Bath

The Romans founded the famous baths at Bath sometime around AD 60, and people have been coming here to sample the waters ever since. So was born Britain’s most famous spa town, which today ranks among the top five tourist attractions in the country. Extensively redeveloped in the 18th century, Bath is still dominated by its Roman Baths, but it was the grand limestone architecture installed in the Georgian period that earned the city its UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite the passage of time, Bath remains one of the most visually stunning cities in England, and its Regency grandeur is backed up by a taste for the good things in life - ...

The Romans founded the famous baths at Bath sometime around AD 60, and people have been coming here to sample the waters ever since. So was born Britain’s most famous spa town, which today ranks among the top five tourist attractions in the country. Extensively redeveloped in the 18th century, Bath is still dominated by its Roman Baths, but it was the grand limestone architecture installed in the Georgian period that earned the city its UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite the passage of time, Bath remains one of the most visually stunning cities in England, and its Regency grandeur is backed up by a taste for the good things in life - glamorous shops, fancy restaurants, swish bars and stylish hotels. Georgian ladies and gentlemen used to retreat here from London to escape the hubbub and the city is still a haunt for wealthy Londoners with millions to spend on a second home in the country. For visitors, attractions include ancient ruins, a grand abbey, some excellent museums and galleries, and all manner of spa treatments, both modern and traditional.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.