, while also establishing how the Persians vastly differed in culture.

The majority of this book, however, is a dramatisation of the wars between the Persians and the states of Athens and Sparta, who led them, how they played out, and what the lasting impact of these wars was.

This is a concise, clear, and addictively readable book; one of the best history books we have about the ancient world and its wars.

Buy a copy of Persian Fire here!

River Kings by Cat Jarman

Historians have a variety of different beginnings. Some have backgrounds in academia, others in science. Dr Cat Jarman is a bioarchaeologist, specialising in using forensics to build a story.

Her talents are many and very impressive, and she has done remarkable things with her skills and her knowledge. That is all evident in this remarkable history book on the vikings.

With the right technology at her fingertips, Jarman has been able to write a history of the vikings that is so much clearer, and yet more complex, than any which have come before.

As the book’s subtitle makes clear, the journey Jarman takes us on spreads far beyond Scandinavia, and reveals that the vikings travelled farther, and much more complex routes, than we ever could have thought until now.

All of this began with a bead which found its way into Jarman’s hands. A viking bead that was somehow made in India. And so a viking journey across the silk roads unfolds.

This is a remarkable, award-winning book, and one of the best history books of the past several years.

Buy a copy of River Kings here!

Histories of Nations by Peter Furtado (Editor)

This is an ambitious history book that deserves credit for simply existing. Edited by author and historian Peter Furtado, Histories of Nations is a collection of essays by historians from around the world.

Each writer featured in this history book is an expert in the history of their own nation, and presents us with an intimate, personal insight into their home country.

These essays, woven together, create a tapestry of political and cultural histories from the native children of twenty-eight different countries from around the globe.

It’s a wonderful project, full of dynamism and variety, as each historian is tasked with summarising the history of their homeland in an essay that will have something valuable to teach people from everywhere else.

The knowledge that can be gleaned from this world history book cannot be understated, and that makes it one of the best history books of recent times.

Buy a copy of Histories of Nations here!

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Like Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens (above), Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time was a game-changer within the world of history, science, and nonfiction in general.

Stephen Hawking was one of the great minds of his time, a theoretical physicist, author, and professor who changed the landscape of his field, and became an icon in the process.

A Brief History of Time is a book on cosmology, one that blends history and science to teach us about the formation of the universe and all that it contains.

With its wonderfully witty title, A Brief History of Time is beloved by so many for its wide-eyed approach to the cosmos, and for its easy-to-follow narrative.

This is a book designed to inspire wonder at the birth and expansion of reality itself. A truly remarkable, one-of-a-kind science and history book.

Buy a copy of A Brief History of Time here!

Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes

Natalie Haynes saw huge success with her fractured novel A Thousand Ships, and rightly so. This led to the successful publication of a more traditional compendium style of book: Pandora’s Jar.

Much like Charlotte Higgins’ Greek Myths, Natalie Haynes’ Pandora’s Jar is a history book about Greek Mythology.

But where it differs from many of its contemporaries is in the fact that Pandora’s Jar puts the focus on the women of Greek mythology.

As the tales of heroes got retold again and again, the women were left by the wayside. This has been rectified in recent years by the many wonderful retellings by women writers.

The chauvinistic, and sickeningly patriarchal approach to Greek mythology is historically unfair.

And so, with that fact in mind, Haynes fixes it by reminding us of the great tales of Greek myth that focus on its women, beginning with the titular Pandora.

Fans of history are often also fans of mythology, and for those fans Pandora’s Jar is essential reading.

Buy a copy of Pandora’s Jar here!

The Plantagenets by Dan Jones

Dan Jones is one of the UK’s most celebrated historians, not only for his knowledge and perspective, but also for his ability to write nonfiction as though it were fiction.

Jones’ love for the subjects which he covers comes through in his style and his structure, writing electrifying narratives about British history that shock and entertain.

The best example of this is The Plantagenets, a 600-page book about (as its subtitle makes clear) the kings and queens who made England.

With their origins in France, the Plantagenet family held control of England for three hundred years, from the 12th century until the death of Richard III.

This is a remarkable and action-packed history book that traces the entire lineage of the Plantagenet family, and the ways in which they moulded and transformed England.

Jones has written several of the best history books on British history, and The Plantagenets is the perfect place to start reading his excellent bibliography.

Buy a copy of The Plantagenets here!

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins is something of a controversial figure; ironically deified by atheists the world over, and scorned by people who make their religion their personality.

But if we put his status as a public figure aside, we are left with a great mind within the world of evolutionary biology.

And that mind was first put to work on writing The Selfish Gene. Despite being his first book, The selfish Gene remains a pivotal work of biological history.

Put simply, this is a book about evolution. While it is undeniably a science book, it is also one that explores how we — humans — got here. How we came to evolve in the way we did.

Written with fluid prose and a lack of ego, The Selfish Gene is easy to follow and helps put into perspective the growth of all living things. A remarkable book.

Buy a copy of The Selfish Gene here!

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Written in 1946, after the end of World War II, Man’s Search for Meaning is separated into two halves. The first half is a biography of Frankl’s time as a concentration camp prisoner.

That first half uses its setting and experiences to examine how people find meaning in their suffering and devise a purpose for living. How do they cope? How do they make sense of their situation? How do they find meaning in their life?

In the book’s second half, Frankl lays out his own psychological invention: logotherapy, which was inspired by the events of the book’s first half. Logotherapy encourages people to find meaning in their suffering, in order to better cope with it.

Man’s Search for Meaning is a remarkable book that blends biography, history, psychology, sociology, and self-help to create something vital and wholly unique.

Buy a copy of Man’s Search for Meaning here!

The city of Bath has a museum dedicated to Jane Austen (with a gift shop and tearoom), the historic Roman baths which gave the town its name, the magnificent Royal Crescent and, of course, several of the most fabulous bookshops in the country.

You can even catch the Jane Austen festival, thrown every September.

Bath provides everything that a bookworm could want. Eat at a centuries-old pub, wander the friendly cobbled streets, visit some of the unique museums, and pay a visit to all of these wonderful Bath bookshops. Every bookworm is at home in Bath, and the bookshops of Bath are a big reason why.

1) Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights

A bookshop with a name this glorious couldn’t live anywhere but Bath. It fits this friendly city so perfectly. Once inside, you’ll immediately see the appeal of Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights.

This award-winning Bath bookshop is flooded with natural light, and is also the right kind of cramped, where every turn of the body yields a new bookshelf or display to admire and be tempted by.

There are three floors: the ground floor, which has the newest stock and most of the fiction, as well as delightful window displays and the friendliest staff.

The basement is where all the history and philosophy can be found, as well as a toilet that was hand-decorated by the legendary Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Upstairs hides a fantastic little secret: the reading room. This is a tiny but bright and comforting space, a few chairs to perch upon, and a quiet calm in which to read as you flick through a few chosen temptations. 

These simple details make it one of the best Bath bookshops for a reading retreat.

The store also offers something very special. For £80 you can buy yourself or a loved one a ‘Book Spa’. This includes a visit to the bookshop where you’ll be treated to some bibliotherapy: a member of the store will sit down with you and chat about your favourite books, listen to your tastes, and return with a stack of books tailored to your tastes.

You’ll leave with £55 worth of new books, a mug, a tote bag, and a gift card. We cannot think of a better gift for a bookish friend.

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights is located in the town centre, just off from the main street, around the corner from the aforementioned Jane Austen Centre, and a few doors down from an excellent pub with an excellent name: The Raven.

Website | Address: 14-15, John St, Bath BA1 2JL, United Kingdom

Read More: 21 Must-Visit Independent Bookshops in the UK

2) Topping & Co, Bath

We frankly adore this shop. Everyone who works in Topping is so incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about literature and what they do.

I can’t tell you how many authors, publishers, and translators we’ve been introduced to thanks to the staff here

It’s very easy to while away an hour on a quiet day chatting with the staff about your favourite indie publishers and Latin American authors, as we have done in the past.

Note: The Bath branch of Topping has since moved location (to the address below) but the shop’s iconic aesthetics remain. In fact, they now have Roman columns and a balcony!

The shop is a beautiful display of traditional ladders that are lifted straight out of Beauty and the Beast. And you can actually use them to help you to reach up to those top shelves, with the shop stretching back as far as the eye can see.

They also wrap many of the books in soft plastic coverings that make them look like irresistible gifts for yourself. No bookshop makes buying new books more deliciously tempting than Topping & Co.

The books themselves are separated into specific and useful sections, which is always appreciated and, despite it being a relatively small shop, I have never not found what I’ve been looking for, including special editions of specific titles.

The wealth of books on offer here matches the sheer antique beauty of the shop itself.

Another area where Topping & Co excel is in their selection of first editions and signed-by-the-authors editions.

Tucked in amongst the normal books, you’ll find these gems everywhere and they’re rarely more expensive than their unsigned counterparts.

Topping & Co. also host literary events throughout the year so it’s well worth keeping an eye on their website. They have other branches in the UK, including in the historic city of Ely.

Website | Address: York St, Bath BA1 1NG

Read More: Visit Hay-on-Wye – the UK’s Beloved Booktown.

3) Persephone Books, Bath

Persephone Books was a beloved London indie bookshop haunt before they announced their recent exciting move to the city of Bath. This move felt so right, given how Bath is one of the most celebrated literary cities in Britain.

With a uniform design that has become so iconic — a dove grey cover and spine with unique and colourful paper inlays (of which you can usually buy off-cuts for craft projects) — Persephone Books publishes out-of-print women writers, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries, that otherwise might have been lost to history.

This small bookshop is incredibly aesthetic with piles of these iconic numbered books and unique postcards, tote bags, and bookmarks you won’t find anywhere else.

If you fall in love with this independent publisher and Bath bookshop, which is highly likely, they have subscription services where you can receive one of these special books every month, right to your door.

Read More: A Perfect Bath Day Trip for Culture Lovers

Website | Address: 8 Edgar Buildings, Bath BA1 2EE

4) Bath Old Books

While Mr B’s Emporium and Topping both fit that mould of meticulously designed fairy tale book shops, Bath Old Books is Bath’s answer to the old guard of booksellers that revel in being cluttered with stacks and shelves of beautiful old tomes. In other words, Bath Old Books is a true cave of wonders.

Carpeted rooms lined with wooden bookcases from floor to ceiling make for a literal house of books where anything and everything is possible. Bath Old Books provides hours of browsing possibilities.

Along with the Jane Austen museum and the baths themselves, Bath Old Books is an historic and essential part of the city of Bath. Without it, Bath would not be Bath.

What sets this Bath bookshop apart is its selection of antiquarian books from centuries passed. If you’re in the market for old and rare books in Bath, this is where you must take yourself.

Website | Address: 6A Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP, United Kingdom

Read More: Check out some of our favourite independent bookshops in London

5) Skoob Books

Who doesn’t love a good second-hand bookstall? Centrally located in Guildhall Market, with stacks of books to dig through, this is where you’ll find battered and beloved Penguin Classics and all the latest paperbacks.

At wonderfully affordable prices, you are sure to pick up a book or two, or three.

Website | Address: 40 – 42 Guildhall Market, Bath BA2 4AW

Read More: Pay a visit to Gladstone’s Library, the UK’s only Residential Library

6) George Bayntun

George Bayntun was a bookbinder, and a legend of one at that. Though he died back in 1940, his legacy continues in this, the oldest bookshop in Bath.

In his last few years of life and work, Bayntun’s shop was often visited by Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who spent her golden years living in the Bath area.

Today, George Bayntun is a specialist in antiquarian books of the rarest and most beautiful variety. Beyond this, the bindery which was set up by George Bayntun, and by which he was best known, is still in operation today.

If you’re looking to have a rare and broken book rebound, or a new book bound, consider turning to the historic George Bayntun for their services.

Website | Address: 23 Manvers St, Bath BA1 1JW, United Kingdom

Read More: A Complete Bookish Guide to Norwich, UK

7) The Beaufort Bookshop

Found in the charming district of Larkhall, northeast of the centre of Bath, you can find this lovely independent bookshop run by former Head of English, James Thomas, and a number of volunteers.

They mainly sell secondhand books so this is the ideal place if you’re looking for something unique or simply want to find a bargain.

Like all the best secondhand bookshops, be prepared to scour the shelves and browse the piles of books in the hope of finding that special something, the lack of organisation certainly adds to the charm here.

Endlessly passionate about books, if you’re looking for a recommendation then be sure to ask the friendly staff.

Website | Address: 1 Beaufort Pl, Bath BA1 6RP

8) The Oldfield Park Bookshop

Found on the bustling Moorland Road, a favourite amongst locals in Bath for its collection of independent eclectic shops and cafes, you will find this local bookshop that does its best to give back to the local community.

Run by two book-lovers Harry and Phillip, they’re always on hand for a friendly book chat and put huge effort into making the book displays as tempting as possible. With a diverse range of books to suit everyone, make sure to pay this charming bookshop a visit.

Website | Address: 43 Moorland Rd, Bath BA2 3PN

9) Oxfam Bookshop

One of the UK’s most beloved charity bookshop chains, the Oxfam bookshop may not be an independent bookshop in the same way as the other’s on the list but it does mean you shop for secondhand books while also giving to a good cause.

The branch in Bath is particularly good and often have some of the latest hardbacks for a fraction of the price that you’ll find elsewhere.

Address: 4, 5 Lower Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1QR

10) Waterstones Bath

Though this is a chain bookshop, sometimes you do just need to visit a branch of Waterstones.

The Bath branch is excellent and is also the only bookshop in this list to have a cafe located onsite though Bath does have a wide range of independent cafes to choose from so you certainly won’t have trouble finding coffee.

This Waterstones has two floors to enjoy, bathrooms, and has a wide selection of books including their own special editions.

Website | Address: 4-5 Milsom St, Bath BA1 1DA

Read More:

• Discover more independent bookshops in nearby Bristol
• Get Lost in Literary Covent Garden with this Bookish Guide
• Visit the Literary Sites of Yorkshire
• Discover These Five Literary Cities in the UK
• Spectacular Day Trips from London

Must-Visit Tattoo Shops in Glasgow

If you’re visiting Glasgow and are looking to get a tattoo, these are the best tattoo shops in Glasgow, home to some of the Scotland’s finest tattoo artists. Check them out.

Nest of Thorns

Nest of Thorns is one of the most bold and unique tattoo shops in Glasgow; home to a group of phenomenally talented artists who excel at old school, neo trad, and pop culture tattoos. The artists at Nest of Thorns are some of the best when it comes to tattoos inspired by anime, gaming, and other areas of pop culture.

Kirsten and Amy tackle similar themes and topics with their art but from completely different directions, meaning that Nest of Thorns offers its clients a wonderful variety in the way of style and aesthetics. Likewise, Kyle and Pete both lean into traditional tattooing, but one is more neo traditional while the other is more traditionally old school. Whatever you prefer, there’s an artist for you!

Nest of Thorns is an exciting breath of fresh air in the Glasgow tattoo space, and one of the coolest tattoo shops in Glasgow, and in Scotland as a whole!

Gold Leaf Tattoo

Gold Leaf is a tattoo studio owned and run by two incredible tattoo artists that are producing some of the most stunning work in Scotland. Laura and Ellie are the cream of the crop. They both have an eye for texture. Their art lives and breathes and moves. The colours pop; the shadows creep; it’s all so mesmerising.

Few artists’ work takes your breath away like theirs does. When you go to Gold Lead, you’re going to walk out with a true piece of art on you, whoever and whatever you pick. There’s a neo traditional style on display here, with old school motifs like snakes, roses, daggers, and dark things being elevated to new heights by their imagination and skills.

Gold Leaf is one of the most essential tattoo shops in Glasgow. Get yourself a tattoo from Laura or Ellie; you owe it to yourself.

Read More: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Glasgow

Twenty Two Volts

Twenty Two Volts is a tattoo studio that is just quality across the board. A handful of varied and amazing artists, each one bringing their own set of skills to the table. Because of this, Twenty Two Volts has set a very high bar for tattoo shops in Glasgow. They are at the peak of the craft.

One of the coolest things about this Glasgow tattoo shop is its love for colour. These artists know how to make their work pop and burst with colour and light. These tattoos have life and character. Even the darker pieces have so much density and boldness to them. There’s a real sense of presence and volume to the work put out by the artists at Twenty Two Volts that is awesome to see.

Because of the sheer variety on offer, almost every taste is accounted for. Grimdark pieces, neo traditional tattoos, pop culutre art, surrealism — it’s all here and it’s all so good! Twenty Two Volts is one of the coolest high quality tattoo shops in Glasgow. Check them out!

Read More: The Best Tattoo Shops in Edinburgh

Hardlines Glasgow

Hardlines is a collection of some of the best tattoo artists in Scotland, all gathered under one roof and each offering a different style of tattooing to appeal to all kinds of tattoo enthusaists. Do you like big, bright, and bold neo traditional tattoos? How about pop culture-inspired pieces that reflect your passions? Or maybe smaller, darker, horror-inspired pieces?

All of these styles of tattooing are not only available at Hardlines, but also honed to the peak of the craft. When your tattoo shop offers both variety and high quality, there isn’t much left to conquer. You’re delivering the best. And for this reason, Hardlines is one of the very best tattoo shops in Glasgow.

Mortez

The artists at Mortez mix passion with talent and experience. They love what they do and it shows. They produce some of the most imaginative pieces of tattoo art in Scotland. If you like your tattoos to harken back to the good ol’ days of golden age tattooing, you can get yourself an old school or a neo trad tattoo at Mortez.

If you want a tattoo that proudly presents your passion for animation, comics, or other areas of pop culture, you can get a unique custom tattoo from Mortez to show that off. From fine lines and black-and-grey tattoos to explosions of colour and texture, everything done by the artists at this, one of the coolest tattoo shops in Glasgow, is expert and excellent.

Rock’n’Roll Tattoo

Realism is the name of the game at Rock’n’Roll Tattoo in Glasgow. The artists here excel at bringing you hyper-detailed and hyper-realistic tattoos, both in black-and-grey and in full colour. Ornamental and neo traditional tattoos are also done with expertise and flair here, but it’s the portraits and realism that really make Rock’n’Roll Tattoo stand out amongst other tattoo shops in Glasgow.

It’s not often you get realistic portraits done in full colour. Many artists prefer to present their realism in black and grey; but at Rock’n’Roll Tattoo, they offer both styles! And the realism extends beyond portraits and into natural imagery as well: plants, flowers, and animals are rendered with striking texture and dimension. It’s a sight to behold!

Read More: The Best Tattoo Artists in Amsterdam

Deviltown

If you’re in the mood for some proper old school tattoos or a healthy dose of surrealism, you need to pay a visit to Deviltown. Deviltown Tattoo prides itself on being an inclusive and progressive space amongst tattoo shops in Glasgow, and their artists excel at providing custom pieces that blend the traditional with the fresh.

The tattoos done at Deviltown are all unique custom pieces, but many of them have roots in old school, traditional tattooing styles and designs. This is, in part, about subverting the traditional while also providing tattoo enthusiasts with art in that beloved, timeless style.These guys are doing something that is classic and new all at once, and we can’t get enough of it.

Deadman Tattoos

As a group of varied and talented artists, Deadman Tattoos can do almost anything. Whatever kind of tattoo you’re after, it’s a pretty safe bet that someone at this Glasgow tattoo shop can deliver. If you want a unique, custom tattoo inspired by your favourite anime or video game, Deadman has an artist for that.

If you want a realistic portrait tattoo done in black and grey or full colour, Deadman has an artist for that. From intimate, small, detailed tattoos to huge blasts of colour and pomp, the artists at Deadman Tattoos have proven to be experts in everything. This is a jack-of-all-trades kind of shop, but here they’re all masters.

Cherry Pie Tattoo and Piercing

As the name suggests, Cherry Pie Tattoo and Piercing is a combination tattoo and piercing shop in Glasgow that delivers some of the prettiest tattoos in Scotland. This is a female-owned and operated tattoo shop, showcasing some of the best talent amongst women tattoo artists in the UK.

From delicate fine lines to fun blasts of colour and expression, a lot of ground is covered by the artists at Cherry Pie Tattoo and Piercing, all with flair and flavour. We’re especially big fans of their current apprentice, Shy, whose stark, bleak, and atmospheric work of gothic beauty is a true sight to behold!

Memento Mori Tattoos

Mememnto Mori Tattoos is a band of brilliant artists in Glasgow. The styles and skills on display here are fresh, frantic, and fierce. From watercolours to abstract and surreal designs; from neo traditional to grimdark black pieces with an edge of comedy and cheek, there’s so much freshness and coolness here that you just love to see.

Mememnto Mori is a tattoo shop that keeps the art form fresh and new; keeps tattooing on its toes. This kind of approach to tattooing is much needed, and its no surprise that’s happening in Glasgow. Mememnto Mori is one of the most distinct and unique tattoo shops in Glasgow, without a doubt.

Whatever style of art you personally enjoy, be it watercolour, oils, surrealism, geometry, cartoons, calligraphy, or Japanese anime, all of it can be captured on the skin by the immensely talented UK tattoo artists working today. And the most wonderful thing is that more and more of these immensely talented artists are women.

The UK’s Best Female Tattoo Artists

Female tattoo artists are taking up more and more of the tattooing landscape in the UK and that is a wholly fantastic thing. More art, more talent, more skills, more beauty. So, let’s take a look at ten of the best female tattoo artists working in the UK tattoo industry today.

Ali Burke

Ali’s art is unmistakeable. She has a unique and frankly magical eye for capturing the world as it exists and the world of fiction in her artwork. If you’re looking for a tattoo that incorporates adorable animals, bright flowers, or anime characters, you have to go to Ali for her uncanny ability to blend bold colour with soft tones.

There’s an atmosphere to her tattoos – they appear kind, sweet, made with love and affection. And all of this matches Ali’s own personality and attitude towards her work. She’s a kind, enthusiastic, and incredibly friendly artist. After a few hours with her, you get the best tattoo and a new friend. We know from first-hand experience, and we also know that she is one of the finest female tattoo artists in the UK today.

Find Ali on our list of artists of geeky tattoos!

Dani Green

Based in Edinburgh, Dani Green is one of the most electrifying and striking female tattoo artists in the UK right now. Her work is bold, bright, colourful, and playful; inspired by everything from natural landscapes and creatures to more nerdy designs reminiscent of Japanese and western pop culture.

The way that Dani Green sees and implements colour into her tattoos is inspiring, and the imaginative ways that she plays with her inspiration to create something wholly new and entirely her own will stay with you for a long time. Dani Green is one of the UK’s most beloved and celebrated tattoo artists for a reason. You need only glance over her work to see why!

Kate Selkie

My god, there may not be a UK-based female tattoo artist working today, with a more unique art style than Kate Selkie. We often use the comparison of human skin to canvas when talking about tattoos, but Selkie actually has the remarkable ability to make skin seem like canvas.

She doesn’t tattoo so much as she paints. Specialising in animals, flowers, and plants with an alluring blend of absolute realism and subtle interpretation, she creates something unmatched by any other UK tattoo artist. Her work is something truly special, and if there’s one woman who can make a name for herself with a unique style, it’s Kate Selkie.

Lois Clayton

Based in Essex, Lois Clayton is a UK tattoo artist who specialises in vibrant and colourful tattoos based on Pokemon and Nintendo characters. She takes beloved characters and puts them in original and imaginative scenarios, such as ramen bowls, keychains, or bites of sushi.

Clayton’s tattoos are both dedications to, and unique takes on, the beloved characters that so many of us grew up on, have been inspired by, and continue to find so much joy and comfort in. And, thanks to the sheer creativity on display in her tattoos, and the fact that the brightness and positivity found in these characters emanates so boldly from her work, you can’t help but smile at every single piece she creates.

Lala Inky

Lala is a quirky, sweet, and wonderful female tattoo artist with a delightfully nerdy side to her tattoo art. Both of us at Books and Bao have been lucky enough to get tattooed by her, and it’s always a fun, relaxing, and exciting experience.

Her work is unabashedly nerdy, adorable, usually bright and bold. Our own tattoos from her (one above) are great examples of that. Lala is great at taking something nerdy, whether it be Japanese or Western and putting her own unique spin on it, customising it, and bringing it to life in real bold beauty. She’s also fun, and being tattooed by someone who’s fun and a good chat takes half the pain away.

Stephanie Melbourne

If there’s one word that sums up Stephanie, it’s ‘dynamic’. A quick scroll through her impressive Instagram page reveals a range of styles and topics, from cartoony portraits to true-to-life shimmering rubies; from animals to anime. She’s diverse and her work is exciting. There’s a life and an animation to her tattoos that really make you feel like you’ve been given something exciting, not just a still image. Something, well, dynamic!

Stephanie blends neotrad tattooing with more modern and fun subject matter, showing that tattoos can be fun, sweet, and adorable.

Ellis Arch

Ellis can do an awful lot. Her range of style and her approach to tattooing is more than impressive. From black-and-white minimalism to brutalist bold blacks and sold colours to intricately shaded and coloured true-to-life people and creatures.

She’s the kind of artist you can approach with a vague idea and style, and she can make it into something real and tangible that you’ll fall in love with. Whether you like your tattoos loud and bold, or soft and delicate, she can do it. There’s a strength and fluidity to her art that’s unmatchable. Just look at how she captured our beautiful boy Oscar!

Lucy O’Connell

Lucy is another incredible UK tattoo artist who can do almost anything. If you have a favourite character from a film – real or animated – she can capture it on your skin like nobody else.

If you’re looking to celebrate your love of animals, people, or natural things, she can celebrate it with you. Or if you just want to look even more beautiful, she can help. Her art is versatile; it’s living, breathing, exciting art that’s hard not to get lost in.

Her strengths are in her variety and her intricate ways of capturing the heart of the thing she’s tattooing. She’s clearly an artist whose love for tattooing is equal to her skill.

Claudia de Sabe

Claudia is nothing less than a thundering legend in the UK tattoo artist world, especially among female tattoo artists. Originally from Italy, she gifts lucky lovers of tattoos everyday with mind-blowing, gorgeous artwork. Claudia takes the most traditional aspects of tattooing, from the UK, USA, Japan, and so on, and makes them sharper, more exciting, more modern, and more beautiful.

If you love your neotrad designs, Claudia’s interpretation and unique spin cannot be beaten. And it’s not hard to argue that she does traditional portraiture better than any other UK tattoo artist.

Sadee Glover

If you have a love for pets, beautiful wild creatures, and the prettier things in life, Sadee can map them to your skin for life, making you even more beautiful than you already are. Her ability to blend the bolder, harsher lines and colours of traditional work with the subtler intricacies and details of modern tattooing is impressive, demonstrating control, a keen eye, and a love for the art of tattooing.

She’s also incredibly gifted at portraiture with a colourful, neotrad twist. Sadee is one of the great female tattoo artists, for sure.

Georgina Liliane

There’s a softer, darker, more pastel-esque tone to Georgina’s artwork that relaxes you if you gaze at it for long enough. Her beautiful style, which is very much unique to her, is so unmistakably Georgina.

This means that she is, seemingly effortlessly, set apart from the rest of the UK’s female tattoo artists by virtue of being wonderfully herself. Like a nature and landscape painter, she captures the intricacies of living, moving, breathing things and transfers them into tattoo art with seamless beauty and splendour.

Amy V Savage

You’d be surprised how few artists can switch between black-and-grey and colour work without losing an inch of quality and dynamism. Amy is one of those rare and special artists. She has an eye for the deep yet simple artistry in things of the natural world, and celebrates them through her art.

Whether you prefer your art to be bold and bright, or softer and darker, she can deliver on both styles with grace and panache. Look closely, and take in all the wonderful intricacies of her work. And take your time.

Keavy

Based in Cumbria, Keavy is one of those wonderful female tattoo artists who excels within the cheerful, cute, and bright world of tattooing (our favourite place to be). Her art pops with bold, happy colours; it takes a lot of influence from the happier side of pop culture (kids’ cartoons and Pokemon, for example); and it makes you happy just to gaze on it.

She does also dabble in black and grey work but, in our opinion, it’s her brightest and most vibrant pieces that help her to stand out in a crowded industry. Bubbly and bright, we can’t get enough!

Clara

Bristol-based Clara is a new and fresh face in the UK tattoo world, but she has burst out of the gate with an immediately recognisable brand. Clara’s colour palette, style, and design themes are all her own, and having a unique brand of your own is what tattoo art is all about these days. She’s as savvy and she is talented!

If you’re into pastel tones, smaller pieces, and cute themes inspired by storybooks, nature, a big of old school tattooing, and generally happy vibes, you need to get a tattoo from Clara asap!

If you want to check out some of the best men tattoo artists in the UK today or tattoo artists in South Korea, then look no further.

British recipes incorporate various styles and ingredients from the four nations that comprise the United Kingdom, as well as the country’s diverse immigrant culture.

These unique British cookbooks offer an experience deeper than cooking.

Not only will you enjoy creating various British snacks, meals, desserts, and cocktails, but you’ll also appreciate beautiful photography and personal memoirs.

Essential British Cookbooks

These writers and chefs share the stories behind their meals and the exciting process of cooking which they demonstrate such incredible passion for.

Each of these British cookbooks will take you on an inspiring journey to rediscover UK cuisine in the comfort of your own kitchen.

The Female Chef: 30 women redefining the British food scene

When we look at British Michelin-starred chefs, we quickly notice many of them are men even though many women are known for their outstanding cooking skills. The idea behind The Female Chef is to highlight and celebrate the female chef, too.

This incredible cookbook shares interviews, portraits, and unique recipes from 30 women. The author, Clare Finney, has written for various national and regional magazines. She was also Fortnum and Mason’s Food Writer of The Year in 2019.

Buy a copy of The Female Chef here!

Sea & Shore: Recipes and Stories from a Kitchen in Cornwall

Cornwall is a historic county in Southwest England with breathtaking beaches and waves perfect for surfers. Sea & Shore shares this enchanting scene with more than 80 seasonal recipes that are simple yet delicious.

Not only is Sea & Shore an excellent cookbook, but it also brings in storytelling that draws the reader in. Enjoy breathtaking photos and memories that join the ingredients that create recipes you can make in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Best of all, you’ll never get bored with the variety, including a buffalo mozzarella salad, Port Isaac Mackerel, and pecan almond granola.

Read More: The Best Korean Cookbooks

Aran: Recipes and Stories from a Bakery in the Heart of Scotland

Aran is one of the most remarkable British cookbooks that comes from an artisan bakery in Scotland. It’s beautifully written by a Great British Bake Off star, Flora Shedden. In this British cookbook, she showcases easy, modern recipes.

Alongside these special recipes, you can enjoy stunning photography from the heart of Scotland. She also shares stories about the people and places that have inspired her. You can’t help but love Aran for these connections and sweet and savoury recipes for breakfast, snacks, sweet treats, and more. 

Buy a copy of Aran here!

The Borough Market Cookbook: Recipes and stories from a year at the market 

Borough Market is central London’s historic food market and a hub for the local food scene. The Borough Market Cookbook takes you on an exciting adventure through a year at the market.

The book features recipes that highlight your favourite seasons and holidays. Enjoy chilled asparagus soup in the spring and rolled pork belly in the summer.

You’ll learn about the best seasonal ingredients and tips for shopping and preparing cuisine. While readers adore the recipes, the beautiful images throughout the book lead way to unmatched inspiration! 

Buy a copy of The Borough Market Cookbook here!

East London Food: The people, the places, the recipes

After the original East London Food book did so well, this second volume was written. This new version of East London Food shares 20 new culinary hot spots in London’s most diverse and progressive areas.

Read More: 14 Middle Eastern Cookbooks (For Aromatic Home Cooking)

In East London Food, you’re introduced to 40 top chefs, eager entrepreneurs, and young producers at the centre of a culinary prodigy.

You’ll find Michelin-starred chefs, urban beekeepers, and expert butchers. Not only will you discover where to enjoy exceptional meals, but you’ll also appreciate beautiful photography and an easy pull-out recipe booklet.

Buy a copy of East London Food here!

Gather: Simple, Seasonal Recipes from Gill Meller, Head Chef at River Cottage

Gather is known as one of the best British cookbooks, and it even won the Fortnum & Mason Debut Food Book Award in 2017! It features 120 recipes that are inspired by the landscapes chef Gill Meller loves.

In this comprehensive cookbook, you can find food from the farm, sea, garden, orchard, field, woodland, and harbour. Think port, dairy, crab, salads, fruits, fish, and more. Gather celebrates all the best British seasonal cooking.

Buy a copy of Gather here!

Dishoom: The first ever cookbook from the much-loved Indian restaurant

A Sunday Times Bestseller, Dishoom (written by the founders of the celebrated London restaurant), shares the secrets behind the best Bombay comfort foods.

Enjoy recipes for mouthwatering dishes, including a Bacon Naan Roll, Black Daal Okra Fries, Chicken Ruby, and more. You can also create unique and simple coolers and cocktails.

As you learn to cook comfort foods, Dishoom will take you on a tour of south Bombay. You’ll discover simple pleasures from morning chai with an omelette at Kyani and Co. to a sunset stroll on the beach at Chowpatty. 

Buy a copy of Dishoom here!

Rosa’s Thai Cafe: The Cookbook

Rosa’s Thai Cafe shares over 100 recipes for Thai food with a modern twist. Enjoy making family favourites, delicious street food, and mouthwatering regional dishes. You’ll learn to create Thai dishes such as Green Mango Salad, Spicy Grilled Beef Salad, and Pad Thai Prawn.

In Rosa’s Thai Cafe, you’ll find western ingredients that create contemporary Thai dishes. Appreciate learning traditional Thai cooking techniques as you take trips back home with Thai British chef and author Saiphin Moore.

Buy a copy of Rosa’s Thai Cafe here!

The Lost Orchard: A French chef rediscovers a great British food heritage

The Lost Orchard is one of the most one-of-a-kind British cookbooks. It’s written as a love letter to fruits from author and chef Raymond Blanc’s orchard. He’s planted 2,500 fruit trees around his hotel-restaurant in Oxfordshire, which creates about 30 tonnes of fruit for his kitchen each year.

This exciting cookbook draws you in with beautiful illustrations and photographs. As you flip through The Lost Orchard, you’ll also come across fascinating information, stories, and recipes that all go back to various apples, pears, and other fruits found at the orchard.

Buy a copy of The Lost Orchard here!

Traditional Welsh Home Cooking: 65 Classic Recipes

After an exploration of geography and culinary accounts for many years back, Traditional Welsh Home Cooking was written to share traditional Welsh cuisine.

For a long time, the standard diet of the local working population came from ingredients available to them (fishermen, farmers, coal miners, and labourers). As recipes have been communicated through word of mouth and passed down from older generations, they’ve taken on different forms.

Traditional Welsh Home Cooking shares these recipe variations and presents traditional Welsh food from the hills, valleys, and fishing villages. Enjoy creating mouthwatering fare, including roast chicken, mussels, a traditional brith, and so much more!

Buy a copy of Traditional Welsh Home Cooking here!

The Ritz London: The Cookbook

The Ritz London is a British cookbook that features photos that are equally as beautiful as the recipes. It’s part recipe book and part memoir, written by chef John Williams who shares accounts from his Michelin-starred dining room at the Ritz and the renowned Palm Court and Rivoli Bar.

This cookbook is divided into 4 seasons and boasts 100 amazing recipes. You’ll learn to craft amazing meals, snacks, and desserts like Roast Scallops Bergamot & Avocado, Grand Marnier Soufflé, and The Ritz Trifle.

You’ll also get insight to Williams’ culinary philosophy and expertise as you turn the pages of The Ritz London. 

Buy a copy of The Ritz London here!

We hope you appreciated learning about these incredible British cookbooks and found a few you want to check out. Enjoy discovering and creating UK cuisine!

Read More: 17 Best Asian Cookbooks for Delicious Home Cooking

In our list of British books, you’ll discover folktales, meet mystical creatures, learn British songs, and more. Take a journey through wooded forests, mystical places, and beautiful countrysides. 

We’ve got something for all kinds of readers on this incredible list of British books about legends and myths.

Best British Folklore Books

Whether you’re looking for an easy or academic read, British poetry, or magical legends and myths, you’ll find it here.

Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs

Storyland is a unique compilation of the mythologies of Britain, written by the academic Amy Jeffs. Her fantastic retellings add a new light to the myths and legends native to the countries of Britain: England, Wales, and Scotland.

This mythology doesn’t skimp on British or Scottish folklore. At 384 pages, you can thoroughly enjoy the unique and magical British heritage that this book has to offer.

This unique compendium doesn’t stop there; it hosts the author’s fantastic lino art that aligns itself with each piece of text. This book is truly one to savour and return to.

A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe by Dee Dee Chainey

A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe is perfect for the reader who wants to their toes into the swampy, murky lowland waters of English legend and myth. This 204-page treasure trove of tales is just enough to give the reader a complete overview of British folklore.

Treasury really is the word. Here, Dee Dee Chainey pays homage to the customs that have bled through the ages and stories rooted in Britain’s past. Discover the tales of British folkloric creatures, as well as English legends and myths in this romp through the ages. 

Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain & Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland

While Kevin Crossley-Holland wrote this book with a middle-grade audience of readers in mind, it remains perfect for readers of all ages. You and your family can discover the folktales of Britain and Ireland together in this enchanting collection.

The book contains 48 beautifully written stories that transport you “between worlds,” where impossible magic and ordinary human lives collide. With mystical sections such as “Magic and Wonder,” “Fairies and Little People,” and “Ghosts,” there is a story to delight every reader of every age here.

Read More: Diverse British Cookbooks

Grimoire by Robin Robertson 

Grimoire is the culmination of Robert Robertsons most significant work. It’s a volume of narrative poetry full to bursting with Scottish folklore, and it is ideal for anyone looking to explore this subject through sensational, moving language. It’s full of new perspectives, as he lends Scottish folktales a new light with his long-form poetry. 

Robertson includes the language of the land in his work. Weaving English and, at times, local Scottish dialects together make this a beautifully woven collection of dazzling tales. This is something truly unique and special.

Read more: 19 Must-Read Scottish Books

Treasury of Folklore – Seas and Rivers: Sirens, Selkies and Ghost Ships by Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham

Who doesn’t love a good mermaid tale? Well, be careful what you wish for. Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham wrote this book for every adult and child looking for water-related myths and legends. Take a journey through seas, rivers, and lakes all around the world.

As you read this fascinating book, you’ll discover selkies in Scotland or the legend of Maui in the Pacific Ocean. This treasury will introduce you to well-known stories and even the more obscure myths and legends. You’ll come across English sailor superstitions and shape-shifting pink dolphins.

Many readers find their favourite part of this folklore collection to be the incredible illustrations that catch your eye every single time, giving you pause to stop, stare, drink it in, and admire.

Weird Woods: Tales from the Haunted Forests of Britain by John Miller

The woods are a dangerous place to get lost in. But when you lose yourself within the pages of Weird Woods: Tales from the Haunted Forest of Britain, you will feel as though you’ve come home.

This book will keep you up at night with twelve chilling tales from twelve different authors. The tales here will help you navigate the vast forests and wooded lands of England where you’ll come across supernatural creatures of British folklore. Get ready to take a dangerous but exciting tour through and beyond the trees!

Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland by Lisa Schneidau

Thoughtfully written by ecologist and author Lisa Schneidau, it’s here that you can discover where British folklore, mythical creatures, and Britain’s natural flora connect. Following the arc of the seasons, the Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland is here to take you on a journey through the greenery and foliage of Britain. 

With thirty-nine tales included, there is something for everyone’s curiosity. And, when you’re finished reading, you’ll have a new appreciation for the power of plants and the near magical benefits they provide us.

The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales

Visit the ancient land of Scotland with The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales. This magical collection draws together the most memorable Scottish folklore passed down through the ages. 

With its handy map, it shows you where each tale takes place, drawing the reader even further into its charm and beauty. At 176 pages, it’s an excellent introduction to classic stories of Scottish folklore, such as “The Seal Killer” and “Buff Barefoot.”

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Simon Armitage

For the more advanced reader, the long-form poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight can transport you to the days of ye olde England.

This Arthurian epic was rediscovered two hundred years ago after being published for the first time in 1839. It was originally written long ago by an unknown author and is one of the most well-known Arthurian legends to date. 

Following the tale of Sir Gawain, nephew to King Arthur himself, you can discover the myths and legends surrounding this larger-than-life character. This tale of honour and duty is interestingly eerie and will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The Anthology of English Folk Tales

Take an excursion across the largest country of the British Isles with the help of The Anthology of English Folk Tales. Travel over hills and across rivers to visit the unique haunts of the locals found in these English folk stories.

This small anthology was inspired by The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series. It’s a collection of excellent English folk tales written by a selection of different authors. These British folkloric tales cover the full scope of any delightful folk tale compendium, including romance, fairy tales, and things that go bump in the night. 

Cozy up with your favorite blanket and a hot drink to spend an evening off with the fairies as you enjoy celebrating Scotland’s unique customs, beliefs, and dialects. 

The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs by Juila Bishop and Steve Roud

The most recent edition of The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs has brought together a complete collection of England’s folk songs. 

Folk songs were not originally written down by the masses but sung throughout the day to accompany everyday life. The authors have included sheet music to help readers fully immerse themselves in folk songs of past days. 

This collection includes England’s folk songs between the 1870s to 1980s and the original voice of the working class. It’s perfect for both academic and leisure reading.

Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Malory 

Submit yourself to the captivating tale woven by Thomas Malory. If you’ve ever wished to immerse yourself in the legend of King Arthur thoroughly, look no further.

This tightly woven tale follows the life and death of King Arthur and his legendary rise to King in the mythical age of Arthurian times. British legends and myths abound in this tome and are perfect for academic and leisure reading. 

Malory doesn’t leave out any enchanting myths during Arthurian times. With no stone left unturned (pun intended), the tale includes the Noble Knights of the Round Table, Morgan le Fay, and Guenevere, and all the legends surrounding these infamous characters of English myth and legend.

If you enjoyed this list of British folklore, legend, and myth, you may also be interested in 16 Great Books on Mythology (Norse, Greek, Japanese)!

A Bath day trip is enough to see this beauty for yourself, given Bath’s compact size and the fact that every street — long and narrow — is spilling over with charm and sweetness.

On a Bath day trip, you’ll shop the independent Bath bookshops, enjoy afternoon tea, dine at award-winning restaurants, take unforgettable photos, learn about Bath’s literary history, and take a steam in the baths which the city is, naturally, known for.

How to Get There: A London to Bath Day Trip

By train: If you are arriving in Bath by train then most journeys (unless you’re arriving from Wales, the South West or the Midlands) will have you change in London. The train is generally the most convenient way to arrive in Bath and the station is central.

You will be leaving London Paddington and arriving at Bath Spa Station which will take around an hour and a half.

From other destinations, you will likely be changing at Bristol Temple Meads and arriving at Bath Spa which takes under twenty minutes. You can easily book tickets, including tickets, on Trainline.

By Coach: It’s also possible to take the National Express or Megabus from London to Bath which takes slightly longer at around three hours but can be significantly cheaper. The bus station is next to the train station.

By Car: If you’re driving to Bath then your journey from London will take around an hour and a half and predominantly follow the M4 after exiting the M25 motorways.

How to Spend a Day in Bath

Once you arrive, if you’re in immediate need of refreshment then check out our favourite brunch and coffee spots in Bath. Otherwise, you can skip ahead and get on with our bath day trip itinerary. 

Best Brunch in Bath

1. Wild Cafe Bath: Tucked away down a cobbled stree is the charming Wild Cafe which serves some of the most wonderful brunch dishes in the city as well as locally roasted coffee, loose leaf tea, and freashly basked cakes and pastries.
   
2. Sally Llun’s Bath: One of the oldest houses in Bath which serves the famous Bath Bun, a huge scone-like regional specialty. that can be served with savoury or sweet toppings Other dishes are available such as french toast, soup, various cream teas, and cakes.
   
3. Boston Tea Party: A small south-west English chain with a big menu, you can find all of your favourite brunch specials with various dietry options available including gluten-free and vegan options. There are two locations in Bath to choose from. Coffee, fresh juices, cocktails, and craft ales are also available.

Best Bath Coffee Shops and Tea Rooms

1. Society Café: With two locations in Bath and a passion for serving excellent specialty coffee, you can’t go wrong.
   
2. Sweet Little Things Tea Room and Bakery: A cute tea room, this is the perfect place to come if you want a hot drink and a scone along with the ideal Bath aesthetic.
   
3. Cortado: Perfectly located under Bath Abbey with a gorgeous minimalist interior, order a coffee and muffinf and enjoy the view.

The Perfect Bath Day Trip Itinerary

Here are the must-visit places while you’re in Bath. It’s possible to do all of these things in a day as Bath is so compact that the distance between these activities is usually just a few minutes walk.

Pick and choose the activities that suit you best and enjoy Bath!

Take Pictures at The Pultney Bridge

One of the most iconic sights in Bath, Pultney Bridge stretches over the River Avon and is one of only four bridges in the world to have shops stretching across both its sides. This extravagant bridge was designed by Scottish Architect Robert Adam, who also designed the spectacular Culzean Castle on Scotland’s west coast.

Designed in 1769 by Robert Adam, he was heavily influenced by the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte di Rialto bridges in Florence and Venice which also incorporate shopping into their design. 

Visit the Jane Austen Centre

A must for any Jane Austen fan, Jane spent a significant part of her life living in the city of Bath and many of her characters pay visits to Bath for the social scene in various novels. 

The Jane Austen Centre treats you to a talk on the life of Austen before letting you loose to explore the paintings, costumes, and items that let you into the world of Regency Britain.

You will also be able to watch a short film, try on regency costumes and visit the excellent gift shop. They even have a tea room upstairs to enjoy!

A trip around the centre will take around an hour so it is perfect to squeeze into your day in Bath.

Read More: A Jane Austen Tour of England

Get Spooky at The House of Frankenstein

Just a few doors up from The Jane Austen Centre you can learn about another of Britain’s famous writers who also lived in Bath for a period of her life.

Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein is honoured in this new interactive museum which takes you through her life with its many twists and turns and also the writing and publication of Frankenstein. 

The museum also takes you through the cinematic and stage history of Frankenstein and how the character has been used in marketing through the years including a room of memorabilia.

You can also watch the first silent film version of Frankenstein in their upstairs cinema and visit the basement (if you dare) where you will be scared out of your wits. 

They also have an excellent gift shop to enjoy with exclusive Frankenstein bears and other Mary Shelley themed items. You will need around 45 minutes to explore The House of Frankenstein.

Step into History at the Roman Baths

An absolute must for anyone interested in Roman history, this was once the site of one of the great religious spas of the ancient world and is open to explore.

Inside the Roman Baths, you can see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva, a museum collection of artefacts, and, of course, the baths themselves. 

You can also visit their neo-classical fine dining restaurant The Pump Room who boast famous historic patrons such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. You can even try spa water from the fountain.

Marvel at Bath Abbey

At the centre of Bath, this grade I listed building is particularly noted for its fan vaulting and depiction of Jacob’s Ladder with sculptures of angels climbing to heaven on two stone ladders that run up the west front.

Go inside and explore, or enjoy a coffee at one of the surrounding cafes and admire it from outside.

Tip: Pop around to Abbey Green to see the old yew tree planted in 1793, the cobbled square, and enjoy some of the small shops there

Visit the Holburne Museum

An impressive collection of fine and decorative art, this newly transformed Holburne Museum, with Garden Cafe, is situated on lovely grounds that are ideal for a quiet wander on your Bath day trip.

They also have revolving art shows so make sure to check what’s on before you visit.

Fun fact: The museum was also used in the filming of the tv show Bridgerton as Lady Danbury’s house.

Go Bath Book Shopping

Bath has an incredible number of independent bookshops to enjoy, here are a few of our favourites and all conveniently located in the city centre.

Note: For more, check out our Best Bath Bookshops guide.

Persephone Bookshop

Newly relocated from London, Persephone Books’ iconic dove grey facade, welcoming interior and catalogue of books by women who have been lost to history make it one of our favourite shops in the city.

The shop is quaint, and the booksellers are always up for chatting about their books and their history.

Persephone is a publisher and a bookshop that is so vital to the literary landscape of the UK.

Where would we be without this proudly feminist bookshop reigniting the works and genius of some of the best women writers of the 19th and 20th centuries!

Topping & Co Bath

If you travel around the UK, you’ll find a handful of Topping & Co. booksellers dotted about, but our favourite branch is in Bath.

The layout and aesthetics alone are enough to mystify you, but you’ll stay for the conversation and passion offered by this Bath bookshop’s booksellers.

Topping & Co host regular and varied events, most notably talks and book launches from some of the world’s biggest and best authors.

They excel at offering gorgeous signed copies and first edition hardbacks. Honestly, when you think of the ideal independent bookshop, it’s Topping that should come to mind.

Note: They have recently expanded into a bigger location on York Street, Bath – this picture is of the older store. The new location is somehow more impressive.

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights

Or, perhaps, it’s Mr B’s Emporium that should spring to mind instead. That’s the sheer power of Bath’s literary scene!

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights is, as the name states, a delight. This Bath bookshop famously offers a reading spa: a consultation with a bookseller to judge your reading habits and favourite genres. You walk away at the end with a stack of fresh books of your own.

The shop itself is also such a beauty to wander and explore. The booksellers are knowledgeable, kind, and welcoming. The designs and aesthetics are heartwarming. Mr B’s is the perfect independent bookseller.

Wander the Royal Crescent and No 1 Museum

One of the most iconic sights in Bath are the Georgian houses built between 1767 – 1796 which make up the Royal Crescent and it also makes for a perfect stroll without going to far outside town.

If you would like to learn more about the Georgian period and spend some time inside one of the houses then do not miss the No.1 Royal Crescent museum.

Relax at the Thermal Baths

This is one of the only places in Britain to enjoy warm thermal waters so definitely set aside some time for this rejuvenating experience on your trip to Bath. 

A basic package at Thermae Bath Spa without any massage options added is between £37-£45 depending on weekday or weekend hours and allows you two hours in the spa.

While it seems like a short time, it actually felt like more than enough and we even had time to relax in the cafe during that time.

The heated rooftop pool offers amazing views out over the city of Bath which is worth the fee alone. Then inside you have an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and ice bath.

Robe, slippers, and towels are provided with your fee and anything you purchase at the cafe will be added to your band and paid for at the end.

Tip: As Bath is so close to Bristol, if you’re able to extend your trip then you can also enjoy Bristol.

Best Restaurants in Bath for Dinner

1) Green Rocket Cafe

A fantastic multi-award-winning vegan/vegetarian restaurant next to the Pultney Bridge. Serving some of the best coffee in the city, they also deliver a truly innovative lunch and dinner menu.

Some highlights include the katsu curry (made with gluten-free battered silken ed tofu) and the gluten-free bang bang cauliflower which tastes so much like Korean fried chicken that I came back the next day for more. They also serve desserts, beer, and kombucha.

Green Rocket Cafe Website

2) Noya’s Kitchen

Some of the best Vietnamese food we have tried outside Vietnam. Noya’s Kitchen is an elegant restaurant which serves all your favourite dishes such as pho, Vietnamese curries, spring rolls, and dumplings as well as our favourite Vietnamese coffee.

The restaurant also hosts supper clubs where you can enjoy special dishes in the cosy fairy-lit surroundings. You can also pick up Noya’s Kitchen Cookbook if you want to recreate some of her dishes at home.

Noya’s Kitchen Website

3) Chai Walla

A firm Bath favourite and one of the most highly recommended restaurants when we called out for suggestions. This counter-serve Indian street food joint had lines around the corner at whatever time of day we passed by.

At our time of visit, it was takeaway only so it’s perfect if you want to grab something for lunch and continue your wandering or want to take something to eat in the park.

Chai Walla’s Website

4) The Bath Stable

A small chain of pizza and pint restaurants (we also visited their Bristol branch), these freshly basked sourdough pizzas are genuinely excellent and choosing between the huge range of toppings and sauces will leave you struggling.

They also serve craft beers and ales including their incredibly popular tasting boards of beers and ciders in casual and warm surrondings.

Bath – Stable Website

5) The Coconut Tree

Get ready to indulge in Sri Lankan street food and unique cocktails at this multi-award-winning vibrant restaurant run by friends.

Whether you want to sample the goat curry, the fiery devil chicken wings, or the extensive vegan and vegetarian menu — with delights such as polenta battered mushrooms and pineapple curry — you can enjoy multiple of these smaller dishes to yourself or share amongst friends for a tapas-style feast.

Warning: deciding what to have from this menu is almost impossible.

The Coconut Tree Website

See a Show at the Bath Royal Theatre

If you are interested in watching a show after dinner then make sure to visit Bath Royal Theatre which is one of the only Georgian theatres in The UK. There is always something interesting on so make sure to check their website to make sure you don’t miss anything.

We hope you liked this Bath Day Trip Itinerary, if you found it useful then please consider sharing.

Enjoy some of our other favourite UK trips: 

The Best Cultural Day Trips from London
How to Spend a Day in Cambridge
A Perfect Day Trip to Brighton
The Best Things to do In York
A Weekend in Haworth, Yorkshire
A Gothic Day Trip to Strawberry Hill
A Perfect Day in Blenheim Palace and Woodstock
How to Spend a Day in Oxford and The Most Beautiful Oxford Colleges

We know that the British love their fish and chips and drinking tea. But, what else do they enjoy? You can find endless delectable British candy and snacks, many of which you’ll probably wish you knew about sooner.

In this guide, we’ll share some of the best British foods including candy, cakes, and sandwiches, and where you can find them.

 Jaffa Cakes

These soft squidgy orange treats cause some heated discussion when people try to decide whether they are, in fact, biscuits or cakes.

A layer of sponge is topped with orange jelly which is then covered in chocolate. They’re a great sweet treat with tea or coffee and always a great choice when you need a little pick-me-up. There are now a few other flavours available including berry.

British Crisps

Crisps, in the UK, come in countless flavours with some truly unique and beloved ones like Prawn Cocktail, Worcestershire Sauce, Lemon and Scampi, and Guinness. For something more simple, you can always find a classic cheese and onion, salt and vinegar, or ready salted.

There are a variety of brands that make crisps in The UK including Walkers, Monster Munch, Hula Hoops, Kettle Chips, and Mackie’s of Scotland. If you want to do something very British, pop your crisis between two slices of bread and have a crisp sandwich.

Read More: Diverse British Cookbooks

Fudge

One of the most loved British desserts is a delicious piece of fudge. This soft treat is made of sugar, milk, butter, and other ingredients for a variety of tastes including caramel, strawberries and cream, and maple walnut. Ingredients are melted together for a warm snack.

Or, enjoy it later at room temperature or cold. Fudge Kitchen is a popular British fudge brand and The Raw Chocolate Company makes vegan fudge. Most traditional cities and seaside towns will have a specialist fudge shop.

Welsh Cakes

Welsh cakes, also known as griddle cakes, originated in Wales and have become a favorite British snack. These cakes resemble a mix of a cookie, pancake, and scone with a one-of-a-kind texture and taste. Welsh cakes are a sweet treat but not overly sweet as spices like cinnamon and nutmeg balance the flavour, an ideal Welsh snack.

Read More: The Best Snacks from South Korea

Marmite on Toast

Those who aren’t British (or Australian, who also love their Vegemite) may be surprised at the peculiar taste of Marmite, but UK locals love Marmite on toast as a snack and it’s definitely one worth trying.

Marmite is a spread made out of yeast extract with a taste that is sometimes compared to soy sauce. Have it on toast and if you add melted cheese, it’s even better!

Scones 

Scones can be sweet British desserts or savoury snack. Many cafes and tearooms in the UK serve scones and tea as standards and you can even order a whole afternoon tea with sandwiches and other small cakes. Traditional British scones can be enjoyed plain, with raisins, or topped with whipped clotted cream and fruit jam.

There’s some debate (mostly between Devon and Cornwall) on whether the jam or cream goes on first so we leave that to you to decide…

Twiglets

If you’re interested in a unique British treat, a bag of Twiglets is definitely worth a try. These whole-wheat crunchy, baked sticks look like twigs. Their sticky Marmite coasting gives a zingy, zesty taste. Jacobs Twiglets are an iconic snack for big events in the UK and tubs of Twiglets are often given as gifts at Christmas.

British Biscuits

The British love to enjoy biscuits with tea and for great reason! Dunking a delicious biscuit into tea is a delicious tradition.

There are a variety of British biscuits including Ginger Nuts, made with brown sugar and ground ginger and Custard Creams, a biscuit filled with custard. There are also Hobnobs made of oats and self-rising flour and Digestives made of wholemeal flour and baking powder.

Sausage Rolls

Similar to ‘pigs in a blanket’ in the US, sausage rolls are spiced sausages wrapped in puff pastry. Enjoy this savoury British snack by itself or spruce it up with chutney.

As the ideal make-ahead snack, sausage rolls can be eaten cold or warm. You can find the chain shop Greggs right across the UK where you can find sausage rolls (and other pastries and cakes) for a pound but you’ll find nicer quality sausage rolls in bakeries and cafes.

Bara Brith

Bara Brith is a popular Welsh tea bread that’s made with mixed dried fruits like raisins and sultanas, tea, and mixed spices. You can savour your Bara Brith sliced with butter and a cup of tea.

Scotch Eggs

A traditional British food that’s often enjoyed at parties or picnics, Scotch Eggs are made of a boiled egg wrapped in meat and covered in breadcrumbs. It’s fried or baked to become a crispy, delicious snack. Scotch eggs can be enjoyed warm or cold for a quick snack.

Crumpets

Crumpets can be compared to an English muffin, a bread-like cake that’s usually toasted. Have it in the morning or as an afternoon snack with tea. Many people like their crumpets smothered in butter. You can also have it with honey, jam, scrambled eggs, blueberries and banana, or peanut butter.

Chip Butty

Often eaten as a late-night snack, a Chip Butty can be found in a British food shop or cafe or made at home. It’s a sandwich made with buttered bread and chips (french fries). You can add a sauce like mayonnaise, ketchup, or vinegar for added taste.

British Chocolate

British sweets are some of the world’s best! Satisfy a sweet tooth with some delicious British Chocolate.

Cadburys is a popular chocolate brand that has a variety of chocolates including a chocolate or peppermint cream bar, a biscuit with chocolate and caramel called Boost, and a bar of honeycomb smothered in chocolate known as Crunchie. Galaxy is also a favorite brand of chocolate candy bars.

Beans on Toast

For a popular and tasty British snack, try Beans on Toast. Even better, it’s one of the easiest to prepare. All you have to do is heat up some baked beans from a tin (Heinz is the popular brand) and scoop them onto toasted bread.

Often had with breakfast, you can also enjoy beans on toast by itself as a snack. It’s also delicious topped with melted cheese.

Flapjacks

Flapjacks are a tasty British snack that can be made at home or purchased. It’s an oat bar or cereal bar that’s usually made with oats, butter, and syrup. There are plain flapjack options or more flavourful ones that contain chocolate, cinnamon, or dried fruit.

Cheese and Crackers

There is no end to the delicious cheeses to try in the UK including cheddar, Wensleydale, Cornish Yarg to a crumbly Lancashire. A traditional way to enjoy it is sliced on a Jacob’s Cream Cracker or Ritz cracker with some Brantston pickle but there are lots of chutneys to try if this traditional brown pickle isn’t for you.

Shortbread

While Shortbread is a Scottish snack, they’re eaten all over the UK. Shortbread cookies are typically made of sugar, butter, and plain wheat flour. This cookie has a dense, crumbly consistency. You can have Shortbread plain or with fruits, nuts, or chocolate.

Chocolate Brownies

While you can find brownies in places like Canada and the United States, the British also love their chocolate brownies. Some people even make these delicious British desserts with other flavours like peanut butter and caramel. Have it by itself or with ice cream.

Lancashire Eccles Cake

Another yummy British dessert is Lancashire Eccles Cakes. This round pie is small and filled with currants giving it a berry taste. The cake is made from a flaky pastry with butter and sometimes topped with demerara sugar for extra sweetness.

British Candy

Another British sweet treat is, of course, British candy. There are many popular candies in the UK. Some of these include Wine Gums which are similar to gumdrops and Jelly Babies, a soft sugary jelly candy. Fruit Pastilles, colorful circular candies, are also a traditional British sweet.

Percy Pigs

For a true taste of the UK’s culture, Percy Pigs are a must-try. These pig-shaped gummy candies come in various flavours including raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and grape. They can only be found at Marks & Spencer (M&S), a British retailer. 

Pot Noodle 

You can find noodles in a cup found in many places. Similarly, Pot Noodle is a British food that’s simple to prepare, affordable, and available in a variety of flavours like curry, chicken and mushroom, and sweet chili. Pot Noodle is a heavy snack or light meal that consists of noodles, vegetables, and seasoning.

Tunnocks Teacake

Another Scottish snack that is popular right around The UK is Tunnocks Teacakes. This sweet biscuit has a soft marshmallow and is coated in milk and dark chocolate. It’s most often eaten while sipping tea or coffee and offers a delicious sweet treat any time of day.

Pork Scratchings

Some form of Pork Scratchings can be found in many places around the world. Specifically, British Pork Scratchings are a tasty salty snack made from pigskin. This crunchy, salty snack is deep-fried with a crispy bite and are usually served in packets at pubs as a snack to enjoy with a pint.

Cockles 

Found in coastal towns in the UK are Cockles, a small and salty shellfish. There are many ways to eat them – in a seafood pie, on a salad, fried, steamed by itself, in soup, or in pasta. 

British Ice Cream

The final must-try British dessert and snack is British ice cream. There are many kinds to enjoy, a lot of which are on a stick and known as a lollipop.

A few popular ones include Twister (a fruity ice cream pop), Mini Milk (chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice lolly made mostly from milk ), and Mr Whippy (a famous brand of soft-serve served from an ice cream truck in the UK).

Why not try one of the UK’s more unique flavours of ice-cream: Rum & Raisin? You will either love it or hate it.

Read more: A Guide to Japanese Snacks (And Where to Buy Them)

British Food Shops: Where to Buy British Snacks?

You probably have some cravings after learning about some of the best British snacks and you’re in luck! There are several ways that you can buy tasty British food no matter where you are in the world.

In the UK

If you’re in the UK or plan to visit, there are several supermarkets that you’re sure to find some of these snacks. Check out Tesco, Asda, and Morrisons. In most places, you can find a number of these popular stores. Remember that Percy Pigs, the popular British candy we mentioned, is only sold at Marks & Spencer (M&S), a British retailer.

Shop Online

There’s always online shopping if you aren’t in the area or prefer to have your British snack delivered. Amazon sells many of these products including Pot Noodle, Twiglets, and various British candies.

You can also purchase some of these foods and other British favorites online at the British Online Supermarket. You can find chocolate, crisps, snacks, and so much more.

British Snack Subscription Boxes

What better way to enjoy British snacks than by subscribing to a snack box that you can look forward to each month? You could also just try it once if you prefer. British Candy Co delivers a fun snack box to your door one-time only or monthly. There are various boxes to choose from depending on what kind of treats you’d like.