Friends, Romans and My Countrymen! Lend me your eyes… for this time I am going to take you around one of England's most beautiful places. A testimony proclaiming the grand lifestlye of a roman heritage. It was in 2002 when I was in London when a friend recommended visiting a city called Bath renowned for its beauty. But, my tight schedule did not permit me a visit to the city; dipped and brightened in the essence of Roman architecture.
But as Lady Luck would have it Five years later, Bath was on my agenda for July the 28th. - If there ever be an award instated called the “Drop-Dead Beautiful Town Award”, the English town of Bath in perpetuity would surely win hands down. Bath has it all - a gorgeous location, the best Georgian architecture in the whole of England, the beautiful River Avon and Pulteney Weir, a glorious Abbey with stunning Gothic architecture and centuries-old Roman heritage. It reeks of Jane Austen’s style of gentility indeed; the legendary English author lived in the city, which now boasts of a museum in her honour which is stunningly photogenic. Put simply, Bath is a must-visit for any tourist in England.
The most popular attraction of the city is the Romans Bath Museum which still stands in great glory and delves deep into the history of the hot springs. You can wander and explore far below the street level through the elaborate spa built nearly 2,000 years ago. The Great Bath is a large, green, scummy rectangular pool surrounded by the Roman paving. Imagine… I was wandering on the same pavement that the Romans must have walked on some centuries ago…There remains today, even some of the original Roman lead plumbing.
Artifacts displayed folded strips of lead with curses written out by irked Romans who tossed them into the spring to ask Goddess Minerva for some cosmic payback against their enemies. I was intrigued by the Roman central heating system for the hot rooms. Much of Bath's look dates to a housing boom in the 1700s as the wealthy escaped dreary London to take the waters, socialize and enjoy their wealth. I remember reading somewhere that Bath was founded in 1AD by the Romans who chose to settle beside the only hot springs in the country. Hence the name. No first-time visit to Bath would be complete without a visit to the Roman Bath Museum and the Pump House. If you're really brave, you can "take the waters" at the Pump Room - as the Romans and genteel Englishmen did over a millennium-and-a-half later - for their allegedly therapeutic qualities. Be warned, however, "the waters" taste bloody horrible and you might just end up running to a nearby pub soon after.
By 400 AD and the end of the Roman influence in England, Bath had been abandoned. It remained a relative ghost town for hundreds of years until its rejuvenation began with the wool trade in the 15th Century and by the 18th Century; Bath was at the height of fashion. Architects queued up to design and build the many fine Georgian buildings that survive today. After London itself, Bath became the ultimate society address.
Which is where Jane Austen comes in! Interest in the premier English high society satirist has never been higher since Hollywood re-discovered the period costume drama. If you're in Bath and you have a penchant for all things Austen, check out ‘The Jane Austen Centre’. This is a newly installed permanent exhibition, which tells the story of Austen's experiences in Bath and the effect that living in the city had on her writing.
Other must-sees include Bath Abbey and Royal Crescent. The Abbey stands grandly alongside the Roman Baths Museum. A Roman statue stands over the Abbey, which was built in 1499 by Bishop Oliver King. The Royal Crescent reminds you of all those picture postcards you find in every brochure that touches upon Bath. The Royal Crescent is a shining example of the balanced, elegant Georgian architecture. Built in the warm, creamy limestone of the region, the semicircular structure is essentially a big condo. John Wood the Younger built it from 1767-1774 to house the rich, famous and distinguished people of his day. Nearly 250 years later, it's still prime real estate. But even the middle class can gain entrance today. There's a luxury hotel, The Royal Crescent Hotel and Bath House Spa, and (for those with a less stratospheric budget) a museum at one end of the crescent.
Being a small city, Bath is a wonderfully compact place and most of its attractions are within walking distance of each other. With an interesting selection of museums, galleries, musical events, restaurants and gracious parks, visitors to Bath can choose from all the very best of past and present.
'Et tu Brute?' Do not miss it!
For those looking for some Tourist Info on Bath, England
- Visit http://visitbath.co.uk/ or Call (011) 44-870-444-6442.
- 90 minutes By train from London Paddington, and 15 miles from Bristol International Airport; http://visitbath.co.uk/site/travel-and-maps .
- National Express bus from London Victoria or Heathrow is cheaper than the train and nearly as fast; http://www.nationalexpress.com/ .
- Thermae Bath Spa: Hot Bath Street, Bath; http://www.thermaebathspa.com/ or (011) 44-1225-33-1234. Weekday packages $130-340.
- Other attractions - Roman Baths Museum, No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey and Jane Austen Centre. The Mayor's Corps of Honorary Guides offers free two-hour tours, various times daily; http://visitbath.co.uk/site/tours/tours-round-up .
- Accommodations - Three Abbey Green, restored 17th century townhouse with excellent breakfast, $170-350 a night; http://www.threeabbeygreen.com/ or (011) 44-1225-428558. The Henry guest house, 6 Henry St., $70-170 a night; http://www.thehenry.com/ or (011) 44-1225-424052. Both require minimum two nights for Friday or Saturday.
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