Shops in Bath: The Independent Shopping Guide
Bath's best independent shops by street, from Walcot Street and Union Passage to Northumberland Place, Margaret's Buildings and Pulteney Bridge, with bookshops, boutiques, vintage, gift and food shops and their opening hours.
In short: the best independent shops in Bath are in a handful of streets you can walk in an afternoon. Start on Walcot Street for food and makers, then Union Passage and Upper Borough Walls for magazines, plants and silver. Topping & Company on York Street is open until 9pm every day. Check hours before you go: several shops close on Sunday or Monday.
Shops in Bath are at their best off the main drag, in short Georgian streets and passages full of independents. This guide covers 16 of them, street by street, and leaves out the chains. Opening hours were checked on each shop's own website on 20 October 2026.
| Street | Area | Best for | Shops here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walcot Street | Walcot | Cheese, yarn, vintage | Fine Cheese Co., A Yarn Story |
| Union Passage and Upper Borough Walls | City Centre | Magazines, plants, silver, clothes | Magalleria, Botanica Studio, The Silver Shop, Gaff |
| Northumberland Place and The Corridor | City Centre | Jewellery, boutiques | Wylde Jewellers, Flock |
| Milsom Street, John Street and Green Street | City Centre | Books, gifts, art supplies | Mr B's, Fat Giraffe, Minerva |
| York Street and Abbey Green | City Centre | Books, British cheese and wine | Topping, The Cork and Truckle |
| Margaret's Buildings and Brock Street | City Centre | Homeware, antiques | Homefront Interiors, Beau Nash |
| Pulteney Bridge | City Centre | Silver jewellery | Icarus Jewellery |
What shops are on Walcot Street?
Walcot Street, in Walcot, mixes food shops, makers and second-hand stock, and has the fewest chains of any street here.
The Fine Cheese Co.
The original shop of a serious cheesemonger, with traditionally made cheeses, charcuterie, wine and chocolates. The place to build a cheeseboard for a dinner party.
- 🛍️ Cheese, charcuterie, wine
- ⏰ Tue to Thu 9am to 4pm, Fri and Sat 9am to 5pm
- 📍 Walcot Street, Walcot
A Yarn Story
A knitters' shop with its own yarns alongside needles, patterns, books and kits. Worth the walk up the street even if you only knit now and then.
- 🛍️ Yarn, patterns, kits
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm
- 📍 Walcot Street, Walcot
Good to know: The Yellow Shop at 72 Walcot Street is listed for vintage and second-hand. Its website does not describe its stock, so check its Instagram first.
Which shops are on Union Passage and Upper Borough Walls?
These two streets meet in the middle of the city centre and hold the densest cluster of independents in Bath.
Magalleria
Independent and specialist magazines, new and back issues, from design and food to music and travel. Nothing else in Bath is like it.
- 🛍️ Magazines, art and design books
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 10am to 5.30pm, Sun 12pm to 4pm
- 📍 Upper Borough Walls, City Centre
Botanica Studio
An indoor plant shop with terrarium supplies, and Saturday morning terrarium and kokedama workshops upstairs. A good rainy-day booking.
- 🛍️ Houseplants, terrarium kit
- 🪴 Workshops Sat from 10am
- 📍 Union Passage, City Centre
The Silver Shop of Bath
Established in 1952, with silver, gold and opal jewellery, men's pieces and small gifts. The safest bet for a present under pressure.
- 🛍️ Silver jewellery, gifts
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm
- 📍 Union Passage, City Centre
Gaff
Designer clothes for men and women, from jeans and knitwear to suits and waistcoats. The pick for a wedding outfit without a trip to a department store.
- 🛍️ Menswear, womenswear, suits
- 📍 Upper Borough Walls, City Centre
Good to know: Firefly Vintage is on the same street. We could not read its stock online, so call in and see.
Where are the boutiques in Bath?
Northumberland Place and The Corridor, two passages in the centre, are the boutique end of town.
Wylde Jewellers
A jeweller established in 1987, with engagement and wedding rings, bespoke design appointments and repairs in its own workshop.
- 🛍️ Rings, bespoke jewellery, repairs
- 📍 Northumberland Place, City Centre
Flock
Italian linen and knitwear, dresses and House of Disaster gifts. Good value for a boutique, by its own account.
- 🛍️ Womenswear, accessories
- 📍 The Corridor, City Centre
Good to know: Sobey’s Vintage is also on Northumberland Place, but publishes no stock list.
What shops are on Milsom Street and Green Street?
Milsom Street mixes national names with independents, and the streets beside it add a bookshop and an art shop.
Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights
A bookshop known for its personal recommendations, author events and monthly book subscriptions for adults and children.
- 🛍️ Books, subscriptions
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sun 11am to 5pm
- 📍 John Street, City Centre
Fat Giraffe Gifts
Giftware made by artists in Indonesia: carved ducks and giraffes, rope animals, metal bikes and wooden signs. Children love it.
- 🛍️ Handcrafted wooden gifts
- 📍 Milsom Street, City Centre
Minerva Art Supplies
Paint, brushes, papers, pens and markers in a proper art shop. The one to know if you sketch on holiday.
- 🛍️ Art materials
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 10am to 5.30pm, Sun 11am to 3pm
- 📍 Green Street, City Centre
Which shops are near Bath Abbey?
York Street and Abbey Green, beside the Abbey, have the best bookshop and the best British cheese counter in the centre.
Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath
A family-run bookshop in a former Friends Meeting House, strong on signed first editions and author events. It opens late every night.
- 🛍️ Books, signed editions
- ⏰ Daily 8.30am to 9pm
- 📍 York Street, City Centre
The Cork and Truckle
Cheese, wine and food all made in Great Britain, with hampers and a wine and cheese tasting you book online.
- 🛍️ British cheese, wine, hampers
- 🎟️ Book tastings early
- 📍 Abbey Green, City Centre
What shops are near the Royal Crescent?
Margaret's Buildings, a pedestrian street, and Brock Street sit between the Circus and the Royal Crescent.
Homefront Interiors
Homeware, art prints and cards from brands such as Madam Stoltz and Nkuku. Easy for a small present or something for the house.
- 🛍️ Homeware, prints, cards
- 📍 Margaret's Buildings, City Centre
Beau Nash
Two antique shops with decorative furniture and silverware. Browse even if you are not buying.
- 🛍️ Antique furniture, silver
- ⏰ Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm
- 📍 Brock Street, City Centre
Are there shops on Pulteney Bridge?
Yes. The bridge has its own small shops, including a jeweller and a florist, Pulteney Bridge Flowers.
Icarus Jewellery
Silver earrings, rings, necklaces and cufflinks, with one-off handmade pieces and an Octopus collection.
- 🛍️ Silver jewellery
- ⏰ Open seven days, Sun 10am to 5pm
- 📍 Pulteney Bridge, City Centre
Shops in Bath by type
Every type of shop in the directory, with where to start.
| Looking for | Start at | Street |
|---|---|---|
| Bookshops | Topping, Mr B's | York Street, John Street |
| Clothes shops and boutiques | Gaff, Flock | Upper Borough Walls, The Corridor |
| Vintage shops | Firefly Vintage, The Yellow Shop | Upper Borough Walls, Walcot Street |
| Gift shops | Fat Giraffe, Homefront | Milsom Street, Margaret's Buildings |
| Jewellery | Wylde, Icarus | Northumberland Place, Pulteney Bridge |
| Food and drink | Fine Cheese Co., Cork and Truckle | Walcot Street, Abbey Green |
| Antiques | Beau Nash | Brock Street |
| Art supplies | Minerva | Green Street |
| Florists | Pulteney Bridge Flowers | Pulteney Bridge |
Good to know: Sunday and Monday are the thin days, as The Fine Cheese Co. closes both and Beau Nash opens weekdays only. Weekends are busiest during the Bath Christmas Market, 26 November to 13 December 2026.
Shopping in Bath: questions
Where are the best independent shops in Bath?
Walcot Street, Union Passage, Upper Borough Walls and Northumberland Place have the most independents. Margaret's Buildings, near the Royal Crescent, is smaller and quieter.
What are the best bookshops in Bath?
Topping & Company on York Street, open 8.30am to 9pm every day, and Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights on John Street. Magalleria on Upper Borough Walls sells specialist magazines.
Where are the vintage shops in Bath?
Firefly Vintage is on Upper Borough Walls, Sobey’s Vintage on Northumberland Place and The Yellow Shop on Walcot Street. None publishes its stock online, so go and look.
Are shops in Bath open on Sundays?
Many are. Topping, Mr B's, Magalleria, Minerva Art Supplies and Icarus Jewellery open on Sundays; The Fine Cheese Co., The Silver Shop of Bath and Beau Nash do not.
Where can I buy gifts in Bath?
The Silver Shop of Bath on Union Passage for jewellery, Fat Giraffe Gifts on Milsom Street for carved wooden gifts and The Cork and Truckle on Abbey Green for British cheese hampers.