Bath Things to Do Tips by Ben-UK

Bath Abbey (Cathedral) Bath Abbey Review

Bath Abbey (Cathedral), or to give it its correct name The Abbey Church of St.Peter, is situated in the centre of Bath. The basis of the present building was inspired by a dream in the 15th century when Bishop Oliver King was moved to replace the ruined Norman Cathedral with a new structure which was founded in 1499 although this in turn was ruined after Henry V111's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. However, after the church was surrendered to the crown, Queen Elizabeth 1 instigated restoration in the late 16th / early 17th centuries and there was further restoration in the 19th century.

I didn't go inside so can't give any information about interior architecture.

Details of services etc are available on the website below

Directions: In the centre of Bath

Website: http://www.bathabbey.org/

Walk the streets of Bath Street Scenes Review

It's very nice to do nothing more than wander around the streets of Bath - as well as the elegant architecture there's plenty of greenery to enjoy and the River Avon to walk alongside - for the shoppers there's the usual modern outlets plus quaint shops tucked away in the city's back streets - it's a very nice city

Sally Lunn's House Sally Lunn's House Review

First I must confess I didn't go in Sally Lunn's -- dating back to 1482 it's the oldest house in the city and is now a museum and, being home to the Sally Lun Bun, it's also a refreshment room.

Full details on the below website

Address: 4, North Parade Passage, Bath

Phone: 01225-461634

Website: http://www.sallylunns.co.uk/

Pump Room

The Pump Room is situated above the Roman Temple and being next to the spring this is where the water is drawn - here you can sample the spring waters or enjoy a coffee or meal in the elegant restaurant. The Pump Room was opened in 1795 and is virtually unchanged since then - if you go to the Roman Baths it's worth popping in here for a glimpse of 18th century elegance

Directions: Next to the Roman Baths

Phone: 01225-444477

Roman Baths Roman Baths Review

The well-preserved Roman Baths complex includes the baths (which were built around the hot spring which rise at 46 deg. C), the remains of the Roman Temple of Aquae Sulis, the museum containing lots of Roman artifacts, and the Pump Room (see separate tip).

The baths date back to 75AD but after the Romans left Britain they fell into disrepair and it was to be the late 1700's before they were rediscovered and returned to something like their former glory.

Full details are in the below website

NB - bathing is not allowed in the Roman Bath

Directions: In the centre of the city

Website: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

Royal Crescent Royal Crescent Review

Built between 1767 and 1775, there are 30 houses in the Royal Crescent - the properties are occupied, many seem to have been split into apartments, but No.1 is a museum (see website below). Wandering along the crescent it's easy to imagine what it must have been like to live here in the late 1700's when horse-drawn carriages would have taken residents into Bath centre.

Directions: About 15 / 20 minutes walk west of the city (full directions on below website)

Website: http://visitbath.co.uk/site/things_to_do/p_25441

Pulteney Bridge Pulteney Bridge Review

In the centre of the city, spanning the River Avon, Pulteney Bridge is apparently one of only four bridges in the world that are lined with shops on both sides. Actually, when you're on the bridge it just seems like a normal road but when you view it from the river it's a wonderful piece of architecture. It was completed in 1773 and, along with the Royal Cresecent, has become a symbol of Bath's architecture.

You can get a close view of the bridge from the river walk which is accessed via some steps from the end of the bridge - see 'more photos'

Directions: In the centre of Bath