A Bridgerton-inspired Bathtub information: Tips on how to get pleasure from a slice of Regency life

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As summer time begins to warmth up, our TV schedule is about to do the identical with the return of Netflix’s splendidly debauched depiction of Regency life within the much-anticipated third collection of Bridgerton. This time again in “the ton”, the story focuses on the (to date) unrequited love curiosity between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and the third “completely good-looking” Bridgerton son, Colin (Luke Newton), as Girl Whistledown herself places it.

Netflix is retaining eager viewers on their toes by drip-feeding the collection in two elements, between Might and June. Although when you’ve learn Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn, on which the streaming big’s interval drama third collection is predicated, you’ll already know what’s coming – simply make sure to not share any spoilers with the remainder of us.

Half one among Bridgerton season three is streaming on Netflix now (PA)

The collection is usually set in London, however it’s Bathtub that kinds a lot of the set for Bridgerton, because of its elegant honey-coloured limestone buildings and regal Palladian structure – all protected by World Unesco Heritage standing. It was the town for top society to be seen in, and to see (learn, gossip), to “take the waters” of Bathtub’s pure scorching springs, and to promenade in regards to the city and its parks. And because the structure of the city has modified so little because the early nineteenth century, there’s loads to see and do this the aristocratic Georgians would have visited and loved themselves – and it’s straightforward to go to the real-life spots utilized in filming too.

So, pricey light reader, when you’re feeling scorching underneath the collar at simply the considered the brand new collection and wish extra of a Bridgerton repair, that is the place to remain, eat and what to do within the metropolis for a slice of Regency life that’s match for a Bridgerton.

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What to do

The Royal Crescent

Promenade on the Royal Crescent (Getty)

First on the agenda needs to be perfecting the artwork of promenading alongside the crescent imagining you’re a part of the ton. The crescent-shaped row of 30 golden-hued stone townhouses has at all times been one of many metropolis’s signature landmarks, and finest addresses, because it was inbuilt 1774 following the imaginative and prescient of architect John Wooden the Youthful.

So after all it options closely within the present, not solely within the opening credit, however all through the collection – whether or not it’s in carriages on the way in which to the ball or promenading with Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma on horseback. They’re virtually solely personal lodging now, aside from the No 1 Royal Crescent museum and No 16 Royal Crescent Resort and Spa, the place you’ll be able to e-book the restaurant or spa as a non-guest, too.

No 1 Royal Crescent

It sits on the tip of the well-known curve of buildings. Girl Featherington and co make this grand 18th century mansion their residence within the TV collection, which is meant to be London’s Grosvenor Sq.. It was the grandest constructing of its time, although was rapidly rivalled by the homes on Nice Pulteney Road. Now it’s a museum, and affords a number of the finest insights into life, each above and beneath stairs, within the Georgian interval. (no1royalcrescent.org.uk, £15.50)

The Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum doubles as Girl Danbury’s residence (Getty)

This museum is distinctly recognisable as Girl Danbury’s residence in Bridgerton and the backdrop to many balls of the ton, although in actual life it’s the grade I-listed Holburne Museum surrounded by the beautiful Sydney Gardens. It started life because the Sydney Resort, remaining as such till the 1830s, when it needed to shut and was was lodgings. It was in 1916 that it was renovated right into a museum, and homes every thing from Renaissance treasures to masterpieces by Gainsborough and up to date exhibitions. It’s additionally residence to round 4,000 items of artwork and sculptures from Sir Willliam Holburne, a prolific artwork collector, who left his assortment to the town after his loss of life. (holburne.org, £11)

Prior Park

Stroll round this Georgian backyard and also you’ll neglect you’re even in a metropolis. The 18th-century panorama backyard covers 57 acres, with the spotlight being the Palladian bridge, impressed by Italian architect Andrea Palladio. It’s one among solely 4 on this planet and is used quite a few occasions throughout promenading scenes in Bridgerton, together with tense talks between Daphne and Anthony Bridgerton within the first collection. (nationaltrust.org.uk, £10)

Bathtub Thermae Spa

Although not featured in Bridgerton, the excessive society of the Regency period visited Bathtub to profit from its heat mineral-rich waters, whether or not that was sipping on them within the huge Pump Room restaurant or soaking in them within the adjoining Roman baths. To expertise the advantages of the town’s most-prized possession now, e-book into Bathtub Thermae Spa. With a 35.5C thermal rooftop pool overlooking the town, it’s probably the greatest (and most stress-free) views on the town. (thermaebathspa.com, £41)

The place to eat

The Abbey Deli

All the women value their salt within the present have their attire made at Madame Delacroix’s costume store, Modiste, which can be a hotbed for gossip. The Seventeenth-century glass curved cafe frontage on the Abbey Deli is utilized in filming, as is the within. Cafe staff say the TV crew took per week to movie the scenes, taking every thing out, constructing the set, filming, after which placing every thing again (pictures of filming are displayed within the lavatory).

There’s Bridgerton tea, which is appropriately themed: forward of their starring roles in season three, Penelope has lemongrass and ginger fusion, which is after all yellow – the one color costume her mom lets her put on – and Colin’s tea is mint infusion. Other than the Bridgerton connection, the deli’s baked items are hearty and properly value a pit cease or to remove – go for one of many breakfast bacon and egg tartlets. Subsequent door to the suitable (as you have a look at the Abbey Deli) is used as Madame Delacroix’s residence, too.

The Pantry at Bathtub Priory Resort

If there’s one factor that signifies Bridgerton, aside from the gossip, it’s wisteria. Not solely does the lilac blossom splendidly adorn the Bridgertons’ major residence (the precise home does exist in Greenwich) seemingly all 12 months spherical regardless of its being a spring flower, it options in lots of different locations, together with Queen Charlotte’s gardens, making every thing look extra enchanting. To get a slice of the motion now, head to the Pantry terrace at The Priory Resort, one among Bathtub’s finest lodges, which is drenched in wisteria and only a 20-minute stroll from the town centre. On the menu, anticipate the likes of courgette and chickpea fritters with cardamom yoghurt or Brixham white crab with pear, fennel, kohlrabi and pomegranate.

Sally Lunn’s Historic Consuming Home

Sally Lunn’s brioche buns are half bread, half cake (Getty)

Previously generally known as an ‘consuming home’, Sally Lunn’s astonishingly dates all the way in which again to 1680. Right here on the cafe, the signature providing is finest described as a big spherical bun, not dissimilar to a brioche burger bun. It’s half cake and half bread, and is eaten in halves with no matter you need on prime, from scrambled eggs to chocolate unfold.

Made to a prime secret recipe, the identical buns had been additionally served at breakfast on the Sydney Resort (now Holburne Museum of Artwork), which Jane Austen herself loved continuously. It’s not simply the buns that entice folks right here although, because the constructing is the oldest in Bathtub, courting again to 1482. It’s straightforward to search out on the well-known North Road Passage, proper behind the Abbey, however you’ll little doubt clock the teams of vacationers outdoors taking pictures earlier than you see the indicators.

The place to remain

Royal Crescent Resort & Spa

To get an actual really feel for Regency life, there are few locations higher to mattress down than throughout the Royal Crescent Resort & Spa, which is without doubt one of the nation’s few landmark buildings the place you’ll be able to truly keep. It’s grade 1 listed and is seen continuously within the TV present too, so each time you step outdoors it you’ll really feel such as you’re strolling right into a scene in Bridgerton.

Inside, the resort’s interiors pack a punch with big tiled flooring, grand furnishings and historic artworks that fortunately sit amongst trendy daring wallpapering. Spacious rooms are themed with heritage colors, patterns and textures starting from dusty pinks to sky blues.

With an acre of its personal land, which overlooks Royal Victoria Park, it’s straightforward to neglect how central this resort is. The spa in the back of the backyard is a should go to, as is consuming on the pastel pink and terracotta Montagu’s Mews restaurant, which reopened in 2023 after a giant refurbishment. The most important spotlight must be the resort’s personal balloon flights that soar above the town.

Lucknam Park Resort & Spa

Simply 9 miles from Bathtub’s metropolis centre, the family-run Lucknam Park is an actual countryside retreat and embodies old skool class. From first driving up the mile-long drive that’s lined with beech and lime timber, the nation home completely feels match for a Bridgerton-esque ball.

Rooms in the principle Georgian manor home overlook the intensive gardens and onto the five hundred acres of the property past. Assume four-poster beds, voluptuous silk curtains, and double-sink marble-clad loos with roll-top baths and big showers. There’s additionally a handful of cottages with a number of rooms for households. Be sure that to verify into the spa with its swim-out 30C hydrotherapy pool, which overlooks the impeccable gardens.

Chef Hywel Jones heads up all of the meals operations, and has held a Michelin star since 2006, although don’t miss the extra informal newly opened Walled Backyard small-plates restaurant set throughout the English backyard behind the principle home.

The Gainsborough Bathtub Spa

Set proper within the coronary heart of Bathtub, the grade II-listed constructing at The Gainsborough excels at trendy regal class. Strolling up the massive cantilever sweeping staircase, you’ll really feel like one of many Bridgertons at their household residence, which has an analogous huge staircase after all.

Being the spa metropolis, after all the resort has a spa, however what is essential right here is that it’s the one resort to harness the pure heat spring waters after creating its personal borehole. To profit from it, there’s a massively spectacular spa named the Bathtub Home. The resort’s huge spa pool is surrounded by hovering columns and it’s one of many grandest spa swimming pools round, full with its personal open-air rooftop pool.

The rooms have excessive ceilings, loads of cornicing and panelling and authentic options and are painted in regal tones of teal and different muted hues, creating a contemporary tackle a Georgian constructing. The suite rooms even have the thermal waters out there on faucet, to replenish your roll-top tub.