Summary
Established as “Aquae Sulis” by the Romans in the 1st century, the city of Bath derives its name from the geothermal mineral springs that emerge from the limestone at a depth of 4,800 meters.
The site of the Roman bathing complex now serves as a world-renowned museum providing insights into the daily life of the city over 2,000 years ago.
Bath experienced a resurgence during the Georgian era, becoming a prominent destination for those wishing to “take the waters” and establishing itself on the social scene.
During this period, notable architectural masterpieces such as the Royal Crescent and Circus were constructed, characterized by the distinctive Bath Stone.
This oolitic limestone, quarried in the vicinity, is fundamental to the identity of Bath and features a rich honey-gold hue.
Let us examine the most significant attractions in Bath:
1. Roman Baths
The Roman bathing complex has undergone several renovations throughout the centuries, and the current museum enables visitors to explore its historical layers.
The visible structures primarily date back to the 19th century, featuring statues of Roman Emperors and Governors along the terrace.
The exceptional museum invites guests below street level to view the Roman Sacred Spring, Temple of Minerva, and Roman Bathhouse, showcasing various remarkable artifacts recovered from the spring.
Approximately 12,000 Roman coins have been discovered, alongside an array of everyday items, the skeleton of a Roman male, and a bronze depiction of the goddess Minerva.
Additionally, curses were inscribed on lead-tin alloy tablets and thrown into the spring; around 130 have been recovered, many imploring the goddess Minerva to exact retribution against individuals who stole personal belongings from the bathhouse.
2. Bath Abbey
A striking example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture, Bath Abbey predominantly originated in the late Middle Ages and underwent significant restoration in the 1860s by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
The most captivating feature of the Abbey is its intricate fan vaulting.
This architectural detail was initially created in the choir during the 15th century by master stonemasons Robert and William Vertue.
However, during Scott’s restoration in the 19th century, fan vaulting was added to the nave, aligning with the aspirations of the 15th-century Bishop of Bath and Wells, Oliver King.
On the west facade, the stonework features two ladders ascended by angels.
This symbolizes Jacob’s Ladder and is believed to have been inspired by a dream experienced by Oliver King.
3. Royal Crescent
Overlooking the Avon Valley, the Royal Crescent is a semi-circular arrangement of 30 uniform Georgian townhouses.
It was conceptualized by John Wood, the Younger, and constructed from 1767 to 1774. This ensemble is recognized as one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK, with its facade remaining largely unchanged over the past 250 years.
The first and second-storey windows are vertically framed by Ionic pilasters, and the entire terrace is topped with a balustrade.
Notable former residents of the Royal Crescent include William Wilberforce, who resided at No. 2 and was a prominent English abolitionist, and author Christopher Anstey, who lived at No. 4 for 35 years until his passing in 1805.
4. No. 1 Royal Crescent
Situated at the eastern end of the Royal Crescent, this property is regarded as the cornerstone of the development and exemplifies the height of Palladian architecture in Bath.
In the 20th century, this house was divided from its service wing, resulting in two separate properties.
These were merged again in 2000, and a restoration project between 2012-2013 returned the building to its appearance during Jane Austen’s time in Bath.
In that era, No. 1 served as a luxurious residence for aristocrats during the social season while they enjoyed Bath’s thermal waters.
Each room is decorated in the Georgian style, featuring authentic carpets, portraits, furniture, wallpapers, and fabrics.
Visitors can appreciate the opulence of the bedrooms, withdrawing room, dining room, and gentleman’s retreat, as well as explore the service areas, including passages for staff, a kitchen, coal-holes, Servant’s Hall, and Housekeeper’s Room.
5. Royal Victoria Park
This distinguished park adjacent to the Royal Crescent was inaugurated in 1830 by an 11-year-old Princess Victoria, seven years prior to her ascension to the throne.
Nestled on gentle hills, this 57-acre park features towering mature trees, a cherry tree avenue, and an impressive nine-acre botanical garden.
To the north lies the Great Dell, established on the grounds of an old limestone quarry, which was reforested with exotic North American conifers in the 1840s.
Royal Victoria Park also has several commemorative monuments, such as an obelisk dedicated to the Crimean War and the Temple of Minerva, originally erected at Wembley for the 1926 British Empire Exhibition and relocated here the following year.
Historically, Victoria never returned to Bath, reportedly holding a grudge after a local made an unflattering remark about the thickness of her ankles!
6. Prior Park Landscape Garden
Visitors can take a leisurely walk or bus ride to this splendid estate surrounding a Palladian mansion.
This residence was erected by the entrepreneur and postal reformer Ralph Allen, who has been home to a school since 1830. The grounds, which flow gracefully down the valley, are now maintained by the National Trust.
The gardens were initially designed in the English landscape style by poet Alexander Pope, with enhancements by Capability Brown in the 1750s and 1760s. Stroll down the slope through mature woods until reaching a charming Palladian bridge, one of only four globally.
Graffiti from students over the past 200 years can be found etched into the stone.
7. Circus
Another remarkable example of 18th-century architecture, the Circus is located just a short distance east of the Royal Crescent and predates it.
This circular development, currently classified as Grade I, was designed by John Wood, the Elder, and completed in 1768. Interestingly, Wood intended for the Circus to have nearly the same diameter as Stonehenge, as he believed Bath to have been a hub for druid activities during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
One popular theory suggests that the Circus is meant to symbolize the sun while the Royal Crescent represents the moon; various arcane symbols of acorns and serpents are observable in the stonework of the Circus residences.
Tragically, John Wood, the Elder passed away shortly after the initial stone was laid, and his son, John Wood, the Younger, took over the project.
8. Pulteney Bridge
Spanning the Avon, the Palladian Pulteney Bridge was designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam and dates back to 1774. The structure captivates with its row of shops lining its 45-meter expanse, making it one of the most photographed monuments in Bath’s World Heritage area.
The bridge received its name from Frances Pulteney, the wife of William Pulteney, who financed this and various other projects throughout the city and was rumored to be the wealthiest individual in Britain at that time.
The southern facade is particularly striking, constructed from Bath’s characteristic limestone, featuring a temple-like bay supported by Doric pilasters.
In response to flooding events, the bridge underwent several modifications throughout the 19th century; however, it was restored to its original design in the 20th century after being designated as an “ancient monument” in the 1930s.
9. Fashion Museum
Housed within the majestic Assembly Rooms (1769), this museum showcases the evolution of fashionable attire from the late 16th century to the present.
The collection began in the 20th century, initiated by fashion historian Doris Langley, and has since expanded to include over 100,000 pieces.
The museum features an impressive array of mannequins adorned in garments spanning from Georgian splendour to pivotal 20th-century fashion trends.
Among renowned designers represented are Mary Quant, John Galliano, Giorgio Armani, and Donatella Versace, to name a few.
Moreover, visitors of all ages can try on Georgian clothing (tailcoats, high collars, bonnets, and corsets) and capture a memorable photo against the backdrop of the Royal Crescent.
10. Holburne Museum
The former Sydney Hotel, situated at the eastern terminus of Great Pulteney Street, provides a sophisticated setting for Bath’s inaugural public art museum.
This splendid Neoclassical structure was completed in 1799 and has housed the museum since 1882. Consistent with Bath’s character, the museum’s collection reflects aspects of Georgian culture.
It features artworks from the Golden Age of British painting by Thomas Gainsborough, Johan Zoffany, and Francesco Guardi, alongside sculptures, porcelain, and an extensive range of other decorative arts.
The museum’s most exquisite space is the former ballroom, elaborately adorned with portraits, silver, and china beneath a magnificent chandelier.
In 2011, a multimillion-pound modern extension was inaugurated, adding new galleries and a café with views of Sydney Gardens.
11. Great Pulteney Street
Upon crossing Pulteney Bridge, this grand, perfectly straight street guides you northeast to both the Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens.
Similar to the Pulteney Bridge, it was also commissioned by Sir William Pulteney and bears his name.
Designed by Thomas Baldwin, known for contributing several streets to Bath, as well as historical monuments such as Guildhall and the Grand Pump Room.
Great Pulteney Street (1789) impresses with its proportions, measuring 300 meters long and a dignified 30 meters wide.
At its far end, the portico of the Sydney Hotel comes into view, and the consistency of the townhouses offers a pleasing uniformity.
Interestingly, Baldwin designed only the facade, leading to uniquely configured interiors within the houses.
12. Bath Street
Thomas Baldwin was also tasked with designing the street leading east to the Roman Bath complex.
Bath Street was laid out in 1791 and stands as one of the most significant thoroughfares in the city.
The street is lined with two-story houses featuring mansard roofs and Ionic colonnades at the ground level.
Upon inspection, many windows are adorned with pediments above decorative friezes and corbels.
The entire scene appears nearly preserved in time for the last 230 years, making it unsurprising that Bath Street is often featured in period dramas like the 2006 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
At the western terminus lies the Cross Bath, also designed by Baldwin, serving as an intimate open-air bathing area replenished by water that bubbles up from the earth at 46°C.
13. American Museum in Britain
This museum, open from March to October, is housed in the Grade I listed Claverton Manor, which overlooks the Limpley Stoke Valley and the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Accessible from Bath’s city center, visitors can take a leisurely hike up Bathwick Hill.
Established by two antique collectors in 1961, this museum boasts the most comprehensive collection of Americana outside the United States.
One of the founders, John Judkyn, was a Quaker, who intentionally excluded weapons and militaria from the collection, instead focusing on furniture and decorative arts from 1690 to 1860. The textile room features 50 quilts and coverlets from a collection of 200, while the grounds include an arboretum featuring North American trees, as well as a reproduction of George Washington’s garden at Mount Vernon.
14. Herschel Museum of Astronomy
This townhouse on New King Street was the residence of German-born siblings William and Caroline Herschel, who were esteemed astronomers during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Herschels inhabited this abode from 1777 to 1784 (William departed in 1782), during which time he made the significant discovery of Uranus in 1781 using a 7-inch telescope he crafted himself in the workshop outside.
The museum was inaugurated in 1981, exactly two centuries after this significant discovery.
Visitors can engage in an audio tour of the house, featuring original possessions such as William Herschel’s dining table, along with the workshop showcasing his treadle lathe and a touch-screen exhibit explaining the function of each instrument.
The Caroline Lucretia Gallery, an extension utilizing the same ashlar stone, hosts temporary exhibitions.
15. Bath Skyline
Bath is situated within a valley flanked by high limestone slopes that rise to a maximum elevation of 238 meters.
A visit to Prior Park Landscape Garden allows guests to access the Bath Skyline, a six-mile looped trail that navigates along the ridge above the city.
Prior Park lies at the southwestern corner of the route, providing an entry point for hikes through serene valleys, beech forests, and meadows adorned with wildflowers.
The area contains sites of Roman heritage and remnants of long-abandoned quarries.
Bring a picnic on a sunny day, as there are numerous spots to pause, breathe, and take in the view of the city from above.
One of the most picturesque locations is Little Solsbury Hill, the site of an Iron Age fort.
