But it's not perfect. It's beauty brings millions of visitors each year, with the associated traffic — both in terms of cars on the roads and people on the pavements — which that entails.
So rather than living in the city itself, having a lovely country house a few miles away is the ideal compromise — and all at far less than you'd pay for a townhouse in one of Bath's famous crescents.
Marksbury — £1.4 million
Church Farm's history stretches back almost 350 years, and it wears its character on its sleeve while still being a comfortable, cosy family home with five bedrooms, a sun room and a courtyard among its charms.
The house and its several outbuildings are set in 7.5 acres of land on the edge of a village seven miles from the city of Bath. Marksbury is a fine place to live with a primary school, Co-op and a vibrant local community.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.
Clandown — £1.25 million
This grade II-listed former vicarage is a huge house spread over three floors that's irresistibly pretty from the moment you spy the original stone porch and doorway with greenery growing above and around it.
There are eight bedrooms and over 5,700sq ft of space in the three-storey building, enough to give everyone in the family enough space — but if you still need an escape, the renowned Babington House members club is just four miles away.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details about this property.
Nettlebridge — £895,000
Gales Court is a deceptively-young house built in the Georgian style, set in a secluded spot a few miles off the road between Wells and Frome.
It's all laid out on a single storey, with three bedrooms, a sitting room and conservatory from which to look out of truly splendid gardens that include a lake and woodland.
For sale with Roderick Thomas. See more pictures and details about this property.
Neston — £2.75 million
The barn converted into a games room, the superb poolhouse, the all-weather manege and the tennis court will grab the attention at this gorgeous country home near Corsham, east of Bath and south of Chippenham.
Yet beyond the leisure facilities, the rest of Pond Close Farm is equally special, a 17th century house in classic Cotswolds style.
The whole place has had a huge amount of time, love and money spent on refurbishment, making this six-bedroom family home a truly special place.
For sale with Crisp Cowley. See more pictures and details about this property.
Woolverton — £1.95 million
If you're after a lifestyle business, or just want plenty of space, then this sprawling country house half-way between Bath and Froome could be just the ticket, with 12 bedrooms and over 10,000 sq ft of space.
It's currently used as a hotel, but this Gothic revival property dating to the 1860s has permission in place for conversion as a family home full of character, with wooden floors and panelling, stone mullion windows and beautiful fireplaces.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details about this property.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Credit: Luke Sheppard
A townhouse for sale that's the very archetype of the Georgian home in Bath
A beautifully-preserved Georgian home in one of Bath's most unspoilt residential squares has come to the market. Penny Churchill reports.
Credit: Andy Fletcher Photography
Bath unwrapped: Where to stay, what to do and what to eat in one of Britain's most iconic and historic cities
Emily Anderson explores the best of Bath, from the iconic Roman baths to it's eccentric comedy walking tours.
Bathtub in the bedroom: Should you try it at home?
Arabella Youens examines the growing trend for baths in bedrooms.
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The red kite is a soaraway success story, having escaped extinction to become a familiar sight in our skies againUnhurried in flight and with a sideline in stolen goods, the handsome red kite is the gentleman thief of the raptor world, writes Mark Cocker.
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The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new owner
In the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
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The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countrysideHartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
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Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in CornwallThe Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
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A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
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'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
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The Mediterranean Magic of MaltaWith historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
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Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country LifeIf Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
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The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
