Bath is a city in the county of Somerset, situated 97 miles west of London and it’s easily reached from the capital city as it’s only around 90 minutes by train from London Paddington. Originally a spa town in the Roman era, it’s now a World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical importance: the Roman remains and Bath’s spectacular Georgian architecture are the reasons for this award.

The Roman Baths at Bath, England, UK by Stewart Robotham / License: Creative Commons

Getting around Bath

The city centre is easily navigable on foot, however, for a first visit you may want to take advantage of the tour buses that circulate amongst the main attracts.

What to see in Bath

One of the most famous sites of Bath, and one of the best examples of Georgian architectural design in the UK, is The Royal Crescent, a curved street of 30 terraced houses dating from the second half of the eighteenth century and a major influence on architecture. It’s been seen on the big screen in the 1998 film “The Duchess” starring Keira Knightley amongst others. It’s not the only crescent in the city – better views are to be had from the slightly less grand Camden Crescent.

The Roman Baths have recently undergone a huge renovation project and feature England’s only hot springs. A must-do is to have a taste of the minerally water while you’re there and if you visit on a summer evening, you’ll be able to experience the beautifully atmospheric site when it’s lit by torchlight.

There is one famous author who is of course a looming presence in Bath, Jane Austen and there’s a whole “Experience” dedicated to her at The Jane Austen Centre. Here you can take tea (don’t leave the city without having a cream tea) and discover how her experience of the city influenced her writing. There’s even a Jane Austen Festival in September.

The Hershel Museum of Astronomy is situated in a beautifully preserved Georgian townhouse and celebrates the work of William Herschel, he who discovered the planet Uranus. Not to be missed if you’re at all interested in the history of science and astronomy.

Bath Abbey, England, UK by Clay Shonkwiler

Where to Stay

For a real treat, stay in The Royal Crescent itself with its beautifully presented Georgian interiors plus modern facilities. A more reasonably priced boutique option in a central location in the city is stylish The Halcyon.

Where to Eat

Beautiful little tapas dishes and more substantial evening and lunchtime meals are available at the Same Same but Different cafe – I’m not getting my words confused there, that’s actually the name. For excellent pub grub overlooking the Bath countryside, the Hare & Hounds inn caters for those after just a sandwich and soup, or a three course slap-up meal.

Why Bath?

History is alive and well and living in Bath: you can smell it on the air as well as see it in the streets. If you’re a fan of ultra-modern cities, this one isn’t for you. But if you’ve an appreciation of the past, an interest in architecture and a hankering to walk in the steps of Roman spa-goers, then Bath’s the place to be.

Picturesque City of Bath, England, UK by Karen Roe

Julie loves writing about her travels through short guides on places she visited. She also writes for Fortina Spa Resort, one of the top hotels in Malta specializing in state of the art spa & welness treatments.

The post A Trip To Bath | England, UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

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.

The post Top Seven Reasons to Visit Bath | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.

Bath

As the site of one of the most famous baths in Roman Britain, the same springs are still in use today. Locals get a big discount on the modern iteration of the city spa, but the Thermae Bath Spa is still open to visitors wanting to experience Bath’s purportedly healing waters. As a hub of social activity during the Regency Period, Bath was also the setting for a number of Jane Austen’s novels. Fans of her novels can visit the Jane Austen Centre to learn more about the city during this period.

Bath Abbey / Harpreet Riat

York

This northern city got its start as a Roman town known as Eboracum, and then Viking settlement known as Jorvik. Every year, York holds a Viking Festival celebrating its past, which a definite must-see for families. During the Victorian period, the city was also important for the industry of the North, which can still be seen in its National Railway Museum. In particular, the city was known for confectionary with the Rowntree Mackintosh and Terry’s factories.

Edinburgh

Scotland’s old capital city has plenty of historic sites to satisfy even the most picky of its visitors. Discerning travellers will appreciate the five star hotels within a stone’s throw of all the must-see locations in the closely-places old and new towns. As a centre of the Scottish Enlightenment, Edinburgh was also an important city for scientific learning during the Georgian period. Nowadays, you can see some of this past in the Surgeon’s Museum, where examples of the anatomical teaching equipment of past centuries are kept, as well as on the University of Edinburgh campus itself.

Edinburgh castle / Edinburgh Castle Entrance

Oxford

It may mainly be on the map for its esteemed university (incidentally, the oldest university in the English speaking world), but Oxford is also a city with a lot of history, with buildings representing every architectural style in England since the Saxons. It’s not surprising that the Christ Church College hall was rumoured to be an inspiration for Hogwart’s Hall in the Harry Potter series. Like Edinburgh, a number of Oxford’s hotels are also well-placed for exploring historical sites. The Macdonald Randolph Hotel, for instance, is right across the street from Britain’s first public museum. In addition to the cities, the UK also has a fantastic array of country houses and historic properties to explore. When planning your vacation, be sure to pencil in some time to tour around the surrounding areas.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/london-south-england/oxford/

View The Historic Cities of the UK in a larger map

The post The Historic Cities of the UK appeared first on Best of European Union.