Bath was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. World Heritage Sites are ‘places of outstanding universal value to the whole of humanity’ like The Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon, so this City is something very, very special! The walk across the city from my hotel was breath taking, there are so many beautiful buildings on every corner. The widespread use of local limestone and the uniform scale and height of the buildings contributes to the beauty of the city.
I walked across the iconic Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides. I was surprised to find that when I was standing on the bridge that it was very difficult to see that I was still on a bridge! I could not see the river! It was only when I looked right through the small shops to the windows on the other side that I could see the river below.
My walk up Great Pulteney Street was stunning with fine tall Georgian terraces on both sides clamouring for my attention. At over 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, Great Pulteney Street is the widest, grandest thoroughfare in Bath, flanked on either side by beautiful Georgian properties. The big bold solid wooden doors at the top of a short series of wide stone steps at many of the properties were simply awesome. Some of the properties also had extremely beautiful and delicate iron balconies or arches around their doors or entrances.
At one end of the street is Laura Place, with its pretty fountain at the centre whilst at the other end stands the magnificent Holburne Museum, the city’s first public art gallery, and Sydney Gardens, the only remaining eighteenth-century pleasure gardens in the country! Down the back of these terraces, I got a glimpse of Bath Rugby Club and more surprisingly street signs to the Bath Croquet Club. Only in Bath have I seen a croquet club so prominently advertised. I simply loved Holburne House and would recommend a visit for lovers of fine architecture, art or simply to stop for a break. The House is beautiful & the works of Art within its walls incredible. I spent several hours browsing the galleries and had a nice cup of coffee and a cake at the end of my visit in the pleasant terrace café at the rear.
The Royal Crescent is an architectural marvel. When people think of the City of Bath, the iconic Royal Crescent is one of the first things they think of, after the Thermal Roman Spa Baths. No.1 Royal Crescent is the first building at the eastern end of the Royal Crescent and is of national architectural and historic importance. It is without doubt one of the UK’s most important buildings and one of the most significant urban architectural achievements of the 18th century, representing the highest point of Palladian architecture in Bath. Standing outside facing the building I could only marvel at the symmetrical five-window frontage with the central Doric doorcase. It is such a beautiful building.
No.1 operates as a public “historic house” museum, furnished to represent life in one of the great houses of 18th century Bath, displaying authentic room sets, furniture, pictures and other items illustrating Georgian domestic life both ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’. The Netflix drama Bridgerton featured No. 1 as the house belonging to the Featherington family, which is of great interest to many viewers of this popular period drama, including my wife!
No visit to Bath would be complete without a trip to the unique ancient site of the Roman Baths where you can find out how Bath’s former residents relaxed all those centuries ago. You can’t take a dip at the Roman Baths any longer, but you can still immerse yourself in the same natural hot spring waters at the Thermae Bath Spa whilst enjoying a spectacular rooftop pool offering 360-degree views of the city.
I can fully recommend taking the Bath Abbey Tower Tour. If you are up to the challenge & capable of climbing the 212 steps to the top, you will see the bell chamber, stand above Bath Abbey’s vaulted ceiling and actually sit behind the clock face! Once you reach the roof, you will also be rewarded with spectacular views over the city and surrounding countryside.
Bath has a treasure chest of museums and art galleries to choose from. Why not soak up some style at the Fashion Museum, visit the Victoria Art Gallery for classic and contemporary art in a splendid Victorian setting or cloak yourself in the dark world of Mary Shelley and her famous gothic creation at the House of Frankenstein?
The City of Bath has so much more to offer at all times of the year. Stunning sights crop up around almost every corner of the city, take a stroll around another Georgian marvel The Circus, enjoy spectacular vistas from the top of Alexandra Park, take a break in the landscaped gardens of Prior Park or take tea & a bun at Sally Lunn’s House.
Bath is waiting for you to come & explore.
Jim Davis is a retired Northamptonshire secondary school teacher. Having worked as a freelance journalist for many years, he now writes a travel blog. Please contact him directly at thetravellocker@outlook.com or on Facebook @thetravellocker
