About Bath
The city of Bath is located in the southwest of England and is known as the largest city in the county of Somerset. Bath may seem like an unusual name for a city, however, Bath was named for its famous Roman-built baths. Holding the UK’s only set of hot springs, Bath is a very popular destination site attracting over 3 million tourists per year! One of the attractions noted at the hot springs is the first shrine built by an iron age tribe named “Oobunni”, dedicated to their goddess “Sulis”, who the Romans know as “Minerva”, the goddess of healing.
Bathonians are known for their art, museums, architecture and most importantly, their rugby culture! Bath has a professional rugby club named the Recreation Ground, founded in 1865. Bath’s team plays in the top division of England, and also competes in the European cup. If you’re in Bath and want to get immersed in the culture, catch a game of rugby for a smashing time.
Now, after learning about the city a little bit, let’s get started on our journey to finding Bath’s best filming locations, shall we?
Filming Options in Bath
There are always so many aspects to consider before starting a project. We’ve put together a list to make it a little easier to get all of your ducks in a row. Let’s get started by exploring some options that will make your filming experience top-notch.
- Equipment
One thing that will always be needed in a filming project is the equipment. What type of equipment do you have? What type of filming equipment do you need? These may be some of the questions you ask yourself while embarking on this journey. Finding the right store with the best selection of filming equipment will cut down the time spent on searching for everything you need.
- Caterer
Filming a scene or short film takes a lot of effort, but also a lot of time. Your crew and hired actors/actresses may need a bite to eat throughout the day(s) of filming. Instead of having everybody leave the studio and go off individually, one idea to cut down on time would be to have a caterer come to the studio and bring the food to you. This way it creates a “we’re in this together” atmosphere and also saves travelling time.
- Makeup Artist
Being on a filming set can be quite hectic! Between takes and scenes, things can get a little jostled around. Hiring a make-up artist on your set can guarantee your actors and actresses stay in character mode the whole day.
- Actors / Actresses
Whether you’re filming a short or a documentary, a key task is to hire actors and actresses. These are professionals that can take your script or idea from paper to real life. Sifting through many trained actors and actresses can guarantee you’re choosing the right fit for your script.
Filming Companies in Bath
- London Camera Exchange
The London Camera Exchange shop was established in the 1950s and has expanded to 26 shops around the whole of England. Just in 2021, the family-owned business decided to sell and move to employee ownership. Now, you can find an owner in each location at all times. London Camera Exchange has a whole section of filming cameras and filming accessories. They also sell second-hand if you are on a tight budget or just want to save some extra cash!
- Defumado Street Food and Catering
Defumado is a street food catering company that caters to many different occasions. Only using ethically-farmed, locally-sourced meat and seasonal ingredients, these guys have thought of not only their customers but also the environment! Defumado offers burgers, sausages, pulled pork, texas-style brisket, and sweetcorn as some of their dishes. They also offer vegan alternatives!
- Leanna Biggs, Makeup + Hair
Award-winning stylist, Leanna Biggs has been on the go for 20+ years. Leanna trained at the Bath Academy of media makeup. Her services include editorial, commercial, and corporate. She could be the perfect fit for your time in the filming studio.
Pros and Cons of Filming Locations in Bath
Pros
- Historical
Bath has ancient Roman history seeping from every corner. It was named a World Heritage Site in 1987, which signifies the importance of the history of Bath and its deservingness of physical protection.
- Inspirational
Many people visit Bath and just gaze at the beautiful skyline of the Roman buildings and, most importantly, the baths. Not only is the city beautiful in itself, but Bath has a major nature aspect to it, as it is absolutely surrounded by trees, greenery, and of course the famous Avon River running through. There’s nothing like grabbing inspiration from the very city you are working in while curating your perfect film.
- Food
From Michelin Star restaurants to multi-cultural street food on every corner, Bath is a self-proclaimed foodie haven. If you are someone who likes to visit a new city and try all the food hot spots, Bath is certainly the place for you.
- Fast Internet
After you have achieved your time in the filming studio and are moving on to editing, one great benefit Bath has is a fast internet connection. In relation to other cities in England that may not have a great connection, Bath has upgraded to 5G internet, ensuring you can stream smoothly.
Cons
- Tourist City
With just over 107,000 permanent residents, the bulk of the people here are either students or tourists. Over 3 million people visit bath every year, which adds to the rise in the cost of living.
Famous Locations in Bath
- Roman Baths
With an age of over 2000 years old, the Roman baths were made in 65AD and were dedicated to the Roman healing goddess, Minerva, as the hot springs were said to have healing powers. The Roman Bath is the largest of 3 hot springs within Bath city. A simplified overview of the hot springs at work starts with water being collected from rainfall on top of Mendip Hills, trickling down limestone at a depth of 4300 metres while geothermal energy heats the water. The water in the hot springs scientifically has traces of 43 different minerals. This main hot spring is the most visited tourist site in all of Bath.
- The Bath Festival
The Bath Festival is a charity-focused, multi-arts festival held for the people of Bath every year. The festival is based on Bath’s heritage and is a whopping 17 days long. The festival includes musicians, speakers, and writers. It also welcomes children as there is a children’s literature festival too.
- Bath Abbey
The Bath Abbey is a parish church founded in the 7th century, 1499. From Anglo-Saxon times, the non-traditional Gothic architecture was built in a cruciform floor plan. The yellow colour given to the Bath Abbey is because it was built of Bath stone. Another great inspirational building to take ideas from during your time finding a filming studio in Bath!