The City of Bath
Bath is one of the most interesting, elegant and vibrant cities in the UK and is one of only three in the world (and the only city in the UK) to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list. It is a spectacularly beautiful city which stands on the River Avon and in the hills of England’s West Country. Its population is approximately 100,000, so it is compact enough to remain friendly with everything within walking distance. It has places to suit all tastes and generations, from pubs and clubs to beautiful buildings and open spaces.
The combination of historic, cultural and social facilities is unique. The best-known feature of the city is the natural hot water spring, which produces a quarter of a million gallons of water a day, at a temperature of 117 degrees fahrenheit (46.5° C). This was first used by the Celts, who believed it to be sacred, but it was subsequently and more famously exploited by the Romans, who built the extensive baths from which the city takes its name and which may still be visited today. It is from the Roman Temple within the bath complex that the Gorgon’s Head in the University’s logo is taken.
In the early eighteenth century, under the direction of the socialite Beau Nash, Bath became England’s premier spa town, where the rich and celebrated members of fashionable society gathered to ‘take the waters’ and enjoy the town’s theatres and concert rooms. During this period the renowned architect John Wood laid the foundations for a new Georgian city to be built using the honey-coloured stone that gives Bath its distinctive mellow appearance, and it is from this time that much of Bath’s most impressive architecture dates, including the Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms, the Circus and Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge.
The Thermae Bath Spa, which opened in 2007, draws on the same spring as the existing Roman baths and once again allows visitors to bathe in the naturally hot water.
Although best known for its tourist and cultural attractions, Bath is also a growing commercial base. Over the past thirty years, many highly successful companies have grown up in the City and surrounding areas, with particular strengths in computing and communications technologies.
Nowadays Bath is a lively and cosmopolitan city offering some of the best attractions in the UK. It is home to Museums of Costume, of East Asian Art, of Naïve Art, and the Universityrun Holburne Museum and to various galleries, including the Royal Photographic Society. It also hosts art, film and music festivals throughout the year, including the renowned International Music Festival. The excellent Theatre Royal provides a major touring venue for drama, dance and musical productions, often on their way to London's West End. Formal events are often held in the magnificent ballrooms of the Pump Room and the Assembly Rooms. More informal evenings are possible in the countless restaurants, cafes and pubs, many of which offer live music of all types.
Bath is a haven for shoppers: as well as all the major high street stores, there are lots of small specialist shops, second-hand shops and a flea market. The new £360m SouthGate development will provide even more choice – in 2009-10, 56 new shops will open, including a Debenhams department store. There will also be 860 new underground parking spaces, and a new bus station. Designed by architects Chapman Taylor, SouthGate will remain sensitive to Bath's World Heritage status and blend with the city's beautiful Georgian architecture.
There are also various outdoor activities to enjoy, from a boat trip on the River Avon to a visit to one of the many attractive nearby villages, relaxing in one of the beautiful parks or taking part in one of several sports on offer.
Bath is surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the Cotswolds to the north, the Mendips to the south-west and the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean just across the Severn. Among the many interesting places within easy reach are Stonehenge, Salisbury, Wells, Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge, Oxford and Bristol, and the coast is also easily accessible at Weston-super-Mare and South Wales.
Bath has excellent transport links: it is close to the M4 and M5, providing access to the UK's extensive motorway network; it is on the main railway line between London (only an hour and a half away) and Bristol (15 minutes away); and there is an international airport at Bristol. Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be reached in less than two hours by train or coach.