The beautiful city of Bath, England is located only two hours west of London and offers a very distinctive taste of British culture and a sense of history that is different from the country’s busy capital. Its mixture of ancient, Georgian, Roman and modern cultures are visible in the city’s architecture and layout. Bath is one of the oldest cities in Britain and in all of Europe as well; this antiquity is nowhere more apparent than in the city’s most famous attraction, the Roman baths.
The Roman Baths were excavated in 1878 and were repaired during the Victorian Restoration. The Baths are still fed by one of the city’s three underground hot springs. The ancient Celts first used these natural springs created by the pooling of rainwater heated by rocks in the hills. The Celts worshipped the goddess Sul, additionally worshipping the springs in her name. When the Romans built the baths over 2,000 years ago, they replaced the goddess Sul with their own equivalent, Minerva. They called the baths ‘Aquae Sulius,’ or Waters of Sul. The baths are open today for the many tourists who wish to walk through the courtyards and around the various pools. Unfortunately, the baths can no longer be used for the relaxing, cleansing and restorative purposes for which they were revered centuries ago.
The Pump Room was built in 1795, nearly adjacent to the baths themselves. This room was constructed to cater to the demand of Bath’s citizens who wished to have a place to socialize and drink the spa water, which was believed to have healing powers. Today, the Pump Room hosts formal teas, dinners and other events. It also holds somewhat more informal teas and a gift shop for tourists.
Aside from the famous Roman Baths, the Bath Abbey is perhaps the city’s second largest tourist attraction. The Abbey was built in 1499 in the center of the city, but is not considered a cathedral. The Abbey is the third church to claim this site, as the foundations of the Monastery of St. Peter were laid in 758 A.D.. It was in this Abbey that Edgar was crowned the first King of England in 975 A.D., and the Saxon rule replaced the Norman one near the end of the 11th century.
Another impressive work of architecture is the Royal Crescent. Now a hotel, this building is a series of Victorian homes, all attached in the graceful shape that their name suggests. Bath has eight such crescents throughout the city, but the Royal Crescent is the most splendid work and easily stands apart from the rest. The Circus is a similar grouping of townhouses and spacious flats built in groups of 8, 10, and 12. These townhouses were erected in a similar style as the crescents, and the trees in these residential areas date back as far as 1810. The Theater Royal is yet another beautiful building in Bath that is still in operation, presenting shows and plays frequently. The theater was the first outside London to be given the title “Royal” by King George III.
Not far from the Theater is Broad Street, one of the most renowned streets in the city. The street was not given its name because of its size; on the contrary, it is extremely narrow, like many of Bath’s streets. The street gained its name as a result of the broad cloth that women wove in rooms above the street. The street is also famous because the world’s first stamp was posted here on May 2, 1840. Needless to say, Bath is a city of varied history and many “firsts.”
Although the layout and history of Bath doesn’t give the city the cramped, rushed feeling found in other cities such as London, there is plenty to entertain its residents and visitors other than history and architecture. There are numerous art museums throughout the city, and plenty of cinemas in addition to the theaters. The beautifully groomed parks and gardens throughout the city, such as the Parade Gardens in front of the Abbey, offer places to enjoy a relaxing walk or simply sit and enjoy the scenery. The river Avon flows through the city, creating many water sports for people to try such as rowing, punting, (using a pole to push a flat boat), or even walking over the many bridges to enjoy the view. One such celebrated walkway is the Pulteney Bridge.
Bath also offers many pubs, restaurants, bars, clubs and shopping opportunities. For many, the greatest attraction to the city are the festivals which are held year-round. Bath is the city of festivals. The International Music Festival and companion Fringe Festival are noted for their splendid fireworks. February signals the start of Bath’s International Literature Festival, including smaller attractions of hot air balloons, film, guitar, beer and, of course, Shakespeare.
The culture, history and entertainment in Bath make it one of England’s most beautiful and popularly frequented cities. It is a city bursting with life, art, music and culture, but accomplishes the difficult task of retaining all these qualities while creating the impression one would expect from a suburb. This is greatly attributed to the masterful layout of the city, its many gardens and aesthetically pleasing buildings. It is a beautiful and exciting place to visit, and for all those who wish to study abroad, the city of Bath offers a very different and stimulating perspective of Britain.
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