Falling leaves, oversized jumpers and warm drinks, autumn is the perfect season to embrace all things cosy.
And, there are plenty of places to do just that in the UK.
A ranking has revealed the cosiest places on Earth, and a British city has made it into the top ten.
Described as ‘warm’ and ‘relaxing’, Bath in Somerset can now claim the ‘prize’ as the cosiest city in the UK, and ninth in the world.
The overall winner of the world ranking was the ‘charming’ and ‘historic’ city of Brussels, followed by Paris, whose ‘romantic streets’ offer tourists the chance for a ‘beautiful stroll’, and Geneva in third where visitors can find ‘steaming hot, traditional Swiss fondue’.
Meanwhile, in the UK ranking, first-place Bath beat the likes of London and Edinburgh, which came second and third respectively.
But what is it about Bath that makes it quite so cosy?
According to travel insurance experts at AllClear, who conducted the study, it’s ‘no surprise’ Bath won first place.
The historic city boasts an ‘abundance of theatres and museums’, as well as the famous Thermae Bath Spa, making it a perfect destination for a seasonal staycation, the experts claim.
Things to do in Bath this Autumn
If you’re looking to make the most of Bath’s cosy atmosphere this Autumn, there are plenty of things to do.
‘Bath is the perfect place to spend a cosy autumn break,’ Visit Bath’s website reads. ‘The city comes alive with a patchwork of autumnal colours as the leaves turn, creating a beautiful backdrop for Bath’s iconic architecture.’
The 'cosiest' cities in the world
- Brussels
- Paris
- Geneva
- Copenhagen
- Lisbon
- Barcelona
- Athens
- Victoria
- Bath
- Dublin
If the weather permits, visitors can explore Bath’s numerous parks and gardens to admire the falling leaves. Namely, the Royal Victoria Park Bath, which one Tripadvisor reviewer, described as a ‘lovely park, especially in Autumn’.
The Sydney Gardens, the oldest park in Bath loved by Jane Austen, is another great place to explore. Tripadvisor reviews of the park declare it ‘beautiful’ and ‘relaxing’.
Visitors can also explore the history of the Unesco World Heritage Site indoors, from the No.1 Royal Crescent, a restored town-house museum, to the Holburne Museum, a Grade I listed building home to a collection of fine and decorative art.
Those wanting to warm themselves up this Autumn could book a session at the Thermae Bath Spa, an adults-only spa in the heart of the city. Prices start at £41 for two hours.
There are also plenty of areas to explore after dark, with evening tours of the city. Why not embrace the Bath’s spooky past on a ghost tour of the city? Or dance your way through the dimly lit streets on a Ghost Hunters Silent Disco tour.
There’s also a Frankenstein in Bath tour, where visitors will follow in the footsteps of Mary Shelley, who wrote the gothic novel in the city in the 1800s.
According to Visit Bath the tour ‘takes you on a journey of where the author lives, wrote, and kept her dark secrets’.
Those who have visited the city haven’t been disappointed. One Tripadvisor review declared it ‘spectacularly beautiful’ with ‘striking architecture’.
Another reviewer added that that ‘incredibly beautiful’ city has a ‘romantic atmosphere’.
While one visitor declared on Reddit that Bath is the ‘best-looking city in the UK’.
Reddit users were quick to agree, ‘metalmick’ wrote: ‘I think this is widely accepted.’ While ‘isangotravel01’ added: ‘Bath’s beauty is truly unmatched.’
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