Guide to historical city of Bath

Bath in England's West Country is a very popular tourist destination for weekend breaks and holidays.  Let us guide you on the major attractions and sights in this magnificent city.

 

• Accommodation in and near Bath - apartments, cottages and houses

 

On the way to the West Country, Bath with its Roman remains is a popular place on the tourist trail for both British and foreign tourists.  The city of Bath is architecturally splendid with numerous fine buildings. If you can't tell the difference between an Ionic, Doric or Corinthian column - you will after visiting Bath.  The Royal Crescent is probably the most famous example of Georgian architecture in Bath. Thirty beautiful town buildings, enhanced by Ionic columns, form a perfect arc.  No. 1 Royal Crescent has been restored both internally and externally to allow the public to view how the house would have looked and operated in its day.

 

Tips on Exploring Bath at a leisurely pace

Open topped bus tours operate in Bath, as they do in most popular cities.  They're an excellent introduction to the major tourist attractions and provide a historical background which helps in understanding this lovely city.

 

Shopping and Eating Out in Bath

There is a good range of shops in Bath ranging from tourist shops to high street shops and also high end boutiques.  If you love to shop then you should love Bath.  There is also a good range of eateries and bars, from budget to high end.  Enjoy trying them out.

The Roman Baths and Spa

Most tourists head for the Roman Baths and Pump Room where on payment of an admission fee they can follow the tour taking them around this ancient thermal spring whilst listening to a commentary in a choice of languages via a headset.   A similar audio  tour is available at the Museum of Costume which is also worth a visit.

 

Events to entertain you on holiday in Bath

There are various walking tours, including a ghost tour and Bath Pub Crawl, which represent excellent value for money and can be extremely entertaining.  Information about where to meet for these is readily available in Bath.  Many of the guides are talented actors who are very able to recreate the atmosphere and characters of the past. There is something of the mysterious and spiritual about Bath; healing thermal spring waters which made it a spa, connections with Druids, and the ghosts all contribute to the magic.The city is very representative of  middle England; a vibrant city with numerous galleries, theatres, restaurants, tea rooms and excellent shopping areas.  One trip to Bath you will find is just not enough. There is so much to see and do that you will want to return.  Bear in mind that the city does get extremely busy during the rush hour - the one way systems, traffic and difficulty in finding parking can be stressful.  And do allow time to visit the many wonderful historic places, villages and countryside around Bath.

 

Top Places of Interest in and near Bath:

• Bath is one of only three World Heritage Centres
• The Cotswold Way for walkers runs for 95 miles from Chipping Campden in Oxfordshire to Bath. 
• The River Avon runs through Bath.
• Thomas Gainsborough, English portrait painter,  painted 'The blue Boy' at no. 17, the King's Circus (a wonderful row of colonnaded houses in an arc with Roman inspiration), between 1765 and 1774.
• Jane Austen temporarily lived in Bath.  The settings for two of her novels - Northanger Abbey and Persuasion can be visited in Bath.  There is a walking tour which will guide you around the places in the novels.
• Sally Lunn, after whom the cakes are named, lived in the oldest house in Bath which dates back to 1482, and you can still visit today. 
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed and built Bath railway station.
• When Charles Dickens visited Bath, he stayed at 35, St. James Square and the Saracen's Head.  A lengthy list of famous people have either visited or lived in Bath which just shows that it has been popular and desirable for centuries.
• Henrietta Park, a 7 acre park is named after Henrietta Laura Pulteney, and was opened to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897.  The Royal Victoria Park was named for Queen Victoria but after a single visit in 1819 she never had the pleasure again.
• Bath is located between two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the Cotswolds and the Mendips.

 

Events in Bath - Festivals

• March - Bath Literature Festival
• March - Bath Shakespearean Festival
• April - Bath Puppet Festival
• May - International Music Festival in Bath
• May - Bath Balloon and Flower Festivals
• May (end)-June - Bath Fringe Festival
• July - Boules Tournament
• July - International Guitar Festival
• October - Bath Film Festival
• November - Bath Mozartfest, telephone: 01225 463362

 

A few popular holiday cottages and self-catering accommodation in the Bath area