The University of Bath’s Centre for Death and Society (CDAS) has launched a unique new walking tour that offers a darker perspective on the historic city of Bath—shifting the focus from Romans and Georgians to tales of illness, death, crime and the dark underbelly of the city to whet your appetite for the macabre.

The Bath Death Walk, a 90-minute city centre tour, has been developed as a free, self-guided experience via a dedicated podcast and mobile app.

Created by CDAS Visiting Fellow Dr Molly Conisbee, the tour invites locals and visitors alike to explore the hidden—and sometimes unsettling—stories behind Bath’s elegant facades.

Dr Kate Woodthorpe, Director of CDAS said:

As residents of the city we are always looking for ways to support and add value to this fabulous place we call home. This free podcast walk came from a similar initiative in York, introducing the local community, students, and visitors to the city and university to some of Bath’s more hidden histories about tales of crime and death around the city centre. We hope you enjoy it!”

Highlights of the tour include The Bell Inn on Walcot Street, where condemned prisoners were once given a final bowl of gin en route to the gallows; Ladymead House, established in 1805 as a refuge for so-called “fallen women” involved in sex work; and Sydney Gardens, the site of a fiery protest against the failed Reform Bill of 1831.

For those who prefer a guided experience, CDAS is planning a number of special live walks throughout the year, with dates and booking information to be shared via the centre’s website.

The walk is available now at cdaswalk.org, and organisations interested in bespoke guided walks for events or team activities are encouraged to get in touch with the Centre directly.

This new project is part of CDAS’s broader mission to connect academic research with real-world conversations about death, dying, and the end of life—topics the Centre has been pioneering for 20 years.

The walk is funded by the University’s Public Engagement Unit, the Alumni Fund, the Department of Social and Policy Sciences, and CDAS.