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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Summer days can start out cloudy and cool and be hot by afternoon. August is the hottest month when it can reach the 20s (Celsius). Bath’s winters are long and chilly with the occasional mild day. December through February temperatures range from about 2 to 8 degrees. There is little snow, but icy rain is typical. Spring is mild and warm with May temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees.
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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.
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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.
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- One of the first things most visitors want to do on arriving in the city is find a nice café for a cream tea. But don't feel you're simply indulging yourself – eating in Bath isn't just eating, it's taking part in a long history. The Bath Bun, for example, a doughy bun with raisins or candied fruit, has a long heritage. References to the bun can be found as early as 1763. Bath buns are still made primarily in the town. Sally Lunn’s buns, a kind of teacake, are also a speciality of the region. The buns have been made for more than 300 years. The best place to eat them is the Sally Lunn Restaurant and Museum, where you can learn all about their history as well as enjoying the taste.
- The famous thermal waters of Bath, which were first enjoyed by the Romans, are once again a pleasure to relax in after the opening in 2006 of the Thermae Bath Spa. The opening was long awaited and was originally meant to take place in 2002. The wait proved worthwhile, however, as the spa is a highly relaxing and luxurious place to visit. The only place in the UK with hot springs, the spa utilises them in two natural baths and an indoor and outdoor pool.
- Eat in the elegant Pump Room while the musicians play, and check the time with the clock made by the famous clock-maker Thomas Tompion. This was where aristocratic society met to gossip, dance and intrigue.
- The best known of Bath’s beautiful streets is the Royal Crescent, built in the 1770s. Stroll along the crescent and imagine you are walking the pages of a Jane Austen novel…
- Alternatively, take an official Jane Austen tour through the streets of the town. Bath is proud of its most famous resident, though she herself thought little of the city. Tours take an hour and a half and pass the buildings featured in novels such as Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. The cost is £4.50.
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