Pulteney Bridge / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Heather Cowper

Where to Visit

Start your tour of this beautiful city at the Roman Baths. Built around 2000 years ago and then rediscovered by the Victorians, the unique attraction is an essential visit on your weekend and the only mineral hot springs in England. Although it’s rather pricey for the full spa treatment today, you can still taste the spa water from the fountain and dip your fingers in the Great Bath to test the waters. Wandering the underground rooms and exploring all the different areas, however, is so fascinating that you can easily while away a few hours just visiting.

If you come out of the Baths, you’ll see Bath Abbey ahead of you. The last Gothic church built in England, the impressive building is certainly worth a second look. Great views over the city can also be glimpsed from the top of the abbey tower.

From the abbey, turn right and meander your way to Parade Gardens to find Pulteney Bridge, a quaint spot on the River Avon. The bridge is also one of only four bridges in the world with shops across the length of the bridge on both sides, like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Crossing the bridge will bring you to Great Pulteney Street, a fantastic example of the city’s Georgian architecture and a great place for a stroll.

For a lazy Sunday afternoon, head over to Victoria Gardens for a glimpse of the famous Royal Crescent and an ideal picnic spot. The Botanical Gardens in the park also make a pleasant spot to wander and you can go inside the museum at No.1 Royal Crescent to experience the grandeur of 18^th century England.

Roman Baths / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by MonkeyMyshkin

Where to Eat

Although Bath is a small city, there’s a good range of restaurants and pubs for eating out. If you want to treat yourself for the weekend, indulge in a classy French meal at Raphael Restaurant (Upper Borough Walls). There are seasonal chef specials, plus an extensive wine list and an excellent pre-theatre menu for those catching a show at the nearby Theatre Royal.

There’s only one place in Bath for afternoon tea – the famous and undeniably elegant Pump Room, where you’ll sample part of the city’s history as well as some delicious cakes. For those on a budget, try a traditional Bath bun with cinnamon butter (a steal at £3.25) or go all out with the magnificent Searcys Champagne Tea (£48 for two).

Where to eat in Roman baths / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Heather Cowper

Where to Drink

Bath also has a great number of old fashioned pubs for some peaceful evening drinks. The Salamander (Quiet Street) is just the place to sample some of the local Bath Ales, whilst The Old Green Tree (Green Street) is a tiny historic pub that’s well worth the squeeze.

For a livelier weekend, try The Bell (Walcot Street) which has a bohemian atmosphere, a large beer garden perfect for summer afternoons and regular live music. Gascoyne Place (Saw Close), meanwhile, has an extensive range of beers and live jazz on Sundays.

Where to Sleep

Within walking distance from the Roman Baths and city centre, Villa Claudia is the ideal bed and breakfast in Bath for a short weekend getaway. There are three beautiful period rooms and the house itself dates back to 1896 – a great reflection of the city’s history and charm.

A few miles and a short drive outside the city, Lorne House B&B is a smart, sophisticated retreat for visitors seeking a more peaceful weekend in Bath. Recently refurbished, it has lovely solid oak floors, plush furnishings and a relaxing atmosphere.

Alice Woolliams is the Editor for Enjoybedandbreakfast.com, a travel website for accommodation with personality in the UK. The website offers a growing selection of quaint B&Bs, charming inns, small boutique hotels and guest houses. You can find her on twitter @enjoybnb when she’s not travelling the world!

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Zalakaros Thermal Spa offers 4000 m2 of water area surrounded by large forested park. The indoor treatment centre which is open all year round, includes several relaxation pools with thermal water and a large thermal pool. Here you can also enjoy a huge sauna complex, wellness center, restaurants and cafes. The large thermal swimming pool is open during the summer months only. Waterpark offers an indoor pool with thermal water and various water attractions and the multifunction sport pool. Outdoor thermal park covers a total area of ​​10 hectares, where you can enjoy the thermal relaxation pool, multipurpose pool offering lots of attractions, swimming pool with artificial waves, a children’s pool and paddling pool.

Zalakaros is one of the newest spas, its 85-99 °C hot water was discovered during exploring of oil deposits. The springs provide the active iodine and bromine water, and feature highest fluorine content of all Hungarian spa waters. The baths are suitable for treating post-operative conditions, for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, for rehabilitation and are effective in treating chronic gynecological problems and other problems.

From the nearby attractions you should not miss the bird sanctuary in Zimány, which is located only 18 kilometers away. Among other “must see attractions” are watching herds of bison, stretched 10 km from the spa centre. These animals live in Europe only rarely in the wild. Nearby Zalavár is famous for its ruins of Slavic settlements and visitors arriving by car can also include a trip to Lake Balaton.

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