Pubs Near Bath Abbey

At the centre of the historical city of Bath stands the spectacular Bath Abbey, with its ornate, detailed gothic architecture – a must-see attraction for visitors to the honey-hued city.

Once you’ve explored the magnificent Abbey, pop into one of our welcoming pubs in Bath, where you can treat yourself to a mouth-watering, locally-sourced meal and sample the delights of our impressive selection of proper Butcombe beers and ales.

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Bath Abbey City Centre Holburne Museum Pulteney Bridge Roman Baths Royal Crescent Thermae Bath Spa
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Pubs and inns near Bath Abbey

After a busy day exploring the magnificent Bath Abbey, you deserve a pint of proper beer. Stop in at one of our nearby pubs and enjoy a locally-sourced classic pub meal alongside a refreshing pint of award-winning Butcombe ale.

Broad Street Townhouse

Take a break from exploring the beautiful golden city of Bath, and stop in for a light bite, craft beer, glass of wine, or cocktail in our ground floor café/bar at Broad Street Townhouse, a stone’s throw away from popular Bath attractions like Thermae Bath Spa, the Roman Baths, and Bath Abbey. If you’re in the mood for something more substantial, pop next door to our sister venue, The Pig & Fiddle, for a hearty pub classic meal.

The Pig And Fiddle

An iconic pub in the heart of Bath, the refurbished Pig & Fiddle offers all-day food offer, regular live sport, and a buzzing atmosphere, any time of day.

Get stuck into hearty seasonal pub classics, banging bar snacks, a delicious brunch menu, and Piggy sharer Sunday roasts in Bath, perfectly paired with a variety of craft beer, cask ale, wine and cocktails.

Visiting Bath Abbey

One of the most stunning examples of gothic architecture in the country, the Grade I-listed Bath Abbey is a world-famous monument that attracts many visitors through its doors each year.

The history of Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey has a history encompassing over 1200 years, with three different churches built throughout this period on the site it currently stands.

The first church built was an Anglo-Saxon monastery, which was later pulled down and replaced by the huge Norman cathedral. By the late 15th-century, the cathedral had fallen into disrepair, leading to the construction of the present abbey as we know it today starting in 1499, with work completing 120 years later in 1611.

Bath Abbey’s Ladders of Angels

One of the first sights visitors have of Bath Abbey is its beautiful west entrance, most of which is occupied by a huge arched glass window.

To each side of the window is a carved stone ladder featuring six angels in the process of climbing up or down. It’s said that the founder of the abbey, the Bishop of Bath Oliver King was behind the design of these carvings, after having a dream depicting the same scene!

Bath Abbey’s fan-vaulted ceiling

Lorded as one of the finest examples of fan vaulting in the country, the Bath Abbey’s stunning ceiling was designed by English architects Robert and William Vertue. The original ceiling dates back to the 1500s, although visitors may spot a slight difference in the vaulting in the centre of the abbey, which was restored by famous Gothic revival architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the second half of the 19th century.

Bath Abbey memorials and burials

Over the last few centuries, thousands of people have been buried beneath the abbey’s floors. The earliest known burial dates from 1625, with the last body to be laid to rest in 1845.

The abbey’s floor and walls are home to over 1,500 memorials remembering people from all eras and positions in society, from the Chiltons – a family of plumbers who lived in Bath during the early 19th century, to the US Senator William Bingham.

Bath Abbey’s stained glass windows

Bath Abbey has come to be known as ‘The Lantern of the West’, thanks to its 52 stunning glass windows which occupy the majority of its walls. Many of the windows depict elaborate bible stories and scenes of the abbey’s past, including:

  • The Great East Window, which tells the story of Jesus in 56 scenes.
  • The King Edgar Window, which shows the crowning of Edgar the Peaceful as the first king of all England at the Anglo-Saxon monastery which once stood where the current abbey stands today.
  • The West Window, which depicts stories from the first five books of the Bible, including God’s Creation of Eve and Noah’s Ark.

Bath Abbey Tower Tours

Once you’ve finished admired Bath Abbey from ground level, for a small fee you can take a tour of the abbey’s tower, accessed by a steep spiral staircase of 212 steps.

Taking around 45 minutes to complete, the tour gives visitors the chance to see the ringing room and bells, sit behind the abbey’s clock face, and even stand above the abbey’s famous fan-vaulted ceiling. The views from the top are said to be the best in Bath!

See pictures of Bath Abbey here.