No 1 Royal Crescent

A must for any visitor to the city is the wonderful Royal Crescent - an exquisite sweep of Georgian town houses set amongst green lawns. No 1 provides a unique opportunity to see how one of these town houses would have looked in the 18th century.

The house has been restored to its full glory, bringing the sumptuous Georgian world to life and the museum's team of guides bring historical figures to life. www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk

American Museum

The American Museum in Britain is situated at Claverton Manor overlooking the Avon valley just outside Bath.

Since 1961 it has been the only dedicated museum of Americana outside the United States celebrating the development of decorative arts.

The main house traces the American way of life from colonial times to the eve of the Civil War through authentically furnished period sets that show the domestic interiors and decorative arts of some of the many cultural groups that make up America.

The museum also houses its much-renowned American quilt collection and textile room.

There are also outdoor displays, children's events, workshops, transportation exhibits, a herb shop, a country store, a dedicated folk art collection and a research library. www.americanmuseum.org

Museum of Costume

The Museum of Costume has an outstanding collection of more than 30,000 objects of fashionable dress for women, men and children, dating from the late 16th century to the present day.

The collection also includes works on paper, such as fashion drawings, photographs and dressmaking patterns that relate to the history of fashion.

It is one of the largest and finest collections of original fashionable dress in the world. The displays, which include nearly 200 dressed figures, showcase the story of fashion over the last 400 years. In addition, there is also a special exhibition at the museum each year on one aspect of fashion. www.museumofcostume.co.uk

Museum of East Asian Art

Near The Circus is one of the most unique collections of East Asian art in England.

Situated in a Georgian house, this museum houses a fine collection of ceramics, jades, bronzes, and much more from China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

Since opening in April 1993, the museum has become one of the most extensive collections of East Asia outside London.

With a collection of almost 2,000 objects, ranging in date from 5000BC to the present day, the museum offers its visitors a wonderful insight into the art and cultures of East Asian countries. For details of current exhibitions and educational programmes log on to www.meaa.org.uk

Other Museums in Bath

  • American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor (01225) 460503
  • Assembly Rooms Museum of Costume, Bennett St (01225) 477173
  • Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults, Bath Abbey, Kingston Parade (01225) 422462
  • The Building of Bath Museum The Vineyard, The Paragon (01225) 333895
  • Bath Aqua Glass, 105-107 Walcot St (01225) 428146
  • Bath Postal Museum, 8 Broad Street (01225) 460333
  • Beckford's Tower & Museum, Lansdown (01225) 460705
  • Museum of Bath at Work. Julian Road (01225) 318348
  • Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street (01225) 443000
  • Museum of East Asian Art 12 Bennett St (01225) 464640
  • Number 1, Royal Crescent (01225) 428126
  • Pump Rooms, Abbey Court Yard (01225) 444477
  • Roman Baths & Museum, Abbey Court Yard (01225) 477785