The UK city break this autumn which is perfect for Bridgerton fans

LISTENING to dramatic violin music playing through my headphones, I feel like I should be stepping out of my carriage and straight into a ballroom dance, dressed in a lacy corset.

But instead I’m in jeans and trainers, wandering along a busy high street, admiring ancient buildings.

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That’s the magic of a Bridgerton tour of Bath — it makes you feel as if you’re stepping back in time to that very era of regal dresses, frilly white gloves and formal dances.

While Bath has always been a popular staycation spot, it has seen a surge in tourism after it was used as a filming location for the Netflix series. And I was among those tourists keen to get a glimpse of the city that helped to shape the show.

I’d booked on a Bridgerton music tour with River Adventures +— alongside other fans, some of whom had actually taken to wearing corsets.

The trip took us around some of the main filming locations, all while listening to the popular soundtrack.

Jasmine tea

We were very excited to spot Lady Danbury’s mansion — in reality the Holburne Museum — as well as the Modiste dress shop in Abbey Street.

We also passed the Assembly Rooms, which were used for ballroom scenes, and were very tempted to re-enact the famous spoon scene of series one which actually took place at a hair salon in Trim Street.

Although the show did not return to the city for series two, there is hope that more of Bath will show up again in the upcoming third series.

But you don’t need to rely on Bridgerton to get your fill of Regency-themed excitement in Bath, as it is also famous for its links to Jane Austen.

She lived in the city from 1801 to 1806 and set parts of her novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in the city.

I somehow lost hours at the Jane Austen Centre by dressing up in period costumes, as well as sipping multiple cups of jasmine tea in the Regency Tea Room.

Then, feeling inspired by the period literature, I made a beeline for the Topping & Company bookshop.

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Housed in an 1817 masonic hall, it is often cited as one of Britain’s most beautiful bookshops, and it’s not hard to see why. It has a whopping 75,000 books and Beauty And The Beast-style bookshelf ladders running along the tall shelves.

As well as bookshops — nearby is feminist literature store Persephone — there is plenty more to please literature buffs. Time your visit to Bath well and you can make the most of the many free literary festivals throughout the year.

The annual Children’s Literature Festival runs for two weeks in September, or there’s the Jane Austen Festival where visitors wear period costumes fit for a ball.

Of course, any Regency-themed trip should involve sweet treats too, and the nearby Happy Donut Bakery offers a modern-day version of the fancy gateaux dished up in Jane Austen’s time.

The shop is famous for its vegan creme- brulee doughnuts, which went viral on TikTok, but it does a whole host of other moreish flavours, including peanut- butter jam, Bakewell and a doughnut burger served with a brownie pattie.

Sticking to the Regency theme, I checked into award-winning Brooks Guesthouse, a few steps from the Royal Crescent, where the 22 cosy rooms boast period features such as four-poster beds, fireplaces and chandeliers.

But if you want something more central, the four-star Apex Hotel is a short walk from the main streets and has an indoor pool and a restaurant, The Orange Artichoke.

Make sure to venture out for dinner one evening, though, just so you can try the new Coppa Club at The Bath Townhouse (coppaclub.co.uk).

I gorged on garlic-heavy prawns, hearty bucatini carbonara and a pizza fritta dolce — deep-fried pizza dough with toffee dipping sauce.

I was having such a good time that I nearly missed my train — not helped by one too many espresso martinis.

At least on the long journey home I could listen to the dramatic Bridgerton soundtrack as I whizzed through the countryside.