Restaurants Near the Royal Crescent

Take a step back into Georgian times in Bath, with the stunning architecture of the Royal Crescent and Circus, mere minutes from the city centre.

Once you’ve marvelled at the majestic buildings, take a break with an appetising meal at one of our Bath restaurants close to the Royal Crescent and the Circus, and treat yourself to a pint of proper beer from our outstanding selection of Butcombe beers and real ales.

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  • The Pig and Fiddle

    2 Saracen Street, Bath, Somerset, BA1 5BR

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Places To Eat Near The Royal Crescent

After a day exploring the city once frequented by Georgian high-society to take the waters and enjoy afternoon tea, you might feel a bit peckish yourself. Stop in at one of our range of restaurants near the Royal Crescent for a delicious locally-sourced pub meal and a refreshing pint of award-winning Butcombe beer.

The Pig And Fiddle

An iconic pub, beloved by locals, The Pig & Fiddle gastropub in the centre of Bath is a popular stop for both Bathonians and tourists alike, with a selection of seasonal dishes and sharers, award-winning Butcombe beers, local cider, wine and cocktails. Catch the latest big game on the flatscreen TVs, or chill in the atmospheric sun-trap beer garden – and you can’t miss the unique, delicious Piggy sharing roast dinners on Sundays! For a beautiful and boutique place to stay, check out the sister venue next door, Broad Street Townhouse.

The Royal Crescent

A world-famous landmark, the Royal Crescent is a sweeping row of Grade I-listed terraced houses in the city of Bath. As one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in existence, the attraction has become a go-to filming location for period dramas and films.

A brief history of the Royal Crescent

Built between 1767 and 1775, The Royal Crescent was designed by English architect John Wood the Younger as a row of lodging-houses for the gentry on their visits to Bath. At the time the crescent was surrounded by farmland and offered wonderful views of the hills and Avon valley.

Whilst the front of each terrace is identical, their rears are a mismatch of styles, a result of each original owner buying a section of the building’s façade, before hiring their own architect to complete the house behind.

The street was previously simply known as The Crescent, only gaining a royal title at the end of the 18th-century following a visit from Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.

The Royal Crescent today

Nowadays, the crescent is classified as a Grade I-listed building and formed part of the reason the city of Bath was designated its UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987.

Out of the crescent’s 30 houses, 27 remain the homes of private residents, with some of the original terraces converted into flats. Two of the houses now form the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa luxury hotel and spa, and the final house has been converted into a museum. Maintained by the Bath Preservation Trust, the museum gives visitors the chance to glimpse how an 18th-century owner would have furnished and occupied such a house.

The Royal Crescent’s famous occupants

From artists and authors to actors and architects, there are many notable people to have stayed or resided at the crescent. Some of these are acknowledged by plaques attached to the outside of the building including:

  • Sir Isaac Pitman, who was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for developing the most widely-used system of shorthand.
  • The prolific 18th-century poet Christopher Anstey, who is honoured at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.
  • 20th-century writer George Edward Bateman Saintsbury, who wrote the classic work ‘Notes on a Cellar-Book’.
  • Famous 19th-century jurist, historian, writer and thinker Frederic Harrison

The Royal Crescent on film

As one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in the world, the Royal Crescent has become a go-to location for film crews in search of an authentic backdrop. Notable appearances include the 2007 television-film production of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Persuasion’ and the 2008 film ‘The Duchess’ starring Kiera Knightley and Ralph Fiennes.

Its most recent appearance was in the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’, with the crescent’s museum standing in as the Featherington family residence.

Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley

In the 1970s, there was some controversy amongst the Royal Crescent when one of its residents, a Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley, decided to paint her front door bright yellow instead of white.

Amabel was forced to fight two court orders and defend herself at a public enquiry before it was ruled the door could remain yellow, which is how sightseers will find it today!