BATH, located approximately 120 miles west of London, is an ancient spa city founded by the Romans, but whose warm, natural springs have remained popular ever since. To this day, they continue to be the lifeblood on which the city thrives.
World Heritage-listed, Bath is a student city and, as such, is well-served in terms of culture and nightlife. There are many museums, theatres and galleries, as well as bars, pubs and clubs.
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| PIC: Bath as seen from the River Avon |
The bus leaves from Victoria Coach Station and takes roughly three hours, due to traffic getting out of London and also because of stops at Heathrow and Swindon.
The train takes roughly half the time, but, when I booked, it would have been double the price.
It is worth checking both options.
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| PIC: The Great Bath |
As the foundation on which the town was built, many consider this to be Bath's premier attraction. Time-damage aside, visitors are able to see the baths as the Romans saw them.
There are presentations on how the baths were built, life around the baths and the spiritual relationship the people had with the springs. There is also an opportunity to see some of the artefacts found in the excavation of the site.
Entry is £12 and includes a free, very informative and easy-to-use audio-guide. The operators recommend spending an hour and half at the baths.
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| PIC: Bath Abbey |
Bath Abbey is a quite impressive Gothic church whose tower (£5 entry) offers the best view over the city.
Australian visitors, in particular, might be interested to know that Bath Abbey is where Arthur Phillip, a very important figure in Australia's history, is buried. There is a memorial to that effect inside the abbey.
This crescent-shaped block of houses is widely considered one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture.
Whilst the houses were once the homes of notable people, they now include offices and a hotel amongst their tenants.
The Crescent looks out onto the very large, and very green, Royal Victoria Park, which is worth a look in its own right.
Pulteney Bridge provides a great view of the River Avon, Pulteney Weir and the Parade Gardens.
A walk in the Parade Gardens, by the river, will cost the visitor a small fee.
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| PIC: Thermae Bath Spa |
The old saying begins: "When in Rome ...", and whilst you're not exactly in Rome, the opportunity is still there to do as the Romans did!
You can't enter the water at the ancient baths site, but if you do want to experience the springs for yourself, you can head to the more modern facility at Thermae Bath Spa. Here, you can really indulge yourself.
Entry to the New Royal Bath costs £25 for 2 hours and includes entry to the steam room and other perks. Thermae also offers other more luxurious - and pricier - packages.
GET LOST!
One of the best things to do in Bath is just to wander the street and alleys, lose yourself and discover the city for yourself.
THE BOATER
Situated on Pulteney Bridge, overlooking the river, The Boater offers the best located beer garden in Bath. On a sunny day, its a pleasure to sit there, sip on a cold pint and let time slide away. This popular student haunt also offers a nice menu of standard pub food.
Another pub with a neat outdoor area, this one takes a less traditional approach. Their burgers are well-worth sampling and they have a wide selection of lagers, ales and ciders to choose from.
A fun, if a little generic, and slightly cheesy, nightclub. It plays mainly mainstream dance music, and drinks can be a touch on the wrong side of expensive, but for a non-big-city club, its an amiable night out.
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| PIC: Stonehenge |
Bath is less than an hour away from prehistoric Stonehenge, one of the most famous sites in the world.
There are many operators running tours out to the monoliths from Bath.
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| PIC: A typical village in the Cotswolds |
The same operators often offer trips out to the Cotswolds, either as a separate trip or in a tour combined with a visit to Stonehenge.
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