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The Romans established the City of Bath in AD 43 and this city, awash with architecture, history and culture, has been welcoming visitors ever since. Many of Bath's great buildings date back from its renaissance in the 18th century when it again became a fashionable spa town and played host to royalty and the cream of aristocracy, who visited the city to "take the waters". Today, visitors can walk around the old Roman Baths, enjoy the splendour of Bath Abbey or simply take in the breathtaking Georgian architecture of this beautiful city, which somehow managed to escape the ravages of industry and the Luftwaffe.
Jane Austen lived and based many of her books on Bath, and on Gay Street, near where she once lived, visitors can find the Jane Austen Centre, which displays her life and times. For an authentic feel of life gone by, period decorations and furniture have been reinstated in No1 Royal Crescent, so that the house appears as it might have been as a fine 18th-century townhouse. Though architecturally Bath is something of a period piece, it is also a very modern city; its restaurants and pavement cafes packed full of local businessmen and artisans. The International Music Festival marks the beginning of summer and adds to the city's lively, festive atmosphere and its Theatre Royal is one of the country's leading provincial theaters, attracting big names and pre-West End runs.
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Peak Season:The parks, museums, architecture, Bath International Music Festival, and language schools bring hordes of visitors to Bath in summer. The music festival runs for 17 days in late May and early June.
Off Season:Spring is an excellent time to visit Bath. The parks and gardens are in bloom, the weather is mild, and there are fewer tourists.
Winter in Bath is chilly and damp, but you can visit the sights at leisure and find lower rates.
There is so much to see in Bath, and it is an easy city to explore. On foot is one of the best ways to take in the sights, and many of the attractions are grouped together making for a pleasant amble. There are all types of guided walks, ranging from historical to ghost and comedy.
Hop-on hop-off tour buses take you around the city, and several bus lines offer tours of Bath. The public bus service covers the city and connects the city centre with the outlying areas. For a different vantage point, try touring Bath via a hot-air balloon flight or a boat ride.
Taxis are available, and driving is not out of the question. Bath does have a one-way street system that can be frustrating and parking is a problem, but if you park early and avoid rush-hour traffic, you should not have much trouble. Another option is to park at one of the park-and-ride lots outside the city and take a shuttle to the city centre.
Bristol International Airport (BRS) (website: www.bristolairport.co.uk/)
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Jane AustenTwo classic books by Austen that are set in the city.
Katharine ReeveIf you’d prefer not to take an official tour, but make your own way round the city, this book highlights some of the best sites for a bit of Austen-spotting.
Wendy HoldenComic tale of yummy mummies living the high life in Bath…
Roald DahlContains the short ghost story “The Landlay” in which Billy Weaver moves to Bath and checks in to a B&B, only to discover that the landlady may have a few secrets…
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