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| Bath and North East Somerset, South West, England |
Designated a World heritage Site in 1987, due to its historical, cultural and architectural significance, Bath is a must see for any visitor to England. Baths’ attraction has always been the thermal hot springs which has drawn people to the area since 5000 B.C. when Stone Age hunters, left their mark here by leaving behind some flint tools. However Bath really took shape when the Romans built the sacred bathing complex and town, and the history of the city began. Located just 15 kilometres south-east of Bristol, and built in a bend of the River Avon, Bath has a feeling of substance and elegance, and is surrounded by pleasant countryside with beautiful stone villages.
Bath is one of Britain’s oldest cities, and the most complete and best-preserved Georgian city in Britain. Its’ history began in A.D. 44 when it became an important Roman settlement, Aquae Sulis, because of its warm mineral springs. It remained a prosperous town throughout the Middle Ages but its main claim to fame came with the 18th century, when Dr William Oliver built a bath here for the treatment of gout. At the same time the architect John Wood, with backing from Ralph Allen, a wealthy philanthropist, created the showpiece of Georgian architecture you see today. Beau Nash, the 18th century dandy, brought the elite of London to the baths to drink the noxious waters (which must be doing good as it tastes so nasty!); and to the balls and assemblies that made it famous for elegance. Many authors have described Bath in their works, including Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. The Roman Baths, which flourished here for four centuries, are the best-preserved Roman remains in England. They were lost for centuries and the Great Bath was only re-discovered in 1878. There is an adjoining museum which contains an exceptional collection of Roman artefacts. The Baths are to be found in the centre of town, along with the elegant 18th century Pump Room with its statue of Beau Nash, and the Abbey. There has been an Abbey in Bath since Saxon times but it was almost completely rebuilt in the 17th century and heavily restored in the 19th. Inside are many memorials to the fashionable inhabitants of the city in its heyday. Some of the most spectacular architecture is to be found in the Royal Crescent (No.1 Royal Crescent has been restored as an example of a fine 18th century house containing beautiful period furniture) and the Circus, and the Upper Assembly Rooms is one of Bath’s grandest public buildings. It now houses the Museum of Costume covering fashion from 1580 to the present.
Other sites, in the city, worthy of mention:
The Huntingdon Centre, in the Paragon, houses displays of Bath’s history and a scale model of the city.
Pulteney Bridge, inspired by the Ponte Vecchio of Florence, is the only bridge in England completely lined with shops on both sides.
Milsom Street, the main shopping street in Bath and the place where, in Jane Austen’s day, young ladies spent a lot of their time and money.
The museum of the Royal Photographic Society, housed in the 18th century Octagon building, once a private chapel, has a fine display of historic photographs and photographic equipment.
The Guildhall, completed in 1775, contains a magnificent Banqueting Hall with Adam’s style plasterwork.
Burrows Toy Museum has a huge array of children’s toys from the past three centuries.
The Bath Industrial Heritage Centre in Julian Road, the Camden Works, preserves Bath’s Victorian Industrial Heritage.
Sally Lunn’s House in old Lilliput Alley, celebrated for its famous bun, dates from 1482 and reputedly the oldest inhabited house in Bath. It is now a tea shop.
The Carriage Museum has many carriages from the 18th century on display. You can even take a ride, if you wish!
Other places of interest within 30 kilometres:
Claverton, where Ralph Allen, one of the creators of Georgian Bath is buried, is also home to the first museum of American Life in Britain.
Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum of Photography and Lacock Village, the whole, a National Trust property.
Dyrham Park, late 17th century mansion, garden and deer park. Another National Trust property.
Castle Combe, one of the most photographed, and photogenic, villages in the country. It was once a weaving centre and the Weaver’s House, where the villagers took the cloth after weaving it in their homes, still stands by the river.
Norton St Phillip, home to the 15th century George Inn, believed to be the oldest in England.
Mells, one of the most beautiful villages in Somerset. It was the seat of the Horner family, one member of which is said to be the original for the nursery rhyme ‘Little Jack Horner’.
Did you know that – the first ever penny black postage stamp was posted in Bath from Broad Street?
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| Accommodation | Activities | Tours |  |
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Ston Eastern Park Hotel
Bath
 | A superb Palladian mansion set in one of the West Country's most romantic estates, Ston Easton Park exudes elegance, warmth and comfort. Log fires burn, comfortable antique furniture and exquisite paintings beckon, evoking memories of a more leisured age and providing a welcome you might associate w... |
| The Old Priory Hotel | The beautiful Old Priory Hotel dates back to medieval times and offers guests a delightful place to stay in the heart of Somerset. The hotel is also home to the famed Moody Goose restaurant. Lovingly preserved, the hotel is full of character and charm: inglenook fireplaces, flagstone floors, oak bea... |
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Mayor of Bath Honorary Guides Walking Tour
Walking
Bath |  Walking Tours of Bath. A free service provided daily (Sunday - Friday 10.30 & 14.00, Sat 10.30), tours leave from outside the Abbey Churchyard entrance to the Pump Room. May to September additional tours on Tuesday and Friday at 19.00. Tours last approximately 2 hours.
No pre-booking necessary fo... |
First Flight Hot Air Ballooning
Hot Air Ballooning
Wells | Balloon flights over Bristol, are operated by a local independant experienced company. First Flight is run by West Country balloonist, Nigel and his team who have been offering champagne balloon flights specifically in this area for over 18 years. They have several launch sites to choose from in ... |
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Walking
Bath |  One of only four Palladian bridges of this design in the world can be crossed at Prior Park, which was created in the 18th century by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from 'Capability' Brown and the poet Alexander Pope. The garden is set in a sweeping valley where visitors can enjoy magni... |
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Britain Sampler
6 days |  This is a good tour for those travellers who want to see some of the most well-known sights in England and of course cross the border to the wonderful city of Edinburgh. Being six days instead of four days from other companies, this tour want seem so rushed.
Take a special walk through the ornam... |
Britain & Ireland Explorer
13 days |  This is a well paced tour and will suit the experienced and first-time travellers. It is a comprehensive introductiion to the highlights of England, Scotland and Ireland, and will appeal to those with a love of the history and tradition.
From London you travel through Oxfordshire to Shakespeares... |
London & Paris + 2 days Paris
9 days |  Spend your time discovering London & Paris with this action-packed tour. No need to negotiate maps, guidebooks, or public transport - leave that to us! Your 3 days in London include a city tour of the major sites, a day trip to Bath & Stonehenge, tickets to a West End musical & plenty of free time. ... |
Wonders of Britain & Ireland
12 days |  Through the cities of London, Bath, Salisbury, Dublin and Oxford, experience the Britain and Ireland of a simpler time. On this tour see medieval castles and churches that have stood for centuries, admire Ireland's breathtaking Ring of Kerry and stand in awe before the mysterious Stonehenge.
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Highlights of Britain
10 days | This is a very good tour for the first time visitors as it covers most of the major must-see sights in Britain.
Leaving London you will travel to the University city of Oxford, see Winston Churchill's grave at Bladon, fall in love with the Cotswolds and learn more about Shakespeare at Stratford-u... |
Amazing Britain
8 days |  Experience the fascinating Britain of a very different era as you visit Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, Scotland's Edinburgh Castle, the Roman spa in Bath and the magical stone circle that is Stonehenge. Also visit the handsome cities of York, Durham, St. Andrews and Salisbury.
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England, Scotland & Wales
10 days |  Begin your holiday with sightseeing in London before heading to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Pass Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest and take a walking tour of York, England’s most complete medieval city. In Scotland, see the mighty Edinburgh Castle with its Crown Jewels; visit the Highland capital ... |
England & Scotland
9 days |  The England & Scotland tour will take you away to a whirlwind of sightseeing, medieval history and culture. Rolling green hills and cosy pubs are what England & Scotland are all about. Not to mention the beautiful cities of Bath and York, the awesome Stonehenge, Stirling Castle and the wild and be... |
London & Paris + Amsterdam
9 days |  Spend your time discovering London, Paris & Amsterdam with this action packed tour. No need to negotiate maps, guidebooks, or public transport - leave that to us! Your 3 days in London include a city tour of the major sites, a day trip to Bath & Stonehenge, a tickets to a West End musical & plenty o... |
Britain & Ireland Discovery
22 days |  This is a well paced tour for those who want a comprehensive tour of Britain and Ireland.
After leaving London you will visit the University city of Oxford, fall in love with the picture perfect Cotswolds and spend your first night in Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. The ladies will enjoy the W... |
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