The town of Bath, in Somerset, is the only spa town in the entire United Kingdom. It benefits from a water spring jealously guarded deep within the Earth at about two thousand meters underground. The healing properties of this water have been known since Roman times. The spring was neglected for many centuries until Queen Anne visited Bath at the beginning of the 18th century to treat her gout, thus giving a boost to the revival of the town and the thermal baths. In a short time, vacationing in Bath became a must for English and European aristocratic families.
What to Do and See in Bath, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Today Bath is a beautiful place, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where it is still possible to experience the refined atmosphere of 18th-century holidays. It offers many things to see, do and try, and the very close distances allow you to reach everywhere on foot, enabling you to discover many picturesque corners at any moment. In short, it is the ideal destination for a relaxing weekend, but also one full of great inspiration.
1 The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are the most important monument in Bath. The best-known part is the large outdoor pool, but the visit itinerary includes much more. In fact, the complex was very extensive and intricate. We can see the remains of various thermal pools, the hydraulic works that allowed the plant to operate, the surrounding roads, and the temple dedicated to Minerva Sulis. Recently, a new area has been opened, the gymnasium, where the ancient Romans practiced their sports activities.
Along the entire route, archaeological finds from excavation campaigns are displayed, grouped by thematic areas, which help to deeply understand the monument through the stories of the men who built it, visited it, or lived nearby. The most remarkable object is a bronze head of Minerva Sulis, preserved to us in excellent condition.
2 Bath Abbey
The other great city monument, just a stone’s throw from the Roman Baths, is Bath Abbey. Its origins date back to the Saxon period, when a monastery was built on the site, later replaced in the 11th century by the Norman cathedral. The current abbey, in Gothic style, dates from about 1500 and was restored by the great Victorian architect Gilbert Scott. The most notable feature is the stained glass windows, dating from the restoration period, covering a large part of the walls and flooding the building with light.
One of them depicts the coronation of Edgar the Peaceful, the first king of England, which took place right at Bath Abbey in 973.
3 Georgian Bath
When Bath became the preferred holiday destination for the aristocracy in the 18th century, there was a need to create residences that lived up to the expectations of distinguished guests. Thus, between 1734 and 1774, architects John Wood senior and junior created the sequence of buildings and public spaces that starts from Queen Square and culminates in the Royal Crescent, passing through Gay Street and The Circus. A common feature is the local yellow limestone that characterizes the constructions. These are rows of single residences united by a uniform façade. So those who lived there had the illusion of the magnificence of their country house, while actually having only a city apartment.
The Crescent was the most exclusive and sought-after complex. Its name gained the epithet Royal for having hosted the Duke of York Frederick, second son of George III, on several occasions at number 16. To get an idea of what the Royal Crescent residences were like during the golden age, it is possible to visit the house museum at number 1.
A house on Gay Street houses the Jane Austen Centre, where, also through interactive experiences, the writer’s environment during the years she lived in Bath (not in the same residence, but another on the same street) is recreated.
At the center of 18th-century noble vacations were balls, afternoon teas, and gambling. All this took place in the beautiful Assembly Rooms, near the Royal Crescent. Part of the building today hosts a fashion museum, while the reception rooms, when not occupied by private events, are freely open to the public.
4 Pulteney Bridge and the River Avon
The River Avon is a fundamental part of Bath’s landscape. It is possible to explore it with river mini-cruises offered by some local operators, departing near Pulteney Bridge. For the more adventurous, there is also the option to rent canoes, SUP boards, or even a narrowboat for navigation along the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The Avon is crossed, at a point in the heart of the city, by Pulteney Bridge, an 18th-century bridge designed by the famous neoclassical architect Robert Adam. Since there are enclosed spaces on both sides of the structure, which today host shops and cafés, Pulteney Bridge has historically been compared to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. The comparison is perhaps a bit bold, but Bath’s bridge is still very romantic and worth a visit.
5 Prior Park and the Bath Skyline
Just outside the historic center, on the other bank of the Avon, there is Prior Park Landscape Garden, a large monumental park designed by the poet Alexander Pope and the gardener Capability Brown. The park was fundamental in the development of the English garden style, where the greenery of the natural environment alternates and integrates with architectural elements and small lakes. The main element of Prior Park is a Palladian-style bridge. There are also a Gothic-style temple, an artificial grotto, some ponds, and a small canal.
Five minutes from Prior Park, you can access the Bath skyline, a circular hill walk about 10 kilometers long. Along this path you can admire woods, the remains of an Iron Age fort and a Roman settlement, and some follies—architectural whims without any specific real function. But above all, the skyline offers breathtaking views of the city.
6 Thermae Spa
The tradition of thermal baths continues with the modern Thermae Spa, which use the health-giving waters well known to the Romans and Georgian aristocrats. The Thermae are located in a building with exquisite contemporary design. The basic package (£37 – £42 on weekends) offers a two-hour path starting from the panoramic heated pool on the third floor. Here you can relax and be pampered by various whirlpool jets while enjoying a 360-degree view of the city.
You can then continue through rooms based on alternating hot and cold, passing from aromatic steam baths to chromotherapy showers, from the infrared sauna to the ice room. And finally, in the underground level, there is Minerva Bath, a large thermal pool that ideally takes us back to the natatio of the Roman baths.
Opposite the Thermae Spa is the Cross Bath, with a thermal pool enclosed in a suggestive neoclassical structure. The Cross Bath can be rented for private use for up to 10 people (cost starting from £400).
7 Shopping
The main boutique streets in Bath are Bath Street, Milsom Street, and Milsom Place, right in the city center. Bath is also quite renowned for shops selling furniture and home accessories. The home design district is Walcot Street, near Pulteney Bridge. Here you can find furniture, fabrics, ceramics, both with a vintage flavor and contemporary taste.
The former Green Park station is in the process of transformation into an office and commercial district. Beneath the arcades, you can discover some unusual and special shops, like Resolution Records, a true vinyl record sanctuary.
8 What to Eat in Bath
A gastronomic creation originates from Bath, the bunn, a sort of bun that can be cut in half and filled with sweet or savory fillings. The bunn was invented at the end of the 17th century by Sally Lunn, and the recipe is still secret today. You can go taste it in its atmospheric café, located in the oldest house in Bath, dated 1482.
For those wanting to try an aristocratic experience, the beautiful Pump Room of the baths is open for breakfast or afternoon tea. There are also numerous restaurants, often housed in historic buildings: for example, the Ivy Bath Brasserie offers traditional English cuisine in an elegant historic venue on Milsom Street.
9 Where to Stay in Bath
Bath offers many options to stay in Georgian style. The most prestigious is the Royal Crescent Hotel, at number 16 Royal Crescent, the same residence where the Duke of York stayed. The love for detail, quality of service, and the splendid garden behind make the Royal Crescent a destination in itself. Room prices start from about £400.
Opposite but very functional for a weekend in Bath is the Z Hotel. Located in a very central position, the Bath Z Hotel, like all others in the chain, is based on the concept of compact luxury. The rooms aren’t very large (and in most cases don’t have a window), but are equipped with everything you need. In short, a valid choice, especially if traveling alone, with a really competitive price starting from £45.
