Bathwick tops UK living list, but local resident warns of privacy loss
A lifestyle magazine ranks the Georgian district as one of Britain's best places to live, citing its architecture and green spaces, while a resident argues the area functions more like a theme park than a home.
By Harvey Wilson ·
Lifestyle magazine Muddy Stilettoes named Bathwick in Bath as one of the best places to live in Britain, a designation that has drawn pushback from a local resident who questions the practicality of daily life in the district.
The magazine’s guide praises the area for its quiet residential nature, elegant Georgian townhouses, and the iconic Great Pulteney Street. It highlights the neighborhood’s green spaces and its proximity to the city center, which is accessible via the Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world lined with shops.
The resident, who lives in a suburban part of Bath, argues that the ranking conflates a desirable tourist destination with a livable neighborhood. They describe Bath as having an air of Disneyland, where visitors treat landmarks like the Pump Rooms and Pulteney Street as rides in a theme park.
While the resident enjoys seeing visitors, they note that their suburban home provides a refuge from the crowds. In Bathwick, however, there is no such respite. The resident describes the area as the center of a tourism vortex, with peak season lasting year-round.
Living on Pulteney Street means dealing with daily photo opportunities for visitors. The resident suggests keeping curtains closed to avoid being seen by tour groups while eating ice cream on a sofa. The neighborhood also includes Bath Recreation Ground, home to the city’s rugby stadium, where match nights can be rowdy and require good soundproofing.
The resident also questions the value proposition of the area. Muddy Stilettoes acknowledges the high costs, noting that the average property price is £672,409. The resident argues this average likely reflects apartments rather than houses, as many homes in the area are segmented Georgian townhouses that lack communal gardens.
Current market data cited in the report shows a 377 square foot apartment in the neighborhood priced at £200,000, which includes just three rooms. In contrast, the average price for a detached house in the area is just south of £1,000,000. The resident suggests that non-millionaires may find living in Bathwick cramped and claustrophobic.
A key factor in the resident’s argument is the size of the city. Bath is small enough that Bathwick remains within walking distance from most other parts of the city. A resident of Twerton can walk to the area in 45 minutes or take a 30-minute bus ride. Someone in Larkhall can walk there in half an hour or ride a bus for 15 minutes.
The resident concludes that sacrificing privacy, money, and space to live in a neighborhood one can visit daily without getting out of breath may not be the best strategy. They suggest that aspiring residents of Bath might consider other suburbs when looking for property.
