Iconic international magazine TIME has named Bath among the 100 greatest places in the world – one of only two destinations in England to appear in the annual list.
To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations of places—including countries, regions, cities and towns—from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an emphasis on those offering new and exciting experiences.
The list, which ranges from Antarctica and Athens to Venice, Winnipeg and Zurich, is an eclectic mix of established tourist hotspots and little-known destinations.
While Edinburgh flies the flag for Scotland, the only other English destination is London’s Design District.
The section on Bath says it may soon be better known for its pop culture contributions than “the ancient Roman Baths for which it’s named”, highlighting the just-opened Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein on Gay Street, which commemorates the life of the female novelist and her now legendary creation.
It also notes that fans of Bridgerton have been “pouring into the city to immerse themselves in the drama and scandal of the Regency-era romance with new guided tours.
The section concludes that there is “no shortage of places to stay downtown” and namechecks the Hotel Indigo, “a 166-room boutique hotel set in a historic Georgian terrace house.”
Visit West director of tourism Kathryn Davis, pictured, said: “We are thrilled to see Bath named as one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places.
“Bath’s new experience, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, has captured the imagination of so many and so to see this, and the Bridgerton inspired tours highlighted in such an influential publication and among such esteemed worldwide destinations is an incredible achievement.
“We hope that this accolade will inspire our domestic visitors to continue to enjoy their holiday stays in Bath and look forward to welcoming back our international visitors as soon as we can.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council deputy leader Cllr Richard Samuel, who is also cabinet member for economic development and resources, added: “This is a fantastic accolade for the city and all those who work so hard to ensure our high-quality visitor experience.
“There’s no doubt the local tourism sector has been hit hard by the pandemic, but it is returning with many people opting to stay local this year and choosing Bath as a must-see destination.
“For the city to be so highly recommended to a such large global audience bodes well for the sector’s longer-term recovery when we are once again able to welcome back international visitors.”
TIME is the world’s most influential, most authoritative and largest circulation news platform reaching an audience of more than 100m around the globe.
Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, which opened this week, is the first permanent attraction dedicated to the author. Mary Shelley wrote the majority of the classic novel while living in lodgings in Bath’s Abbey Churchyard in 1816 – the site now occupied by the city’s iconic Pump Room.
