Located 21km (13 miles) SE of Bristol, the city of Bath was well known even in roman times for its therapeutic waters. The mineral springs are the central focus of the city and that’s why the city is named after them.
There are so many attractions in this lovely city that it would take you days to cover them all and regardless of your preference I’m sure you would want to visit them all.
The Roman Baths
The Romans who are well known for their love of baths did not want to leave the rich soil in mineral water go to waste and founded the baths you can see even today. They were so right about the richness of the soil that water is still coming out of the springs and restoration processes made it possible for the visitors to see the baths exactly as they were hundreds of years ago. Actually the whole city has undergone restoration after the war and all the major buildings of historical importance have been restored.
From the first century AD to this century, this major attraction gets hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is marvelous to see the ancient baths still having hot water coming out of the soil and feel the heat of the water. Too bad you can’t dip here; the water is not to be touched. It is used though in the restrooms and for the central heating and you can taste it for free in the Pump Room. There are facilities so that anybody can visit the spa. There are child carriers available, wheelchair accesses and aids for the hard of hearing and visually impaired people.
The guided tours are free and there are personal acoustiguides available in 7 major languages; they take about 1.5 hours to visit; there is also a big screen where you can see computer animations with the re-construction of the baths. Cameras and are allowed for personal use. You can buy souvenirs at the shop inside the baths.
The Pump Room is where you can meet, talk and take refreshments while listening to the Pump Room Trio playing in the morning and afternoon.
The Museum of Costume is just 10 minutes away from the Roman Baths, near the Royal Crescent in Bennett Street and it would be a real pity to miss the finest museum of fashionable clothes in the world. Next step would be the Royal Crescent, a building completed in 1774 and in 1968 it given to the Bath Preservation Trust that restored it so that now visitors can see the grand town-house with its authentic furniture. In the same area is the Building of Bath Museum telling the story of the city, you can see how the buildings were designed.
On Lansdown Road you can visit the Beckford’s Tower & Museum tells the story of the famous people who lived in Bath. The Tower was built in 1827and hosts a great art collection; it also offers panoramic views of the whole city if you climb up its 156 steps to the top. The William Herschel Museum is in New King Street and dedicated to the life of the great astronomer and musician who lived here in the latter part of the 18th century.
Literature fans have something in store for them as Bath is where Jane Austen lived and wrote some of her greatest novels. The city was an inspiration to her and it is also present as backdrop to her stories. As Bath is so well preserved we can still see the city today as she saw it.
Pulteney Bridge is really wonderful. What is special about it is that it has buildings on each side some of which now host shops.
Bath is a wonderful city that can really take you back in time as far as the roman time with all its splendor.
