English country cottages in The City of Bath, England.
Bath
The City of Bath, set in a sheltered valley on the southern edge of the Cotswold region, offers both regency charm and a modern buzz. Like Oxford, Bath is a compact city which can easily be explored on foot.
The Romans picked a good spot when they settled here over two thousand years ago. Bath is famed for its natural thermal waters, and the remains of the original Roman baths can still be viewed today. Visit the baths and you can take an audio guide around the terrace, museum (including architectural remains of the Temple of Sulis Minerva), the Temple Courtyard and King's Bath. Just above the Roman Baths is the Georgian Pump Room, where you can splash out on lunch or afternoon tea. The Pump Room is also the place to sample the spa water straight from its source.
Bath Abbey is an imposing medieval church dating back to 1499. Two previous churches had occupied the site - an Anglo-Saxon construction from 757, and later a massive Norman Cathedral built in 1090. The West Front of Bath Abbey has some interesting features depicting the dream that supposedly inspired the Abbey's founder, Bishop Oliver King, to pull down the ruined Norman Cathedral and build the present building.
There are around five thousand 'listed' buildings in Bath, so it's just brimming with architectural gems. The 'Royal Crescent' is a spectacular curved row of Georgian buildings looking out onto the Royal Victoria Park. The crescent includes some very exclusive hotels as well as private properties. 'The Circus' is similarly impressive, except here the elegant facades sweep around in a full circle. Putney Bridge is another of Bath's distinctive architectural features, being one of the few bridges in the world to be lined with shops on both sides.
The Museum of Costume in Bath has an impressive collection of fashionable dress dating from the 16th Century to the present day. There are over 30,000 items here - men's, women's and children's. Only part of the collection is on display at one time, so there's always something new to see. The museum also presents special themed exhibitions. For those into their fashion, Bath is also a great for shopping. There are familiar big-name stores as well as smaller independent shops.
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