Bath City in England

 

Famous for its Roman baths and beautiful Georgian architecture.

 

Highlights

 

• Roman Baths - Open: Opening hours vary through the year, but the minimum is 9:30 am to 4:30pm. Entry fee: Adult: £13.50

 

• Bath Abbey - Open: Monday 9.30am to 6.00pm Tuesday to Saturday 9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 1.00 to 2.30pm & 4.30 to 5.30pm. Entry price: a donation of £2.50 adults.

 

• Fashion Museum, Bath - Open: 10:30 to 4.00, every day. Entry price: £8.00 adult.

 

• The Jane Austen Centre - Open: 9.45am to 5.30pm every day in summer, in winter it’s Sunday to Friday 11am to 4.30pm Saturday 9.45am to 5.30pm Entry price: £8.00 adult

 

• Royal Victoria Park - Open: Daily, 7am till dusk. Entry price: Free

 

• Rondo Theatre - Open: Performance times vary. Entry price: Adult tickets around £10.00- £15.00

 

Description

 

The beautiful Georgian city of Bath is known for its ancient Roman baths, and pristine Regency architecture. It was often written about by Jane Austen, as it was the height of fashion at the time to visit, along with the rest of society, and in fact she did so often. The entire city has been designated a World Heritage Site.

 

It’s an elegant and up market place to visit, centering more on sophisticated pursuits like spa breaks and museums than shopping and clubbing. The Jane Austen centre is based in the same street where she lived, and has displays on her life and how living in the area affected her writing. Visitors are invited to dress up, and view films and exhibitions about the writer. There is an excellent fashion museum, with displays about fashion and clothing from all periods. They hold both permanent and changing exhibitions.

 

Visiting the Roman baths for which the city is named is a must. Unfortunately you can’t actually take the waters there any more, but you can view the breathtaking honey coloured construction of the baths, and magical evening tours are also held. If you’ve a yen for your own spa experience, you’ll find many modern day opportunities for pampering in the city, too.

 

It is also well worth visiting the Abbey, which dates from 1499 in parts and is an immensely popular attraction. The Royal Victoria Park is named after, of course, Queen Victoria, and is one of the UK’s first public parks. It was designed as an arboretum, with a children’s play area, botanical gardens, bird aviary and a restaurant. It’s very big, and a great place to walk and relax.

 

There are many places to eat and drink while strolling around the city, and if you’d like to take in a show, The Rondo Theatre is the place to do it. It has a charming atmosphere, as it’s very small but generally packed with an enthusiastic local audience. And don't forget the Royal Crescent – the elegantly curved terraced houses in the central city. A beautiful example of Georgian architecture.