As you walk around the city at this time of year, every other voice seems to be a Welsh accent.
Coaches swarm across the Second Severn Crossing for the Bath Christmas Market.
And today The Bath Chronicle found an explanation for the popularity of the city and the event.
"The thing is, it's quite flat," said Margaret Evans, who had just arrived on a coach from Maesteg near Bridgend with a group of friends.
She added: "There are lots of nice shops, and they're unique shops. There are lots of independent shops."
One of her companions said: "Plus there's the cathedral. That's nice."
Around the much-misnamed Bath Abbey, some of the 150 market traders were doing a roaring trade.
Marty Grant, owner of city centre bar and restaurant Gascoyne Place, has two chalets at the event - one selling bottles of wine, and another larger stall dispensing mulled wine.
It is his fifth year at the market, and he has paid extra to have the same corner pitch as he did last year for his wine outlet.
Last year, bad weather forced the early closure of one of the first days of the market, with traders such as Mr Grant having to play catch-up.
This time, the elements have been kinder - although doing business at the market can still involve punishing 18-hour days.
"We're doing very well. This time we've had a cracking start."
He is selling wine to people from around the country - with a fair smattering of visitors from the north east this year, as well as Canadians and Chinese tourists.
"The Chinese like their wine," he said.
And he knows when it's going to be a good day.
"You need to look out for the bags. If there are loads of people with bags, you know they're in serious shopping mode. If they haven't, they're just sampling the market experience and not so in the mood for spending their money.
Nearby at Kelston-based Bath Soft Cheese's chalet, Simon Bowden is also doing well.
"It's really good," he said. "This time of year is perfect for us."
The market now spreads its tentacles further than ever before, with stalls around the Guildhall, at Orange Grove, Abbeygate Street, and in Bath Street.
There, artist Robert Kann had set up his Pitch 26 chalet, selling local artwork.
The 30-year-old, who lives in New King Street, set up the business just two months ago.
"It's going fantastically well, and it's nice that this street has its own character and isn't quite as hectic as some of the other places," he said, while serving a steady stream of customers.
As the morning wore on, even Bath Street was six or seven deep with people, many of them enjoying a break from the hills and the valleys.
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