The Honey Café at St Swithin's

A café in a historic church

St Swithin's is the parish church of Walcot, rebuilt by the architect John Palmer in the late 18th century on a site used for worship since the 10th century. The café sits within this working church, so a coffee stop comes with the chance to look round a Grade II* listed building rather than a high-street unit.

The Austen and Burney connection

Jane Austen's parents were married at the earlier church on this site in 1764, and her father George Austen is buried here. The novelist Fanny Burney was also buried at St Swithin's in 1840. Literary visitors walking between the Jane Austen Centre and the Paragon often add it to their route. The church registers and memorials make it a quietly rewarding detour for anyone following Bath's Georgian literary history.

Fitting it into your day

The Paragon is where the A4 meets Walcot Street, Bath's independent shopping quarter, so the café makes a natural break before browsing the shops and workshops downhill. The main church and crypt are step-free, linked by a stair lift. The Star Inn, one of Bath's historic pubs, is a couple of minutes' walk away for later in the day.

Highlights

• Café inside Grade II* listed St Swithin's Church
• Jane Austen's parents married on this site
• Fanny Burney and George Austen buried here
• At the top of Walcot Street's independent shops

Good to know

• Open Monday to Saturday during the day; closed on Sundays.
• The church and crypt are step-free, with a stair lift between them.

Frequently asked questions