Renowned for its Roman Baths and therapeutic waters, Bath
is a beautiful city with many heritage sites. Alongside its Medieval cathedral, the city centre is filled with Georgian buildings
in Bath stone, built in the 18th century. Then, it was a fashionable town, attracting
writers, artists, royalty and politicians. Today it retains its grandeur and English charm, with a sense of luxury and quirky
corners that are home to artisans producing hand-crafted goods.
Bath
Abbey
Bathis
dominated by the imposing Abbey, over 500 years old, built on the site of a Saxon monastery where the first King of Bath was
crowned in 973. It has beautifully restored stonework and some of the finest fan vaulting in the country.
The
abbey frequently plays host to organists, choirs and orchestras, often as part of the Bath Festivals programme. Choristers
can often be heard practising for the regular services held at this busy community church.
Out in the churchyard is the unique Jacobs Ladder, showing the rise of the angels to heaven and the fall of the devils to
hell. Beneath the abbey, the Heritage Vaults Museum tells the story of 1600 years of Christianity in the city.
The
Royal Crescent
The
Royal Crescent in Bath is one of the most recognisable buildings in Britain.
It was built to the designs of John Wood the Younger between 1767 and 1774 and is considered one of the finest achievements
of 18th-century urban architecture. It also forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the City of Bath, along with the Roman Baths and the Assembly Rooms.
Constructed
to accommodate Bath's wealthy and distinguished visitors, The Royal Crescent is
a series of attached houses - 30 on completion - forming an elliptical curve spanning 152 metres. Its grandeur is heightened
by the 114 Ionic columns, each six metres high, that line its façade.
Museum of Costume
The Museum of Costume is one of Bath's
most visited attractions. The large collection is housed in the magnificent Assembly Rooms and covers the history of fashion
from the 16th century to the present day.
Hand-held
audioguides, provided at no extra charge, allow visitors to learn about the items on display, while allowing the curators
to keep the lighting low in order to preserve the fragile garments. Permanent exhibitions include the Dress of the Year collection,
which traces significant moments in fashion history, and there are also special themed exhibitions.
Originally known as the Upper Rooms, the Assembly Rooms were designed by John Wood the Younger
and opened in 1771. The magnificent interior consists of a splendid Ball Room, Tea Room and Card Room, connected by two fine
octagonal rooms.
Prior Park Landscaped GardenPriorPark Landscape Garden was created by local entrepeneur and philanthropist Ralph
Allen and is set in a sweeping valley with magnificent views of the city of Bath.
Interesting features include an 18th-century Palladian bridge and three lakes.
An
ongoing restoration process, the Wilderness Project, has reinstated the Serpentine Lake, the cascade and the grass cabinet (due for completion in May 2007). The renovation of Mrs
Allen's Grotto and the Gothic Temple
are two ongoing projects that will continue over the next few years.
Just
five minutes from the gardens there is a six-mile walk, Bath Skyline, that encircles the city, passing through woodland, meadows,
an Iron-Age hill fort, Roman settlements and 18th-century follies, offering some great views.
Please note: the gardens can be visited all year round, but only at weekends from November to February.
Holburne Museum of
Art
Bath's Holburne Museum of Art is located in a fine historic building that was once the Sydney Hotel. In 1916 it became home to the
superb collection of art of Sir William Holburne.
Holburne's
collection is best known for its silver and Old Masters, including pieces by Gainsborough and Turner, but there are also a
substantial number of Italian bronzes, maiolica, porcelain, glass, furniture and portrait miniatures.
Parts of the collection also have connections with the city, including Angelica Kauffmann's portrait
of Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Hone's miniature of Beau Nash, the city's
famous Master of Ceremonies, and Joseph Plura's masterpiece Diana and Endymion, made in Bath in 1752.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions
and events throughout the year.
