Discovering Bath

Travel

Discovering Bath

If you’re still not sold on travelling abroad this winter, choose to holiday closer to home with a city break in Bath, one of the UK’s national treasures.

After the year we’ve had, understandably many of us aren’t keen on travelling outside of the UK this winter – but that doesn’t mean you can’t book a holiday closer to home. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath is a great option for a UKbased city break, where luxurious spas, historical tales and awe-inspiring architecture are all part of the experience. Here’s what not to miss while you’re there. The largest city in Somerset, Bath is easily accessible by rail or road for anyone living in England and Wales. But, if you did want to fly, Bristol Airport is only 20 miles away. Tempted? Here’s what not to miss while you’re there:

Warm up in a thermal spa

Bath is best known for housing one of the world’s best-preserved Roman bathhouses, a piece of history so important that it gave the city its name. Naturally heated to around 46°C, the water comes from the city’s hot springs which are packed with over forty different healing minerals. After being discovered by Prince Bladud around 863 BC, these natural spring waters became a constant theme throughout the city’s history. The original Roman baths are no longer safe for swimming, but you can still book a tour around the temple and bathing complex. If you do fancy a dip, the Thermae Bath Spa is right next door and uses the same mineral-rich water, treated to make it safe for public use. There’s no better place to warm up this winter; indulge in a treatment or two before bathing in the rooftop pool, drinking in the views of the surrounding cityscape.

By Solange Hando

Walk in Jane Austen’s shoes

For any Jane Austen fan, Bath will conjure up images of the style and sophistication of the 1800s. Not only did the author live here for five years, but she also used the city as a setting for two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. You can learn more about her time in Bath at the Jane Austen Centre, where guides in period costumes and a Regency tearoom really help bring her stories to life.

Take an architectural tour

Walking through Bath will take you on a journey through centuries of architectural art. After taking a liking to Bath during the eighteenth century, the Georgians built much of the city you’ll see today. They used the famous Bath limestone to construct elaborate buildings, including Circus, the Assembly Rooms and the Pump Rooms. The Royal Crescent is an absolute must-see: this beautiful, curved row of thirty Georgian terraces is probably Bath’s most impressive piece of architecture.

Visit some museums

Bath is a treasure chest of museums and galleries; you’d need a week to visit them all! Two of the most famous are The Fashion Museum, home to over 100,000 items of clothing and footwear, and The Museum of Bath Architecture, the best place to learn about the city’s distinctive Georgian structures.