Historic Bath
Originally published Feb 22, 2016.
Following on from my last post about Stonehenge, this time I’m featuring photos and thoughts from the second half of the day which was spent in the beautiful city of Bath. It’s hard to choose where to start in describing this city and its glorious surrounds! We entered the city by driving down a winding hillside, which overlooked the city below and immediately you could spot the change in architecture. The city is UNESCO World Heritage listed and originated around 50 AD when it was built by the Romans.
Personally, I thought the city was incredible, so far it has been my favourite place that I have visited outside of London in the country. I was immediately taken by all of the charming Roman architecture, though it still has a distinctly British atmosphere. The weather was much like the early afternoon spent at Stonehenge – cold and wet. The below image is of Bath Abbey and is another reason for a return visit, as I didn’t have the chance to explore and look inside.
Despite the appalling weather I was determined to experience the city in the minimal amount of time we had, which was around three hours. It was enough time to get the overall vibe of the city and it definitely left me wanting to visit again! You can easily explore parts of the city, in a short amount of time like we did. Have a look here to see what you can do during a four-hour visit.
One of the main attractions of Bath is the Roman Baths, which I would highly recommend! Even if you’re not particularly interested in history, go for the architecture and the experience alone. The site still retains a majority of its original interiors and exteriors, much in the way it was designed. The Baths were built around 60-70 AD and sit above a system of natural hot springs. To be honest photos and videos almost don’t do the site justice, but to get a feel for what it would be like to visit have a look here.
Visiting a site with this kind of architectural history is always slightly awing. The fact that it still stands today for my own and future generations is an incredible achievement. Considering I took an ancient history class during my final years of high school, it was an added bonus being able to identify the correct Latin terminology of a few of the architectural features. (Shout out to Teresa for encouraging us to go beyond the basic HSC history syllabus!)
Anyone who knows me well, probably knows about my obsession with lighting features. Needless to say, I was very excited to see the amount of chandeliers that were displayed around the main entrance room. They really added to the overall atmosphere of the baths and reminded you of the type of opulence that was maintained by the Roman upper classes.
Looking directly down on the baths, you are immediately taken by the mist that sits above the water, which really evoked the atmosphere. The mist doesn’t ever stop moving as it wafts above a greenish-blue body of water, of course this added to the architecture and experience.
Inside the baths you can walk around and see various exhibits on the history of the site. Ranging from building materials, coins, religious, through to the historical timeline of the city and the Baths, pretty much all areas are covered.
I’ve found most people are either nonplussed or very excited for gift shops at the end of a tour/exhibition. The Roman Bath gift shops have many different types of items, including some that you wouldn’t normally have a chance to see. So in my opinion it’s worth a look before you leave, the city specialises in pampering goods made with products from the local area. The other items that really interested me were the painting of the baths and of the city, but again each to their own.
Even if you don’t have chance to go and see the historical sites of Bath, you can take it in by just wandering the city streets. Everywhere you turn you can see the Roman architectural influence, which has clearly been adapted as the city flourished. The city has a very chic and liveable feel, but overall I definitely felt very welcome as a tourist. I was told that Bath was THE city to visit before London became the vibrant hub it is today. Yet it was clear that Bath still has a pull for residents of the United Kingdom and international visitors alike.
Overall I adored the relatively small sections of Bath that I was able see! I’m already looking forward to coming back and visiting this gorgeous city when I next have the chance. Though I will admit that I’m hoping for better weather next time. If you are visiting the UK, I would highly recommend that you put Bath on your list of places to visit, even if just for a day trip!
Kathleen Freeman is a graphic designer and freelance writer; she is currently undertaking a Media and Communications degree. In her spare time she continues the search to find the book/coffee shop combination store throughout the globe.
All images, unless otherwise stated, are copyright of Kathleen Freeman, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of the author.