Pubs Near the Royal Crescent

Pubs and inns near the Royal Crescent

After spending time exploring the magnificent Royal Crescent, you deserve a pint of proper beer. Take a break at one of our nearby pubs, whilst enjoying a locally-sourced classic pub meal washed down with a refreshing pint of award-winning Butcombe ale.

The Methuen Arms

Formerly a nunnery, The Methuen Arms pub in Corsham was transformed into coaching inn and brewery from 1608, full of history and character. With a passion for great food and drink at its core, the pub serves up a mouth-watering menu of food lovingly made with ingredients sourced from its kitchen garden as well as a tasty range of award-winning beers and ales, perfect for sipping al fresco style in the pub’s spacious beer garden after visiting Bath’s wealth of attractions, such as the Royal Crescent.

The Crown Inn

Settle in front of the cracking open fire at The Crown pub in Dyrham with a pint of Butcombe real ale. With its rustic stone-clad interior, authentic wooden beams, and a beautiful beer garden, you can enjoy a thirst-quenching drink after spending the day visiting the Royal Crescent and Bath’s other sights. Sample the comforting menu at the on-site restaurant, chock-full of pub classics, with options for all dietary requirements, and the pickiest eaters.

The George Inn

Take a break from exploring the Roman city of Bath for an award-winning pint at the historic George Inn in Norton St. Philip. In the Grade II-listed inn, dating back to 1397, you’ll find stretching wooden beams, stone-clad walls, and a cosy atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the South West. Treat yourself to your favourite pub meal from the menu, including classics like fish and chips, pie and mash, and one of the best roast dinners in the region – all washed down with a pint of our Butcombe beer after spending the day visiting the Royal Crescent and the many other attractions in Bath.

The King’s Arms

The King’s Arms pub is a charming, 18th-century inn located in picturesque Melksham. Whether you’re stopping by after visiting the Royal Crescent to sample their hand-pulled real ales, enjoy their menu of seasonal, home-cooked food or while away the hours in their inviting beer garden, you can be sure a very warm welcome awaits you.

The Northey Arms

Located in beautiful Box on the outskirts of Bath, The Northey Arms is a stunning pub and inn steeped in history, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We’re passionate about great food and drink, with an all-day food offer focused on seasonal, locally sourced produce and hearty pub classics. Behind the bar you’ll find plenty of award-winning Butcombe beer and cider, and a wide range of wine and cocktails. A haven for families, walkers, cyclists and locals fresh from a visit to the Royal Crescent, The Northey boasts a large beer garden, an extensive children’s play area and huge carpark.

The Pig And Fiddle

An iconic building in the heart of Bath, the refurbished Pig & Fiddle pub has an all-day food offer, regular live sport, and a buzzing atmosphere at all times of the day. Get stuck into hearty seasonal pub classics, banging bar snacks, a delicious brunch menu, and Piggy sharer Sunday roasts in Bath, perfectly paired with a variety of craft beer, cask ale, wine and cocktails. The Pig & Fiddle is the perfect place to stop after exploring the nearby attraction of Bath, including the Royal Crescent.

The Quarrymans Arms

The Quarryman’s Arms inn is a family-friendly country pub located in picturesque Box Hill. The boozer offers a mouth-watering menu featuring pub favourites made with the finest seasonal produce, as well as award-winning pies and sausage rolls, and the best Sunday roast in the area. Behind the bar, you’ll find a delicious selection of ales, craft beers, local ciders and wines, while outside the pub’s newly-covered and heated beer garden is ideal for al fresco drinking and dining all year round – the perfect to relax after visiting the Royal Crescent.

The Royal Crescent

Forming a curved row of Grade I-listed terraced houses, the Royal Crescent is one of Bath’s most iconic landmarks. The street is considered to be one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK and attracts a plethora of visitors each year.

A brief history of the Royal Crescent

The Royal Crescent was designed by English architect John Wood the Younger and constructed between 1767 and 1775.

Whilst their façades are completely uniform, the backs of the terraces are far from identical. This is a result of each house being built by a different architect, who were given Wood’s specification for the front of each property, but enjoyed freedom when it came to completing the rears!

The street was initially only known as The Crescent before a visit by Prince Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany lent the crescent its royal status in the late 18th century.

The Royal Crescent today

Today, the Royal Crescent is a Grade I-listed building and was a contributing factor to the city of Baths receiving its UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987.

Of the 30 houses in the crescent, 27 remain the homes of private residents. No. 15 and 16 have been combined to form a luxury hotel and spa, whereas No. 1 is a historic house museum owned by the Bath Preservation Trust illustrating how owners furnished and occupied such a house in the 18th century.

Famous occupants of the Royal Crescent

Many notable artists, actors, authors, architects, astronomers and more have lived or stayed at the Royal Crescent since it was built, some of which are recognised by plaques attached to the building. These include:

• Sir Isaac Pitman, inventor of the most widely used system of shorthand, who was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894.
• George Edward Bateman Saintsbury, a 20th-century writer most known for his book ‘Notes on a Cellar-Book’.
• Christopher Anstey, a prolific 18th-century poet recognised at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.
• Frederic Harrison, a famous 19th-century jurist, historian, writer and thinker

The Royal Crescent on film

Thanks to its stunning architecture, the Royal Crescent is a popular location for films and period dramas, featuring in the likes of the 1966 film ‘The Wrong Box’ (Michael Caine, Peter Sellers, Dudley Moore), the 2007 television film production of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Persuasion’, and the 2008 film ‘The Duchess’ (Kiera Knightley, Ralph Fiennes).

Most recently it appeared in the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’, with the exterior of the No. 1 Royal Crescent museum standing in as the home of the Featherington family.

Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley

One of the most controversial moments in the Royal Crescent’s history happened when the resident of No. 22, Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley, painted her front door and window shutters primrose yellow instead of the regulation white.

Amabel fought two court orders and defended herself at a public enquiry before it was ruled the door could remain yellow, which is just as visitors will find it today!