Stay a while in Bath and you will discover there is so much more to the city than its fascinating and rich history.

A year-long programme of festivals offers something for everyone – jazz, Mozart, Bach, literature and children's literature, comedy, film, food and walking and nature. There is also a weekend of Boules and the Bath Carnival in July, and the Bath Finale Weekend in August.

Add to this the wide choice of independent shops selling local produce, hand-blown glass, artisan breads, vintage and ethically sourced clothes, books, and jewellery and there are plenty of reasons to stay a while in the city.

In Bath it is always worth venturing off the beaten track to discover a hidden gem. While the Roman Baths Museum, the Pump Room and Bath Abbey are all well worth a visit, the Museum of Bath at Work expands on the story of the city. The Jane Austen Centre pays tribute to one of our greatest authors, while Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein offers an immersive experience celebrating the life and works of the author. Jane Austen set two of her novels, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in Bath, while Mary Shelley wrote the world's first science fiction novel during a stay in a house in Abbey Churchyard.

Bath has always attracted visitors from far afield and there are plenty of opportunities to discover more about other cultures during your stay.

Just minutes from the Royal Crescent and The Circus, in a restored Georgian townhouse, is the only UK museum dedicated to the arts and cultures of East and South East Asia: The Museum of East Asian Art (MEAA). Its collection spans in date from 5,000 BC to the present and covers ceramics, jades, bronzes and much more.  Some of the Chinese bamboo and wood carvings are among the finest found in European collections.

Set in beautiful grounds on the outskirts of Bath, the American Museum & Gardens has a remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts, celebrating the diverse and complex nature of American traditions.

The Holburne Museum stands proudly at the far end of Great Pulteney Street and is home to an eclectic collection of objets d'art put together by former naval officer, Sir William Holburne.

Having served at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 he retired after the Napoleonic wars and set off on a Grand Tour of Europe. His collection includes Renaissance bronzes, maiolica, gems, silver, porcelain, paintings, miniatures and books from all over Europe.

There are plenty of independent bookshops to browse for inspiration and while away the hours. As with many shops in Bath, the buildings are often just as interesting as the goods they sell. Recently re-located to the former Friends Meeting House, a visit to Toppings is an experience in itself. The building was initially designed as a masonic hall in 1817 by William Wilkins, architect of the National Gallery, and was used as an assembly room and non-conformist chapel during the 1830s. The shop features handcrafted bookcases, with rolling library ladders, lining two floors and a gallery and there are regular events attracting authors including Nigel Slater, Elizabeth Day, Michael McIntyre, Florence Given and Yotam Ottolenghi.

Tucked just behind Milsom Street is Mr Bs Emporium in John Street, which hosts book groups, and literary evenings and is based in a former antiques showroom next to a former auction house.

In Edgar Buildings book lovers will find Persephone Books which reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers and mostly mid-20th century, while Magalleria in Upper Borough Walls is home to a huge collection of independent and specialist magazines both new releases and back issues. 

After a day packed with discoveries, an evening in Bath offers the choice of a wide range of eateries – from Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Nepalese, Indian, Moroccan, Italian, Spanish tapas, Greek mezze, Lebanese,  Mexican, takeaways, snack bars, pubs and fine dining.

So shop till you drop, enjoy the cultural offerings, take your pick of fantastic restaurants and don't forget to enjoy the hot baths and cool views of the city from the Rooftop Pool at Thermae Bath Spa.