Book TourBath's Royal Crescent terrace is a masterpiece of Georgian architecture. The town-house at No. 1 is open to visitors, so that you can see how grand these houses were inside and out. The Royal Crescent overlooks Royal Victoria Park (opened by Princess Victoria at the tender age of 11), which is an excellent spot for a stroll.
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Bath is one of the jewels in England’s crown – a World Heritage city that dates back to the Romans and is a perfect example of an 18th century town. Visitors are charmed by the quaint Georgian streets that are filled with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The city boasts many attractions including the Roman Baths with their famous hot springs. You can see the water’s source, and walk around the steaming pool on two thousand year old pavements. There’s also an excellent thermal spa for unwinding and pampering after a busy day's exploring.
There's also the Royal Crescent, designed by John Wood the Younger, the beautiful Cathedral; Beckford's Tower (a 120ft neoclassical structure that now houses a museum); the elegant Guildhall; and the dazzling Assembly Rooms (the height of fashion, my dear, in Georgian society). There’s also a fashion museum, and art gallery.
The Circus is another fabulous example of Georgian architecture designed by John Wood the Elder. It was inspired by Rome’s Colosseum and is a circular space surrounded by large town houses. When viewed from the air it resembles a key shape (a Masonic symbol).
The Roman Baths is the source of the famous thermal springs, the pool where Romans took to the water. Of interest is the ancient pump room and the museum which holds artifacts from Roman Bath including over 12,000 Denari coins and a gilt bronze head of the goddess Sulis Minerva.
The 15th century Bath Abbey is one of the last remaining medieval churches in Britain. Pilgrims have been made welcome at this very special place for hundreds of years. Visitors can see the amazing fan vaulting and spectacular stained glass windows which take up a remarkable 80% of the wall space.
Another Bath hotspot is Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House & Museum being one of the oldest houses in Bath (c.1483) – and home of the famous 'Sally Lunn' Bun (a tasty semi-sweet bread). Here visitors can see excavations showing how the site dates back to the Roman times – plus the original kitchen that 'Sally Lunn' used over 300 years ago.
Pulteney Bridge is one of the most beautiful and romantic bridges in the world – and it’s particularly unusual as it’s got shops built into it too. Crossing the bridge takes visitors to the Holburne Museum, Bath’s spectacular art gallery displaying decorative arts from the collection of Sir William Holburne.
Literary Heritage
Jane Austen, who used to live here, set two of her famous works in Bath (Northanger Abbey and Persuasion). Austin lived in Bath at its Georgian prime from 1801 to 1806 when the city was a thriving spa town visited by fashionable society members of the period. You can get a glimpse of what life was like for the author by visiting The Jane Austen Centre housed in a classically decorated Georgian townhouse. The Jane Austen Festival is held yearly with walks, talks and music recitals.
Austen lived in more than one residence in the city but the most famous is No. 4 Sydney Place. It was here that she got engaged to Harris Bigg-Wither - but only for a day! Maybe a good career move as Jane Bigg-Wither doesn't really have a ring to it!
