Bath is a beautiful city in the west of England. Nestled in the county of Somerset, it is famous for its architecture and fascinating history.
It is also well known as a former home of writer Jane Austen, and artist Thomas Gainsborough.
If you’re lucky enough to pay a visit, here are 6 things you need to see!
The Abbey
Three separate churches have occupied this site since the 8th century. But the present Bath Abbey dates to 1499. The medieval church sits in the center of the city and is a good place to start your day. You can admire the magnificent architecture, or sit outside in the sun on a nice day.
The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths lie next to the Abbey.
The Celts built a shrine at the springs, dedicated to their goddess Sulis. She represented healing and sacred waters. When the Romans arrived, they took over the shrine. Minerva was their goddess of wisdom, so they formed a new hybrid deity, Sulis Minerva. This is typical of a Roman arrival in a settlement. They found it easier to ease the transition by adapting local traditions. The town’s ancient Roman name, Aquae Sulis (waters of Sulis), derives from the original goddess.
The Romans constructed a complex of bathhouses in 75AD using Bath’s natural hot springs. The water still emerges at a constant 46°C and flows at a rate of 240,000 gallons every day. The baths are one of the best-preserved ancient Roman spas in the world, and are surrounded by buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
The developer John Wood followed the Palladian concept of the architectural ideal. He constructed magnificent squares, parades, and buildings out of the beautiful honey-coloured Bath stone. Ralph Allen contributed much of his personal fortune to Bath’s rebuilding.
Beau Nash organised Bath’s social life and balls. He brought in musicians from London, exerting his influence as a dandy, and becoming a leader of fashion. The original Pump Room was erected in 1706 but quickly became too small for the increasing numbers of visitors. An entirely new room was constructed in 1796.
The Bath Circus and Royal Crescent
John Wood’s first striking achievement in Bath was Queen Square, completed in 1736. However, his most original urban project was the Circus, a paved circular space. It represented a miniature inverted Colosseum. Wood died in 1754 as construction got underway. It was his son, John Wood the Younger, who supervised its construction.
He later moved on to building the Royal Crescent. This crescent of terraced houses represented a culmination in private urbanism stamped with neo-classicism. Ionic columns punctuate the Crescent, which overlooks the countryside.
Yet the houses in the Crescent and the Circus aren’t quite what they appear. The identical facades follow the same design. Yet the rear of the houses was left to the design of the new owner. The backs of the houses all look different.
Wood wrote extensively about sacred geometry. Freemasonry symbols and Druidical musings litter the designs of many of his buildings. Some suggest that the square (Queen’s Square), the circle (The Circus) and the crescent (The Royal Crescent) represent the Earth, Sun and Moon. The Circus and Crescent form the shape of a key.
Four gigantic London Pines grow in the small green park in the center of the Circus. They are thought to be four to five hundred years old. Jane Austen lived in Bath from 1801 until 1806, and she would have seen them as she walked through the streets of Bath.
In her letter, Jane mentions walking up to the Crescent and into the park, enjoying the views of the city. The Assembly Rooms, just north of The Circus, are what Jane would have known as The Upper Assembly Rooms and also included the Octagon Tearoom.
1 Royal Crescent
You can visit No 1 Royal Crescent, a major restoration project that evokes a vivid picture of life in Georgian Bath. Each room has authentic Georgian furnishings. Below stairs are the original kitchens, passages, scullery and servants’ hall.
The Cross Bath and Thermae Bath Spa
Although you can visit the original Roman baths, you can’t swim in them. The Thermae Bath Spa offers an alternative. You can enjoy the unique experience of soaking in the hot natural mineral rich waters. That’s the same local spring that has gushed from the ground for hundreds of years!
You can choose between the modern rooftop pool of the Thermae Bath Spa, or the smaller and more intimate Cross Bath Spa. The latter can be hired as a private pool.
Soak up the views from Alexandra Park or the Bath Skyline
It is a good idea to pack a good pair of comfortable walking shoes when visiting Bath. But if the trek around the city is not enough for you, then the surrounding area offers many trails for leisurely afternoon strolls or more serious rambles.
The National Trust mapped out the Bath Skyline Walk. They even supplied complimentary tea and coffee during the route on the afternoon when I walked it. It offers 6 miles of marked paths, taking in the views of the city from the surrounding hill tops. But be prepared for muddy paths.
Alternatively there is a beautiful walk along the canal. If you are feeling sufficiently courageous it can take you all the way to Bradford-on-Avon (around 10 km). Along the way you will see the Dundas Aqueduct where the canal goes over the river.
While this post has covered these 6 sights, there are many more to choose from. It just gives you an excuse to come back!
Have you visited Bath? Which other sights would you recommend?