A Short History of Bath:
According to the legend of Bladud, Bath was founded upon its curative spring water that healed this Celtic Prince from leprosy. He was said to have founded the city in 863BC and later went on to father Shakespeare’s famous King Lear. The Romans settled in Britain from 43AD, creating their own city of Bath which they called Aquae Sulis. For almost 400 years, Bath remained an important settlement where Romans would gather to enjoy the natural spring water and thank the Romano-Celtic Goddess Sulis Minerva for her gift to society. Much of this temple and bathing complex still remains today, and attracts millions of tourists every year.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, The Saxons took over what was left of Aquae Sulis and gave Bath its current title. They built an Abbey which became one of the most ceremonial buildings for The Kingdom of Wessex in 973AD, when King Edgar became the first officially recognised King of All England in a coronation ceremony.
After 2 visits from Queen Anne in 1702 and 1703, Bath was entirely rebuilt following a resurgence of interest for its curative properties. Richard ‘Beau’ Nash set up the Pump Rooms and Royal Mineral Water Hospital, attracting nobility far and wide to seek remedies for common illnesses such as gout and rheumatism. With new money injected by the entrepreneur Ralph Allen, much of the city was built out of his limestone quarry at the nearby Combe Down. This paved the way for new architects like John Wood to redesign the city in a wonderful Palladian style, giving us the magnificent works of The Queen Square and The Circus.
Today Bath remains the only city in England to be granted Unesco World Heritage status; a title that it is extremely proud of.
Top Attractions
For inspiration on things to do and places to see in Bath, browse the links below to find out more about these great attractions.
Lunch Recommendations
The Pump Rooms:
If you’re looking for somewhere traditional to eat in Bath, you can’t beat The Pump Rooms. Here you can take in the 19th Century dining style of Georgian Bath, served with afternoon tea and cake and listening to “The Pump Room Trio”.
JC’s Kitchen:
If your main goal is to do some sightseeing and get a quick lunch, try out JC’s Kitchen. Not only is it right next to the drop-off point inthe city, but the food tastes great too! They specialise in Philipino and Barbecue Fast Food, with a selection of vegetarian and vegan options as well.
Sally Lunns:
Home to the world famous Bath Bun, this 17th Century restaurant is said to be the one of theoldest houses in Bath.They offer a wide variety of food, but can get very busy in the summer so it’s always a good idea to try and book a table. Click here to view their online menu.
Intersted in visiting Bath? take a look below at a selection of our best selling tours:
Stonehenge, Bath and The Cotswolds
Still not found the tour you’re interested in? Tell us exactly where you want to visit in the Contact Us page and we will do our best to make your dream tour a reality!