Top Seven Reasons to Visit Bath | United Kingdom

Do you feel in need of a wash? Just joking, of course, by Bath we mean Bath Spa, one of the most beautiful and elegant holiday destinations in the UK.

The Hot Spring at Bath, UK by Alun Salt

Here are seven of the top reasons why a holiday in Bath may be right for you.

1) Two millennia of spa history

Bath contains the only natural hot springs in the UK and that has made it one of the world’s most famous spa destinations for over 2000 years. What’s more, the spa tradition is still going strong today. You can still bathe in the hot springs, a plethora of other spas and spa hotels offer options to suit every taste and budget.

2) Indulge your inner Elizabeth Bennett or Mr Darcy

Jane Austen lived in Bath for five years and set two of her best known novels there: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. If regency elegance appeals to you, then there is no better time to visit Bath than September, when it hosts an annual Jane Austen festival. There are Austen-related entertainments all year round too: you can go on an audio tour, visit the Jane Austen Centre or simply walk round and enjoy the Regency buildings, which have been the setting for many a television adaptation of Miss Austen’s works.

3) Shop ’til you drop!

Bath is well known for its wide range of independent shops and boutiques, so you will be sure to find treasures that are unavailable elsewhere.

4) Taking refreshment

Visit the famous Pump Rooms to take afternoon tea in true regency style while enjoying the music of the excellent Pump Room Trio and the architecture of the neo-classical salon. Alternatively, try the Jane Austen Tea Rooms, Sally Lunn’s Refreshment House (where you can sample one of the famous Sally Lunn buns) or one of the other cafes and tearooms in the city centre. Many hotels in Bath also do excellent afternoon teas.

5) Boat trip

There is a delightful one hour boat trip that will take you round some of the best sights in Bath. For special occasions, you can even charter your own boat and party on the river.

Boat trip in Bath, UK by Andrea DG

6) Museums and art galleries

There are twenty or more museums and art galleries in and around Bath, so there should be something to suit everyone from fashion addicts (the Bath Fashion Museum) to high art aficionadi (the Victoria Art Gallery) to steam fanatics (the Somerset and Dorset Railway). Bath itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you can even think of the whole city as one big museum or art attraction.

7) Theatre

Visiting the theatre was one of Jane Austen’s favourite pastimes and it’s a tradition that still continues to this day. For families, there is the delightful Egg Theatre, and the prestigious Theatre Royal offers something for everyone. Alternatively, the Ustinov Theatre offers a more modern, cutting-edge range of works.

For more seasonal events, visiting Bath in August & September brings its own delights in the form of the many festivals, such as the Ilford Art Festival and the Bath Folk Festival. Stay at one of the numerous Hotels in Bath & take your time enjoying the city’s beautiful and diverse attractions.

Tags: afternoon tea, afternoon teas, bath spa, elegant holiday, elizabeth bennett, holiday destinations in the uk, independent shops, jane austen centre, miss austen, mr darcy, own boat, regency buildings, regency style, sally lunn, spa destinations, tea rooms, television adaptation

Category: Cities, Cities