ONE of the UK’s oldest cities has been named the best place in the world to travel this year.
The New York Times has released its annual 52 Places to Travel 2025 – and named Bath as the very best spot.
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Explaining how they choose a destination, they explained: “Each year, the central question is, Why now? Why should a destination be included this year?
“Is there an exciting event? A big anniversary? New infrastructure, new flights, a new atmosphere?”
This year, the city celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.
The author lived in the city while writing many of her novels (although her actual birthplace was Steventon in North Hampshire).
The NYT says: “Jane Austen fans have a good reason to explore the southwest of England this year: It’s the 250th anniversary of her birth, and celebrations abound.
“Hampshire was both Austen’s birthplace and a source of inspiration; as a novelist, she was most prolific in this bucolic setting.
And Bath has revealed a number of events this year to celebrate including the Jane Austen Country Fair in July.
Themed events will take place at Jane Austen’s House, and a Grand Regency Costumed Promenade at the Jane Austen Center.
A Persuasion ball is on May 31, followed by a Sanditon ball on June 28 and a birthday ball on December 13.
Historian Jane Worsley will present a talk about her life and her novels, while a retelling of Pride and Prejudice will take place at The Theatre Royal Bath.
And No. 8 College Street will open for the first time to the public, which is where she spent her final few weeks.
Kathryn Davis, managing director of the tourism body Visit West, praised Bridgerton for sparking interest in the regency era.
She told The Times: “It’s brought a younger and more diverse audience to the city and the region.”
The Netflix drama has also inspired its own themed events with musical Bridgerton tours of some of the filming locations.
If you fancy staying, you can opt for the trendy No.15 by Guesthouse, a boutique chain with others open in Brighton and York, or the revamped Francis Hotel, following its £13million restoration.
Travel writer Jo Kessel recently visited Bath on a Jane Austen trip.
She said: “The best place to start is Gay Street’s Jane Austen Centre, where I costumed actors from Sense And Sensibility and Persuasion showing me Empire Line gowns to try.
“Pride and Prejudice womaniser Mr Wickham also entered who despite being a cad, allowed to ‘help’ me with my outfits.
“We even played Spillikins, a game loved by Jane using matchsticks although was beaten by the actors easily.
New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2025
- Jane Austen’s England
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
- New York City Museums
- Assam, India
- ‘White Lotus’ Thailand
- Greenland
- Aix-en-Provence, France
- Sun Valley, Idaho
- Lumbini, Nepal
- Sydney, Australia
- Coimbra, Portugal
- Angola
- Hamburg, Germany
- Nicaragua
- Dolomite Mountains, Italy
- Asheville, N.C.
- Magdalena River, Colombia
- Los Cabos, Mexico
- Alishan, Taiwan
- Flow Country, Scotland
- Kristiansand, Norway
- Bukhara, Uzbekistan
- Lexington and Concord, Mass.
- Canfranc, Spain
- Benin City, Nigeria
- Amsterdam
- New Orleans
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Delphi, Greece
- Toyama, Japan
- French Basque Country
- Kilifi, Kenya
- British Virgin Islands
- Lofoten Islands, Norway
- East London
- Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
- Kutaisi, Georgia
- Osaka, Japan
- Detroit
- Trent-Severn Waterway, Ontario
- Montserrat, Spain
- Western Australia
- Washington, D.C.
- Nangma Valley, Pakistan
- Sicily Divide Cycle Route
- Ollantaytambo, Peru
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Huangshan, China
- Milan
- Bulgaria
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Montserrat, the Caribbean
“There are tourist trails around 4 Sydney Place — Austen’s former house as well as Sydney Gardens opposite, a park where Jane promenaded.
“In the Footsteps of Jane Austen is a free 90-minute audio walking tour which also hits up Royal Crescent, Gravel Walk and the Pump Room.”
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