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. With a population of approximately 90,000, it is compact enough to remain friendly with everything within walking distance.
The combination of historic, cultural and social facilities is unique. The best-known feature of the city is the natural hot water spring. This was first used by the Celts, 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, 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. It is from this time that much of the city’s most impressive architecture dates, including the Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms, the Circus, the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge.
Nowadays, Bath is a lively and cosmopolitan city offering some of the best attractions in the UK. It is home to various museums and galleries, and hosts arts festivals throughout the year, including the renowned International Music Festival. The Theatre Royal provides a major touring venue for drama, dance and musical productions, often on their way to London's West End.
The city has countless restaurants, cafés 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.
There are also many outdoor activities to enjoy: from a boat trip on the River Avon to a visit to one of the attractive nearby villages; relaxing in one of the beautiful parks or taking part in a sports activity.
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.