BATH, ENGLAND - TOP PLACES TO VISIT
I wanted to visit the city of Bath for some time, but the planets were not aligned so that I get there. Looking for travel recommendations from friends, but also through blogs and vlogs, the name of this city came up more and more often, so in our mini vacation in the southwest of England, we decided to include it in our itinerary.
After a full day spent in Cotswold (about which I wrote a separate article), we chose to book our accommodation in Bath so that the next day to visit the city, and after to go to Stonehenge and Durdle Door.
Bath is one of the most visited cities in England and at the same time, it represents the place that reminds of the Roman period of the country, a period that changed and shaped the way of life of the English. As the history books admit, it was a period that changed people's lives for the better and that brought many benefits to England from that time. This city, like many others in the United Kingdom, is a real open-air museum and if you have the opportunity, I recommend spending at least a few hours here.
HOW TO GET TO BATH:
Bath is very easy to reach by train or bus from London or any other big city that is served by an airport.
If you choose to come by coach, look for offers on National Express or Mega Bus. I recommend looking for tickets a few weeks before to find the best prices.
For those who do not want to get involved with public transport, there is the option of an organized day trip from London to Bath and Stonehenge, bookings here.
WHERE TO STAY IN BATH:
The hotel where we stayed is called Best Western Limpey Stoke Hotel and is located a little outside the city. It was one of the cheapest options, and the location was quite old, but I really liked the vintage air.
Among the options available on Booking, I leave below the ones that caught my attention and, at the same time, have quite good rates:
The Yard in Bath Hotel - it offers a terrace, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi and a bar. This 4-star inn offers room service and luggage storage space. Private parking is available;
The Queensberry Hotel - a boutique hotel located in the heart of Georgian Bath, it combines modern style with historic architecture, offering a tranquil courtyard garden and an award-winning restaurant. The hotel offers WiFi included in the price of the reservation;
No 15 by GuestHouse, Bath - each room offers a Hypnos Lansdowne Cashmere bed, Nespresso coffee machine, LED TV with internet access with Chromecast. Most rooms overlook Bath, while others overlook the garden and Henrietta Park;
Grays Boutique B&B - overlooking the historic center of Bath. It is a family-run guest house set in a welcoming Victorian villa with garden. Located just 10 minutes' walk from Bath Train Station, it offers Wi-Fi and parking included in the booking price.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT BATH:
The population of the city in 2019 was over 100,000 inhabitants, to which are added the 1.3 million tourists it hosts annually, thus ranking in the top 10 most visited cities in England.
It is famous for its Roman thermal baths, Georgian-style architecture and buildings with Roman influences. In 1987, the city became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then in 2021, it will be added to the transnational site of the World Heritage Site known as "Great Spa Towns of Europe".
The first archaeological evidence shows that the site of the main spring was an altar dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. However, after the Roman invasion, the name of the goddess continued to be used, appearing in the name of the city of Aquae Sulis at that time. The first temple was built in 60 AD, and the famous spa center was developed over the next 300 years.
The city then received defensive walls, probably in the 3rd century. Of course, the myth of King Arthur also appears here, Bath may have been the site of the Battle of Badon (ca. 500 AD), in which King Arthur is said to have defeated the Anglo-Saxons. Another place in England to which the legend of King Arthur is linked, is Tintagel Castle.
According to Edward Churton, during the Anglo-Saxon era, Bath was known as Acemannesceastre ("Akemanchester") or "the city of sorrowing men", because of the reputation these springs had for healing the sick.
In the city center there are many shops with local or traditional English products, which, as the case may be, you can enjoy or purchase as a souvenir.
PLACES TO VISIT IN BATH, ENGLAND
Before moving on to the list of tourist attractions, I leave some links to activities, tickets for tourist attractions, tours and excursions that take place in Bath and nearby:
Guided tour of the city with optional entrance to the Roman Baths, tickets here;
An hour of relaxing massage, tickets here;
City tour by hop-on-hop-off bus, tickets here;
Visiting Mary Shelley's Frankenstein House, tickets here;
River cruise with prosecco included, tickets here;
The Royal Baths
Built around the only thermal springs in Great Britain, the spa complex still flows with natural warm water and gives you a real feel for Roman life, the museum also houses a selection of Roman artefacts. Tickets can be purchased both at the counter and online.
In the city center, a few steps from the Roman baths, you can find Bath Abbey, which has a history of hundreds of years. Founded in the 7th century and built from the famous yellow bath stone, Bath Abbey is a unique example of Gothic architecture.
Royal Crescent, which is a row of 30 terraced houses arranged in an extended crescent, built between 1767 and 1774, and is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom.
The Circus originally called King's Circus, construction began in 1754, completed the project in 1768. The circus consists of three curved segments of houses, forming a circle with three entrances.
It is also unmissable The Fashion Museum, known before 2007 as the Costume Museum. The collection was started by Doris Langley Moore, who donated her costume collection to the City of Bath in 1963. The museum focuses on fashionable clothing for men, women and children from the late 16th century to the present day and has over 100,000 objects. The oldest pieces are embroidered shirts and gloves from about 1600.
Victoria Art Gallery, opened in 1900 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. It is a building that houses over 1,500 art objects, including a collection of oil paintings by British artists dating back to the 1700s.
Pulteney Bridge is one of England's emblematic bridges, built over the Avon river in the 18th century. It is famous for its unique design with shops on both sides. The construction of the bridge was commissioned by William Pulteney (hence the name) to connect Bath to his wife's estate. Its architecture, mixing elegant arches with classic details, puts it on the list of iconic places not to be missed in Bath.
Holburne Museum of Art is located in the Sydney Pleasure Gardens and is the city's first public art gallery, housing fine and decorative arts built around the collection of Sir William Holburne.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy is a historical site dedicated to the life of astronomer William Herschel. Located in the Georgian house where Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781, the museum offers a glimpse of his contributions to astronomy, music and science. Here you can admire original telescopes, personal artifacts and exhibits celebrating the achievements of the Herschel family. The museum also has a garden.
Thermae Bath Spa; For a one-of-a-kind spa experience, be sure to sign up for a day of Roman-style relaxation at Thermae Bath Spa. The spa uses water from Bath's three natural thermal springs, the exact same ones that supply the Roman Baths. Bookings here
If you want to know more historical details about the streets and buildings of Bath, you can book a city tour. tickets here.
CONCLUSION ABOUT BATH:
Regarding Bath, I had created a lot of expectations, considering how many people praised this city and presented it as an extremely beautiful place. From my point of view, yes, it's a beautiful city, full of history, with a somewhat special architecture, a kind of open-air museum, but it's not a city that will knock you very hard on the back. Although the architecture is a little different, compared to other cities in England, that "Roman" vibe is felt very little. So, don't expect to see a little Rome, or something similar. However, I recommend visiting it, if you have the opportunity, our perceptions can be quite different.
As I said at the beginning of the article, we booked a day to explore this city. If we had visited a few more museums, or the weather would have been good for sitting on the terrace to enjoy a drink, we probably would have had enough activities for a whole weekend.
I had the opportunity to visit several locations in England, so you will find a few articles on the blog, including one with 36 superb locations. You can also read about locations such as: York, Farne Islands, 3 North East Coast Villages, Hartlepool Royal Navy Museum, Holy Island, Durdle Door.
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