Truly a gem of the glorious county of Somerset, this World Heritage Site has much to offer visitors of all ages. With a wide range of places to visit within the magnificent city itself, as well as the beautiful surrounding countryside, there is plenty to recommend Bath as an ideal place to take up holiday accommodation – a base from which to explore the city and the glorious rural towns and villages which reflect the contrasts of agricultural and industrial heritage.
In order to gain the greatest freedom to explore, many visitors choose self-catering accommodation and there are many picturesque cottages available to enhance your stay and ensure best value for your visit.
Bath, chartered as a city by Queen Elizabeth I, has its roots as a spa resort established by the Romans. Its natural hot springs, the only ones in the UK, have been central to the growth of the city, where the waters quite literally gave rise to the classical Georgian edifices which typify the city and of which the world renowned Royal Crescent is just one of many examples.
With roots traceable from early Celtic lore, Bath can portray a step by step growth, which though not always absolutely sympathetic, has endowed the city with a character all of its own. Though the Great Bath is founded upon Roman origins, much of the building has been far more recently constructed, whilst successfully embracing the ambience of the health giving hot mineral waters.
Stoically surviving the rigours of Saxon, Norman and Medieval upheavals, Bath regained its due status within the Tudor/Elizabethan periods. Surviving the Civil War unscathed, Bath continued to thrive and grow during the lengthy Georgian dynasties.
The popularity of the spa elements naturally generated the necessary attendant social facilities. The Theatre Royal and Grand Pump Room became key to the developments of the 18th and 19th centuries, enhanced by gardens and sympathetic beautiful domestic and commercial buildings.
Situated at the southern edge of the Cotswolds and set in the Avon valley surrounded by hills, the very geography has been of the essence in the construction of the city of Bath. With the growth of popularity and the need for accommodation, the Georgian era saw the building of serried ranks and facades of houses climbing the steep streets and roads which rise from the city centre. Often these facades fronted up a quite motley assortment of housing styles and this is true even of the panoramic Royal Crescent.
By virtue of the declaration by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (1987), Bath was able to avoid succumbing to much late 20th century garish development. With its current main status as a centre for tourism, this University City achieves the unlikely in boasting fine museums, historical monuments, and beautiful gardens, cultural and sporting venues alongside quality dining to include the eponymous Sally Lunn Bath Bun, good shopping, and even a vibrant nightlife.
Yes, Bath is definitely well worth a visit.