A Quick Literary Visit to Bath, U.K. Exploring ‘Bridgerton’ to ‘Frankenstein’

"Are you watching ‘Bridgerton,’" my sister asked me over FaceTime. I frowned and gave her an immediate no. I'm not a romantic book reader and don't find the legacy of British Royalty and wealth very interesting. But, as my sister told me more about one of the series' main characters—Queen Charlotte— I leaned in. A Black woman at the helm of this beautiful, mystical show drew me in, and the gorgeous landscapes, homewares, and backdrops of the English countryside have made me stay with the series. And, of course, there are the well-written female characters on screen who are inspired by Julia Quinn's books.

As a writer and now director, my writing has taken me quite literally all over the world on the festival circuit with my film. And more recently, it dropped me into Bath, U.K., for the IMDb New Filmmaker Awards, where I was one of five nominees. As I researched things to do for my short time there, I quickly realized Bath has been home to female literary greats like Mary Shelley, the writer of Frankenstein, and Jane Austen, who lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806 and later featured the city in two of her published novels. Now, the UNESCO World Heritage site is in our pop culture consciousness because it serves as a filming location for Netflix's ‘Bridgerton’ series.

If you're like me and enjoy reading female novelists and love visiting picturesque cities steeped in history, here's a brief travel guide to Bath. I say brief because I only had less than 24 jetlagged hours in the city, and there's so much more to see! But this is a guide to get you started. 

How to Get There 

Getting to Bath from London is straightforward if you take a few steps before arriving at the train station. To get to Bath, you'll want to go to Paddington Station (PAD). Even in all its grandeur and beauty, Paddington can be overwhelming on your first visit. So I recommend arriving early.

In addition, be sure to download the GWR app. This is where you can purchase tickets and make changes to your journey on the Great Western Railway. Additionally, if you want to upgrade your ticket after purchasing, Seatfrog is an app that allows you to bid on first-class tickets, often at a pretty substantial discount from the standard ticket price you'd pay via GWR. I used it twice and found it super easy!

Why A First-Class Ticket? 

The total trip time is about an hour and twenty minutes with no transfers. So, an upgraded car isn’t a necessity. However, because I'd just landed at Heathrow Airport after an eight-hour flight and was taking the train straight from the plane and was exhausted, I wanted a quiet car to catch a nap. So, I paid extra for the first-class car. The difference was about $30 dollars. In the first-class car, there is also complimentary food (think: biscuits (cookies), apricot bars, and light snacks) and drinks like water, tea, and coffee. The seats are also reclining extra-wide seats with more legroom and comfort. All this made my journey relaxing after hours and hours of travel on a cramped airplane. 

Where to Stay 

Bath has no shortage of hotels to select from, each with its unique style and offerings. As someone who loves hotels, I look for design and service as the top pillars before clicking book. I also read many reviews, which are equally important because you have real-world POVs of other guests' experiences. In this case, location was also an essential variable because Bath is so walkable, and I wanted to be close enough to the train station and the event venue so I wouldn't need to Uber—even in heels!

Hotel Indigo Bath

I landed on Hotel Indigo, a 166-room boutique hotel just a five-minute walk from the Bath Spa train station. Walking through the threshold, you instantly feel like you're the main character in a BBC drama. The hotel lobby manages to feel cozy, sophisticated, and quintessentially British. And the attentiveness and warmth of the staff made my stay feel like I was at home.

After a long trek from New Orleans to Atlanta to Bath in less than 15 hours, I was overdue for a shower and a nap. Unlike the hotel rooms in London that are hard to turn around in, my room was shockingly spacious, with natural light bursting through and small design notes that felt thoughtfully placed, from the quirky artwork on the walls to thoughtfully placed lighting fixtures throughout the room. And, if you’re in the mood for beer, wine, or water, just open up your fridge, and you’ll find refreshing beverages there at no extra charge. 

The bathroom, designed with a shower and free-standing bathtub, was a delightful surprise as I could soak my tired body for a moment and relax before drifting off into a much-needed nap. The hotel has a full-service bar and restaurant. While I didn't get a chance to have dinner, I did get to try a traditional English breakfast amongst a lively room of other guests the next morning. 

Like my check-in, the service was swift, attentive, and welcoming. And I now get the baked beans and eggs duo. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In addition to ordering a hot meal from the kitchen, there was a beautiful spread in the next room filled with pastries, fruit, cereal, and juice, all included in the breakfast rate. 

No.15 by GuestHouse

This 36-room hotel, nestled in a row of three Georgian townhouses, is just under a four-minute walk to the Pulteney Bridge—the bridge that links this area of Bath to the city center. While this hotel isn't comfortably walkable with luggage (though it is doable), it offers station luggage pickup. Just call the hotel when you're close, and they'll meet you at the station and drive your bags back to the hotel in their cargo bike. 

Upon walking into the lobby, you'll see stunning artwork and opulent chandeliers and be greeted by a staff member ready to help you at every turn. Depending on the room you book, the space will look different. For example, booking the cheapest room—the small guest room—is pretty compact. So, I'd only recommend this for a solo traveler. However, the room I stayed in was the Coach House Guest Room, which is just behind the hotel's main building and right next door to the snack pantry (that's complimentary, btw). The communal pantry is stocked with water, homemade brownies, soft drinks, filtered water, and fresh fruit—and again, there's no charge! 

The room was well-appointed with plush white linens, a record player, a free-standing bathtub (and a shower), and even a Dyson blow-dryer (as a beauty editor, this was such a special touch!). In addition to the cozy, cottage-like feel, this hotel has a beautifully adorned spa in the basement. I booked a massage, which I desperately needed, and the service was calming and well-priced with a skilled therapist. 

Literary Things to Do 

Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein

In 1816, Mary Shelley wrote the world's first science fiction novel, Frankenstein, during five months of attending scientific lectures in Bath. A fun fact I found very inspiring and intriguing! Now, Bath is home to a four-floor attraction that memorializes the author's life and legacy with curated artifacts and memorabilia alongside spooky soundtracks, bespoke smells, and special effects meant to make this a full sensory experience. There’s also an eight-foot animatronic creature, authentically reproduced just as Shelley envisioned. If you’re into escape rooms, the attraction also offers a Frankenstein-themed version.  

Bridgerton Stops

Holburne Museum

Lady Danbury quickly became one of my favorite characters, especially after learning her backstory watching ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.’ When I learned the Holburne Museum is the exterior of Lady Danbury's home, I had to stop to see it. It’s just majestic, luxe, and pristine IRL. 

The Banqueting Room at the Guildhall

The ball scenes in Bridgerton make you swoon because they are a true visual fest for the eyes and imagination. The banqueting room at the Guildhall—which has been around since 1775—served as the set of some of the ball scenes in the series. While there are no tours offered, this historic site is available for booking for events. Even though you can’t wander inside, seeing the space from the outside still pulls you into the world of ‘Bridgerton.’ 

No.1 Royal Crescent

The Featherington family is always at the center of the ‘Bridgerton’ series, and their sprawling home makes you say, “Wow.” While only the exterior of No.1 Royal Crescent is used as the home of the Featherington family, you can tour this museum. If you’re wondering what exactly pieces of the exterior are in the series, the museum's exterior is both the front door of the home and Penelope's window. 

The Assembly Rooms

In season one, Simon and Daphne's complicated love story begins at Lady Danbury’s ball, and the tearoom at this venue is where this ball is brought to life. This is life imitating art, as this historic venue was once the go-to spot for dancing and music. This is one of the ballroom sets you can visit. You can make reservations here. 

The Abbey Deli

You can’t attend a ‘Bridgerton’ ball without the right dress. Just steps away from the city’s historic Roman Baths, you'll find Madame Delacroix’s dress shop: The Modiste. Well, the building that was used for the set of the dress shop, which in real life is home to The Abbey Deli.

Get to Know Jane Austen 

From 1801 to 1806, Jane Austen called Bath her home. You can find the city in two of her books: Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. If you have a short time in Bath, you can drop by the Jane Austen Centre for a tour with the attraction's costumed guides and have afternoon tea at The Regency Tea Room. If you have more time for a private guided walking tour around the city of Bath, you can book a tour from Friday to Sunday here.