There is no denying that a major reason people visit southwest England is to see the history in Bath. Now that I’ve spent a weekend there, I can see why. A visitor doesn’t need to be a history buff to appreciate this city. However, the architecture, the views from the upper level of the city’s most famous attraction and its accessibility by train make this a weekend getaway to put on your list.
Transportation & Lodging
Bath is a three-hour train ride west of Cambridge, which makes it a great weekend city break. The rail station is also very centrally located so you can walk to many of the hotels and historic sites from there. However, on the weekend we wanted to go, things were booked up and expensive. Fortunately, we were willing to think outside of the proverbial box a little bit. We found the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel an extra 20-minute train ride outside of Bath in Bristol and stayed there.
It was a beautiful, old property with a great restaurant and a special event space called The Palm Court that was a special thrill for me. Readers from my hometown will see why the Palm Court resonated with me. We got upgraded to a pretty (and quirky-shaped) suite. What a lovely place to lay our heads after hours of exploring.
Bathing in History in Bath
First, yes, the city is named for actual baths. Dating back to the Roman Empire, the city grew due to its popularity as a place to enjoy the healing powers of its natural, spring-fed baths. I don’t want to overwhelm readers with the history here, so I will just say that the baths are roughly 2,000 years old and were not just recreational. The baths were a place to worship the goddess Sullis Minerva.
Today, there is a wonderful audio tour that guides visitors through the museum and throughout the huge complex of buildings that are only a fraction of what originally stood on that spot. We paid 28 GBP per person (currently $36) and though it sounds steep, it was well worth it.
The museum’s use of multimedia to enhance the visitor’s immersion into the era was just awesome. There were 3D models of what the complex originally looked like. But, the coolest feature, were the life-sized people that appeared as projections on the walls of the ancient spaces. In this way, you can see Roman citizens using the spaces the way they were intended; walking to worship, dressing after bathing, exercising in the gymnasium and more.
Today, the stunning upper terrace with its sculptures of Julius Caesar and other historically important governors is open to the sky, but originally, it was covered by a vaulted roof. This roof limited the amount of sunlight and inhibited the growth of algae. Today, the water is green because of that algae.
Walking Through History in Bath
We then found a walking tour online and spent the rest of the day walking 6 miles around the town to see the historic neighborhoods. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This organization “promotes world peace and security through international cooperation education, arts, sciences, and culture.” Fun Fact: America has 38 properties on the list (mostly our national parks) and England has 29 sites, whereas, Italy has 81.
The walking tour we found allowed us to listen on our phones to a little message about each place so that we understood what we were looking at. It was great fun to be able to explore the city at our own pace! In particular, The Royal Crescent and The King’s Circus were two neighborhoods that showcasing here.
Both neighborhoods were designed for wealthy aristocrats to visit the city and still have the grandeur of a country estate accessible to them. Their snooty reputations remained intact because, though, the buildings are individual apartments on the interior, the exteriors do look like one long mansion built along an impressive curvature.
Final Thoughts on Bath
In the height of tourist season (summer), this city gets busy. Crazy busy. So, if you can’t travel in the shoulder season or the off-season, you’ll want to book your tickets to the Roman Baths online in advance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit their highly rated fashion museum because that is closed for several years while they renovate and prepare to move to a new space. I was crushed about that.
A weekend is the perfect amount of time to visit Bath. If you have more time, consider adding on a visit to Wales, which is just a 4-hour drive from Bath. Truthfully, I suggest any excuse you can find to see Wales.
Wherever you’re traveling this summer and fall, don’t forget to make your lodging reservations by clicking on the ad below.
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