We all know Bath’s one of the best cities for doing some damage to the old credit card, but it’s also handy to know those little areas of green that are close enough to retreat to when you want to take the weight off your feet and avoid the hustle and bustle for awhile. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Parade Gardens.

This park has all the pomp and grandeur that we love enjoying during a stay in accommodation in Bath, yet with their views over the River Avon and their sprawling landscape these gardens make a tranquil place for some time out. Sit back and admire the Robert Adams Pultney Bridge, wander the bedding displays (pegged by the green-fingered as some of the country’s best) or enjoy a picnic before heading back to the call of the shops.

Parade Gardens are the most central in the city, the cafe in the grounds has outdoor seating so you can enjoy a quiet lunch in the last autumn sunshine (just think of all those shoppers queuing in the department store cafes around the corner). This garden is a favourite spot with visitors and locals, and it’s a little haven on a busy day’s shopping.