Yarn Tourism – October 2025, Bath, UK
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber officer
It was a real delight to take a trip back to The UK in October. It goes without saying that I miss my family and friends – it’s always wonderful to catch up in person, reconnect and hug my nearest and dearest who live on the other side of the world from me. This time my husband came with me, and we headed to the west country for a couple of days to visit my Aunt and Uncle who live just outside the stunning Georgian city of Bath.
Bath is steeped in history dating all the way back to the Roman era. Named for its natural hot springs, these were made into a complex of public baths around 70AD. The city is also famous for its stunning Georgian architecture and literary associations. Jane Austen and Mary Shelley were famous residents. Today it is a must-see destination for tourists, and it is also home to two fabulous yarn stores that are certainly worth a visit if you are in the mood for yarn tourism – naturally, I was! We glanced at Apple maps and planned our route – two yarn stores and a visit to the Royal Crescent before dinner with family. What a perfect way to spend an afternoon!
Wool. 19 Old Orchard St, Bath BA1 1JU
“In the heart of Georgian Bath but set back from the hustle and bustle of the High Street, you will find Wool…”
Although only a few minutes’ walk from the train station and the main shopping center, Wool is tucked away down a beautifully quiet Georgian side street, and as you approach you get the sense of discovering a real hidden gem. However, Wool has been a popular destination for local fiber lovers since 2010. It is a small but perfectly formed yarn store with friendly helpful staff. You will find familiar favorites such as Rowan, Manos Del Uruguay and Wool and The Gang, but there is also a whole wall dedicated to local British yarns – perfect if you are in search of souvenir skeins!
Dye Bath is their house yarn, and it is hand dyed by the owner. There are beautiful brights to choose from along with subtler plant dyed options. I fell in love with a couple of gentle yellow skeins from the Dye Bath range that will make a cute scarf. I was also tempted by a small skein of handspun yarn in blues and greens from Spinning Through Time, a Wiltshire based spinner. No firm plans for that one yet, but I do enjoy just looking at it….
After making my purchases, we said a fond farewell to Wool. and headed back into town towards Bath Abbey then made our way up Walcot Street towards our next stop.
A Yarn Story, 128 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BG
“More than a shop, A Yarn Story is also a place for yarn-lovers to meet, create and feel at home,”
You may already be familiar with A Yarn Story – their house range of yarns, Origin and Opus can be found in shops across the United States. I have some rather lovely olive-green Origin in my yarn stash and I recently met the owner, Carmen, at A Woolen Affair, so it was great to finally visit the store. Bath’s Walcot Street is known as the “Artisan Quarter.” You will find book-stores, glass blowers, antique shops and a cheesemongers to name just a few of the shops to tempt. A Yarn Story sits perfectly amongst all of the other artisan delights, and I am happy to report that this charming shop was every bit as fabulous as I had hoped.
Again, it’s a small but well-stocked shop with lovely people on hand to answer fiber questions. If you are curious to sample their house yarns, this is the place to pick them up. Opus, A Yarn Story’s first fiber offering is a sport weight blend of merino and alpaca. According to their online shop it’s 100% awesome. Origin is a worsted weight blend of Argentinian Merino and highland wool (100% free spirited). Both yarns come in a range of deep saturated solid colors that would make for stunning color work. Also available is A Yarn Story’s collaboration with Les Garcons – Fluff, their 100% dreamy, alpaca, yak and silk blend. You will also find a great selection of European yarns and a few familiar names from the United States – skeins from Spincycle and Magpie Fibers were a pleasant surprise!
My quest to find something a little unique and local was fulfilled with the very last skein in the shop of a DK weight Romney/Wensleydale blend from The Raw Wool Company. This gorgeous natural fiber is spun in Cornwall, the furthest southwest county in England. I am excited to get this yarn on my needles. Cornwall holds a very special place in my heart. I spent many happy vacations there as a child and loved visiting with my own family each summer before we moved the the United States. Discovering The Raw Wool Company gives me a reason to return to Cornwall for some yarn tourism in the future, but until then I’ll be happy to knit with this little piece of one of my favorite places in the world.
Sadly my luggage allowance didn’t allow for any more skeins, but I am sure that next time I am in Bath I’ll pay both of these delightful stores a visit. We rounded out our afternoon by walking up to the Royal Crescent, Bath’s Georgian showstopper. A sweeping crescent of three storey buildings, one of the best examples of Georgian architecture, and a world heritage site, it was a beautiful place to watch the sun go down before heading to the warmth and comfort of my aunt and uncle’s home for a delicious dinner and a very long overdue catch up.
