Explore East Bath: Great Pulteney Street, Holburne Museum & Canal Walks

Cross over the iconic Pulteney Bridge and you’ll discover a quieter, more graceful side of the city. East Bath is known for its broad Georgian boulevards, elegant museums, and leafy canal towpath offering a welcome contrast to the bustle of the city centre.

From the art-filled rooms of the Holburne Museum to the landscaped charm of Sydney Gardens and the scenic canal towpath, this area invites you to slow down and wander. It’s ideal for art lovers, relaxed walkers, and anyone seeking a more refined, less crowded experience of Bath, still within easy reach of all the main sights. A walking map is included at the bottom of this article.

River & East Side: Pulteney to Holburne

1. Laura Place

If you are starting from the city end of Great Pulteney Street walking towards the Holburne Museum, then you will be starting at Laura Place. This is a charming Georgian irregular quadrangle that offers a quiet yet elegant pause in the city’s urban rhythm. Once intended as the site of a grand circular circus with a giant column in the middle much like Nelson’s Column in London, the residents opposed to the ideas and the partly constructed column was pulled down. A smaller fountain was added instead, but its classical architecture still echoes Bath’s ambitions of grandeur. The large ornate fountain adds a sense of occasion, particularly picturesque when viewed from Pulteney Bridge.

 

From Laura Place, take a detour to Henrietta Park and Garden of Remembrance by taking Henrietta Street.

2. Garden of Remembrance (inside Henrietta Park)

Within the peaceful grounds of Henrietta Park, the Garden of Remembrance offers a quiet, contemplative space planted in memory of those lost in war. Surrounded by manicured hedges and seasonal blooms, this sheltered garden invites reflection and stillness. Benches provide a place to pause beneath the trees, making it one of Bath’s most tranquil spots for remembrance and rest.

3. Henrietta Park

For a peaceful detour, continue east to Henrietta Park, just off the main street. Often overlooked by tourists, this floral haven is full of colourful borders, benches, and birdsong. It’s a local favourite for a calm midday break, especially in spring when the cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom. You can learn more about the history of Henrietta Park from the Friends of Henrietta Park. From here you can rejoin Great Pulteney Street via a Sunderland Street.

4. Great Pulteney Street

Crossing Pulteney Bridge from the bustling centre of Bath brings you to a more tranquil, elegant side of the city. The walk along Great Pulteney Street is a delight in itself, Bath’s grandest boulevard, lined with stately Georgian façades and leading straight to the striking Holburne Museum, framed by trees at the end like a neoclassical jewel box. This is also the location of the Dukes Hotel in Bath where they filmed Bridgerton series.

5. Holbourne Museum

The Holburne Museum, housed in a former hotel and fronted by beautiful gardens, is home to a refined collection of fine and decorative art. Inside, you’ll find paintings by Gainsborough, silverware, porcelain, and rotating exhibitions that explore everything from Renaissance portraiture to modern design. Entry to the ground floor galleries is free, while access to temporary exhibitions and special displays typically requires a ticket.

The on-site café is also a lovely stop, with tables spilling into the gardens in fair weather. The cafe is towards the rear of the house and is in the newly renovated section with modern facade.

6. Sydney Gardens

Surrounding the museum are the Sydney Gardens, Bath’s oldest park and once a Georgian pleasure ground frequented by Jane Austen. Today, the gardens are free to enter and ideal for a gentle stroll or a quiet sit beneath the trees. You might even catch glimpses of passing trains and canal boats that border the site, offering a curious blend of Regency elegance and modern movement.

Our photo does not do the park justice, perhaps the photo from Visit Bath below would give the gardens a better impression. We intend to do a full write up on this fascinating garden so watch this space.

7. Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath (Sydney to Bathampton Village)

From here, you can follow the canal towpath eastward, a serene walking route popular with joggers, dog-walkers, and cyclists. Access to the canal path is via a small gate between the two foot bridges (Open in Google Maps) that crosses the canal (seen in the image below on the left side). The path takes you along the Kennet and Avon Canal through leafy stretches and over charming bridges, eventually leading to the village of Bathampton for those keen on a longer ramble. George Inn in Bathampton would be a perfect stop for a break before heading back to the city. If you’d prefer to rest your legs, boat tours along the River Avon also depart from near Pulteney Weir, offering a relaxing way to see Bath’s historic skyline from the water.

 

BONUS: Bath River Avon Boat Tour with Pulteney Cruisers

Just below the cascading waters of Pulteney Weir, you’ll find the departure point for leisurely Pulteney Cruisers, a peaceful and picturesque way to see Bath from a different angle. These short cruises glide past grand Georgian façades, leafy banks, and hidden corners of the city you’d never spot on foot.

Most tours last around 50 minutes and offer live or recorded commentary about Bath’s history and riverside landmarks. It’s a relaxing interlude between busier sightseeing stops, especially on sunny days when the river sparkles and the views stretch beyond the city centre. Look for the boarding point beside Pulteney Bridge opposite side of the river to Parade Gardens.

Coming from the City Centre, cross the Pulteney Bridge. As soon as you arrive at the opposite end, a winding staircase on the right takes you down to a viewing platform of the Pulteney Bridge. Continue on passing a few cafes and you will find yourself in a small river bank. The boarding point is marked clearly and is right before the sluice gate.

This side of the city is all about slowing down, whether you’re admiring Georgian symmetry, enjoying art in a former hotel, or wandering canal-side beneath rustling leaves. It’s Bath at its most graceful.

River and East Side Attractions Location Map & Route

Paid:

• Holburne Museum – Art and decorative objects in a stunning villa
• Pulteney Cruisers for River Avon boat tours – depart from Pulteney Weir area

Free:

• Great Pulteney Street – walk Bath’s grandest boulevard
• Henrietta Park – peaceful and floral, hidden garden
• Garden of Remembrance – a manicured garden inside Henrietta Park
• Sydney Gardens – landscaped Georgian pleasure grounds
• Laura Place – grand circular circus with a fountain in the middle
• Canal towpath walk – picturesque walking east toward Bathampton

Open link to view all seven places on Google Maps

The Best East Bath Walk (City to Countryside)

• Laura Place – Starting point amid classic Georgian architecture.
• (Optional) Henrietta Park – A leafy detour for a quiet break.
• Great Pulteney Street – Strolling Bath’s grandest street.
• Holburne Museum – Ideal for a rest stop and café break (inside or adjacent).
• Sydney Gardens – A historic pleasure garden for a relaxed wander.
• Kennet & Avon Canal towpath – Heading east toward Bathampton.
• (Optional Extension) Bathampton Village – Explore the canal, riverside pub, then retrace your steps.

Here is the route map for Laura Place → Henrietta Park → Great Pulteney Street → Holburne → Sydney Gardens → Canal Tow Path → Bathampton.

East Bath offers a gentler rhythm where grand streets, riverside paths, and cultural treasures invite quiet exploration. Just steps from the city centre, this area blends art, nature, and history into a graceful walking route that’s easy to love and hard to forget.