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After finishing up at Salisbury and Stonehenge, the next stop was Bath. You have probably heard of Bath because of the Roman Baths there, or because it’s just the quintessential picturesque English city. Bath had been on my England ‘to-do’ list for both of these reasons, and it did not disappoint! The city is quite walkable but packed with things to do for a day trip or weekend break.
My main goal while I was in Bath was to visit the Roman Baths. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Southwest of England, and I think it is definitely worth a visit. The regular price is £25, with discounts for students, under 18s, and seniors. The ticket price includes an audio guide which really brings the history of the baths to life. The main attraction is seeing the actual baths – there are two still filled with water, and several others that have since been drained. The water is quite warm, and although it is a strange green color, I could definitely see the attraction to visiting the baths.
The rest of the museum is very nice, detailing what life in Roman England was like, and how the baths were constructed. It takes about an hour and a half, and definitely worth a stop. At the very end of the museum, there is a place where you can taste the water of the baths, which are traditionally said to have healing qualities. As someone who enjoys doing strange and/or interesting things, I had to try some. It was… interesting – definitely had a very strong taste of minerals. I definitely wouldn’t choose to drink it again!
Bath is architecturally stunning. It's a great place to walk around with a camera or sketch pad or to just take it all in. Some of the buildings in Bath are quite well-known – the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Another architectural highlight for me was the view over the River Avon by the Pultney Bridge. The Pultney Bridge has many shops on it and happens to be one of the most photographed bridges in England.
Fun fact: the weir (a form of a man-made dam) below the Pultney Bridge was used in the filming of Les Miserables.
We also stopped by the Bath Abbey. The abbey is free to enter, but they do accept donations that go toward the upkeep of the abbey. It is beautiful inside, and I would highly recommend stepping inside to check it out.
Unfortunately, I only ended up being in Bath for about five hours. It was great to get a taste of the city, and I know I can't wait to return someday. Overall, the city feels like something from a Jane Austen novel. This makes sense, as Jane actually lived there for several years.
If you're looking for something else to do, Bath is also home to the Jane Austen Centre and the Fashion Museum Bath - two places I know I'd like to check out! Only about an hour and a half by train from London, this is a great place for a day trip!