History

Bath is founded around the only naturally occurring hot springs in the United Kingdom. Three of these springs feed the thermal baths from which the city's name is derived. Bath is situated at the bottom of the Avon Valley and near the southern edge of the Cotswolds, a range of limestone hills designated as an Area33 of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The city is connected to Bristol and the sea by the River Avon, and to the River Thames and London by the Kennet and Avon Canal.

One cannot overstate Bath's historical importance. It represents within it all significant stages of the history of England - from the Roman Baths (including their significant Celtic presence), to Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent, to Thermae Bath Spa in the 2000s. In 1987, Bath was designated a World Heritage Site.

Bath was first documented as a Roman spa, although archaeological evidence shows that it was founded earlier. The site of the Roman Baths' main spring was treated as a shrine by the Celts, who believed its waters to be a cure for many afflictions and dedicated it to the goddess Sulis. When the Romans occupied Bath shortly after their invasion of Britain in 43 AD, they knew it as Aquae Sulis (literally "the waters of Sul"). During the Roman period, increasingly grand temples and bathing complexes were built in the area. Rediscovered from the 18th century onward, they have become one of the city's main attractions.

Bath was an extremely fashionable cultural hub during the 18th century, attracting the aristocracy and gentry from far and wide. Its popularity as a resort city for the wealthy generated the finance and incentive to undertake large cultural developments. It was during this time that Bath's Theater Royal was first built, as well as architectural triumphs such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge.

The city is home to the Victoria Art Gallery, the Museum of East Asian Art and the Holburne Museum of Art, as well as numerous museums, among them the  Bath Postal Museum, the Bath Museum of Costume, the Jane Austen Centre, the William Herschel Museum and the Roman Baths.

There are several public parks, the main one being Royal Victoria Park, a short walk from the centre of the city. Several events are held in the park every year, including the Bath International Music Festival, and it is favoured as a take-off site by hot air balloon companies. The park features a botanical garden, a large children's play park, and sports facilities, including crazy golf, bowls and lawn tennis. Other parks include Parade Gardens, Sydney Gardens, Henrietta Park, and Hedgemead Park.

With this wealth of heritage and cultural attractions it is no wonder that thousands of visitors come to Bath every year. Tourism is Bath's principal industry and several companies offer open-top bus tours around the city, as well as tours on foot and on the river.

For more information about the things there are to see and do in Bath, the Tourist Information Centre (next to the Abbey) is open:

Monday to Saturday: 09:30 – 18:00

Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00

Their website www.visitbath.co.uk is highly recommended as it's packed with fresh ideas and will keep you updated with news about seasonal events, including Bath's numerous festivals:

Bath International Music Festival

Bath Fringe Festival

Mozartfest

Bath Film Festival

Bath Literature Festival

Taste of Bath Festival