Bath Abbey
This is your free Bath City Guide! It’s a city that doesn’t seem to have changed since the 1700s when Jane Austen frequented the Assembly Rooms, but it’s also a city with a modern outlook too including all the shops you could need and a selection of fine dining restaurants.
WHAT TO DO IN BATH
The Roman Baths – They’re much bigger on the inside than you’d think. What looks like an un-assuming historic building from the outside, opens up into a labyrinth of pools and rooms spreading far beneath the surrounding streets. We thought it was fantastic and although you can’t bathe in the water here, you get a real sense of what the place was actually like in Roman times. The story of how the baths were discovered again after being partially destroyed and built upon is also fascinating. The Roman Baths are in the courtyard next to Bath Abbey. Admission ranges from £7 up to £11.50 per person. More info, pics, links & map…
The Thermae Bath Spa – This is the modern way to enjoy the hot springs of Bath. It’s a world away from the Roman Baths and even from the outside, the spa building design is impressive, melding a historic building in Bath City Centre with ultra modern glass panels. Inside they offer a range of spa treatments and pool sessions. We thought it was rather expensive but we’d recommend the twilight package for the best value. Also bear in mind that the promotional pictures of the spa all show only a handful of people in the pool, but the reality is somewhat different!
The Assembly Rooms – These elegant rooms were the centre of society life in Georgian times in Bath. It’s thought that Jane Austen frequented the rooms during her time here to dance and enjoy evenings mixing with other well-to-do people. Today the Assembly Rooms are just as magnificent and they’re free to visit. They’re operated by the National Trust but there is also a council run Fashion Museum on the lower floor, for which there is a fee to enter. The Assembly Rooms are a walk up the hill from the centre of Bath – you’ll find them between Bennett Street and Alfred Street near to the Circus. More info, pics, links and map…
The Circus
The Circus – Built around the 1750s, the Circus is a perfect example of Georgian architecture. The townhouses here are very large and very beautiful. Sadly none are open to the public, but the exteriors are certainly worth seeing. The Hollywood Actor Nicholas Cage bought one of the houses on the Circus a few years ago. More info, pics, links and map…
The Royal Crescent – Similar to the Circus in architectural style, but only a crescent rather than a circle! These are Bath’s most exclusive houses. There are only 30 of them, but they are seen as amongst the greatest examples of Georgian town house architecture. One of the houses is an exclusive hotel, No1 is now a museum but most are still family homes. The Royal Crescent is just a short walk from the Circus via Brock Street which is also very attractive.
Bath Abbey – The Abbey tower dominates Bath and you can see it from all around, but the inside of the Abbey is well worth a visit too. The current Abbey was founded in 1499 and it oozes history despite still being used as a modern place of worship today. You can also climb to the top of the tower for a tremendous view of Bath below on the fully guided “Tower Tours”. More info, pics, links & map…
Pulteney Bridge – This is one of the world’s most beautiful bridges, likened frequently to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. It was built to connect central bath to the other side of the River Avon in a style that fitted its surroundings. Take a trip over the bridge to look in the tiny shops built into it. The bridge is best viewed from the road behind Bath Abbey. More info, pics, links & map…
Pulteney Bridge at night
The Pump Room – This room, next to the Roman Baths, was another social heart in Bath in Georgian times – it’s where the upper classes came to ‘take’ the hot spa water. Today it’s a fancy restaurant and café. The room itself is still magnificent, but you certainly pay a premium price to eat here!
The Jane Austen Centre – The author was a regular visitor to Bath and actually lived here in the early 1800s. This centre tells the story of her time in Bath and includes original letters and other Austen memorabilia. We thought the centre was interesting although a little over priced for what was available in the exhibition. It’s at 40 Gay Street.
OUR TOP TIP IN BATH
Walking Tours – These daily 2 hour tours are free and they’re organised by the tourist office in Bath. You don’t need to book, just check out the tour times at the sign board outside the Roman Baths in Abbey Church Courtyard. Our guide was brilliant. He knew so much about the history of the place and explained it all in compelling way. The tours take in all the highlights of the centre of Bath including the Abbey, the Circus, the Royal Crescent, the Assembly Rooms and many other historic buildings and sights. The guides are volunteers and do not accept tips, although they definitely deserve them!
The Roman Baths
GETTING AROUND BATH
All the sights of Bath are in walking distance of the centre so getting around is easy. However, parking is very expensive! If you’re booking a hotel in the centre, make sure it comes with a parking place and if your hotel is outside the centre of Bath consider using the Park and Ride busses. The railway station is very close to the centre of Bath, so coming by train is a great idea.
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