If you’ve ever had the experience of a break in accommodation in Bath the chances are you’ll be pretty au fait with the city’s Roman history, but next time you visit why not find out about all the history in between the Romans and the Georgians?

The Roman Baths explain just how the stunning city became one of the world’s leading spa resorts, and the Georgian architecture at every turn tells the tale of how it came to be a favourite with the well to do, but there are some historic alleyways far less trodden to explore while you’re there too.

The city may have become what we see today when the Romans arrived, but it also played a role in defending the country against Viking invasion under the rule of King Alfred. The Saxon abbey was a cathedral during the Norman era, and when the building was lost at the hands of the Reformation the people of Bath helped it maintain its status as a city with an Elizabethan charter. By this time Bath had gained itself as reputation as a fashionable resort, and it welcomed the gentry until seaside locations rose in popularity.

By the time Jane Austen arrived in the city it had transformed further still, taking its place as a genteel resort popular with the retired, and its varied history still fascinates visitors today.