Mention the word Bath, in terms of a city, and almost everyone knows about it. The question is how much do they know about it, and have they ever visited.
Bath has been a spa destination for many centuries, in fact ever since the ancient Romans discovered there were hot water springs here, and nowhere else in England.
Insofar as the English themselves were concerned bath became fashionable during the reign of Queen Anne, who rediscovered that the waters here were therapeutic around 1702.
What followed that was a kind of rebirth and Bath became England’s top spa town. This in turn was followed by the architectural highlights that bath has become renowned for. The seeping crescents, the terraces, the noble squares, and the stately homes, all made of the honey coloured limestone that has become synonymous with Bath.
Today, all this magnificent building has made Bath into Britain’s most perfectly preserved Georgian city, and as such very deserving of a visit.
Surprisingly no one comes to Bath for the therapeutic springs, but instead they come here to relive the epitome of the 18th century good lifestyle, and at the same time to enjoy the antique shops, and great restaurants in a city that is at the same time relaxed, prosperous, and very refined, but at the same time plays host to its guests with consummate ease.
No matter that people don’t come any more to ‘take the waters’ the city’s historical centre is still the Roman Baths. They are without a doubt Britain’s finest Roman ruins, overlooked by the 16th century Bath Abbey, and the 18th Century Pump Room. Coincidentally the Pump Room is a well known restaurant and watering hole, where you can still sample the mineral waters from a running fountain, and have one of the greatest afternoon teas anywhere, and that means anywhere!!
The Circus in Bath is still one of the most spectacular places to visit. Here there are thirty three slightly different limestone houses forming a huge circle probably inspired by the Colosseum and designed by John Wood the Elder. John Wood, being the man who orchestrated the golden days of Bath’s architecture. You cannot visit Bath without visiting this spectacular site.
Then just to keep it in the family, his son designed the nearby equally spectacular Royal Crescent, which is a huge semi ellipse of thirty identical stone town houses overlooking Royal Victoria Park on what is often hailed as the most majestic street in Britain.
In terms of places to stay in Bath, which by the way is 115 miles west of London, then you are somewhat spoilt for choice. Bath’s most elegant hotel, the Royal Crescent is housed in two Georgian town houses in the spectacular Royal Circus. If you can’t stay here, then it’s a great place for afternoon tea.
Another stopover after sightseeing is the Ston Easton Park another Bath stone Palladian mansion, fist built in Elizabethan times, then rebuilt in 1740. It has just been beautifully refurbished, a top class country retreat, hidden as a period gem, where you will lead a Jane Austen type lifestyle.
Go to Bath, stay if possible, but just enjoy.
Author Resource:
Ian has been writing travel articles for over ten years now. His newest website is http://www.best-foodprocessor.com and his newest page is http://www.best-foodprocessor.com/Bosch-Food-Processor.html
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