Bath is a stunning city in southwestern England, full of old fascinating buildings and rich culture, all teeming with history. Bath is much larger than Oxford, although similar in feel to quaintness and historical interest. While it can be quite touristy and busy, there are a few highlights that are absolutely worth the trip.
HOW TO GET TO BATH
Bath is on the main railway line, meaning you can easily access this city from many of England's major cities. Trains from London take approximately an hour and a half. You can buy train tickets at any UK railway station, or you can purchase them online from Trainline in advance as they're often more expensive last minute.
BEST THINGS TO SEE IN BATH
The Roman Baths
This incredible structure is the namesake of the city. For thousands of years, the baths and the buildings surrounding them have been preserved in pristine condition. One can almost envision the Romans wandering between the hot and cool pools! The original stones of the bath still stand and the hot springs continue to pump hot water through. Age has turned the water of the central bath green, but the physical structures remain intact.
Built in 60-70 AD by the Romans, you can explore the ancient baths, springs, terraces, changing rooms, temples and spas. As an added bonus, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can take a sip of the water that still runs throughout the bathhouses. It's quite warm and bitter, but perfectly safe!
Bath Abbey
The impressive and massive Bath Abbey is across the main square from the baths. The original doors of the Abbey were destroyed in 1539 in Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the ones that are now there were donated as replacements in 1611. Wonder what they did without doors all those years!?
The Parade Gardens
The centrally located Parade Gardens are beautiful and provide stunning views over Bath featuring old buildings dotted between patches of green. The gardens are on the bank of the River Avon and overlook an impressive multi-tier waterfall. White wicker lawn furniture covers the lawn and flowers bloom in bright colours every way you look, making the whole place a relaxing area to spend a few hours lazing around.
The Circus
There is a beautifully symmetrical half-moon of houses overlooking Bath with a beautiful garden in front of it constructed beginning in 1754.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
