You might expect to run into a few famous faces in a capital city like London, but you’d imagine it would be trickier in a place like historic Bath. However, the same things that draw millions of tourists to Bath every year – the architecture, charming shops, culture, history and food – seem to be attracting some big name visitors too.

So, who’s been spotted in Bath? Hollywood film star Nicholas Cage not only took a stay in a luxurious Bath Holiday Rentals property, but also snapped up a £4 million town house in one of the most prestigious addresses in the area. The acting legenindd bought a classic Georgian house on The Circus, one of the most famous landmarks in Bath and what is often known as ‘millionaire’s row’. Right in the heart of the city, the house is believed to have a grand staircase, five bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool.

Other former famous guests at Bath Holiday Rentals properties, which are dotted throughout central Bath and surrounding areas, include director and former gunslinger Clint Eastwood, Vanessa Redgrave and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville.

Celebs don’t just come to Bath to enjoy the magnificent architecture and sumptuous rental properties on offer – they also come for the shopping. Back in 2010, the whole of the city was alive with the news that music royalty Jay-Z, his wife Beyonce and pal Kanye West had been spotted browsing one of the many fascinating antique shops in Bath.

The world-famous stars stayed in the opulent Royal Crescent Hotel, so close to the Bath Holiday Rentals apartment (in the very same row of historic houses) that guests may have even been able to sneak a peek! As well as soaking up Bath’s legendary café culture, the trio are also believed to have partied the night away at trendy club Po Na Na, which we’re sure other revellers were delighted about.

Why do celebrities love Bath?

Cities like Bath have an irresistible fascination for non-Brits, mainly because they offer a unique glimpse into the past. Just in the same way that viewers in other countries and particularly in the U.S. just can’t get enough of TV series like Downton Abbey, real life places that capture historical Britain perfectly are always hugely popular.

The distinctive Georgian architecture, beautifully preserved or restored, is a big draw, but there are other historical places of interest that tourists can’t resist. Key examples include the Roman Baths in the centre of the city, the Prior Park Landscape Garden, the imposing Bath Abbey and even Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House. In fact, the whole of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only place in the UK where a whole city receives this classification, so it’s a little like visiting a slice of living history.

Now that the celebs have started to descend on Bath, it looks like there’ll be another activity to add to any visitor’s pages-long itinerary – celebrity spotting!