Walking Tour Highlights Hidden Architecture of Bath

A new guided tour in Bath brings attention to overlooked architectural details, blending storytelling, history, and local insight.

30 June 2025 at 9:36 • By Theo Bradley, The Angle Watch

Bath’s storied architecture is drawing fresh attention thanks to a new walking tour that focuses on the city’s often-overlooked structural details. Dubbed 'Behind the Facade', the tour uncovers hidden carvings, forgotten alleyways, and curious embellishments scattered throughout the Georgian streets.

Launched by local historian and architect Lucy Stanford, the experience delves into the personal stories behind the city’s buildings. 'People see the grand crescents and famous baths, but there’s so much more woven into the stone,' she says.

Participants are equipped with a handheld magnifier and a printed field guide, encouraging close observation. Stops include an 18th-century sundial etched into a wall near Queen Square and an iron boot scraper fashioned into a miniature sculpture of a fox.

The tour also examines how architectural styles evolved over time—from Palladian ideals to Victorian improvisations—and how shifting cultural tastes left their mark on everything from cornices to chimney pots.

For many attendees, the joy lies in the subtle discoveries. 'I’ve lived here 12 years and never noticed half of what Lucy pointed out,' said one local resident after the tour. 'It’s like the city whispered a secret to us.'

The tour has proven especially popular with artists, photographers, and design students. It runs twice weekly, with plans to expand during tourist season and add evening editions that highlight illuminated facades.

By inviting both residents and visitors to slow down and look closer, 'Behind the Facade' is giving Bath’s heritage a new layer of intrigue—one stone detail at a time.