About Bath

Bath is a beautiful and stunning English city which lies in the county of Somerset, in the south western area of England. Historically, there has been a settlement at Bath since 43 AD, following the Roman invasion, although evidence suggests there were inhabitants here prior to this. The Romans named the area ‘Aquae Sulis’ which is Latin for the ‘Waters of Sulis’. Sulis was a goddess who was worshipped by Iron Age man.

The Romans established Bath as a Spa Town due to its proximity to natural hot springs that were discovered in the valley of the River Avon. They built a temple during the period 60-70 AD and created a bathing resort that quickly became popular as a place for health and rejuvenation.

The bathing complex was expanded over the following 300 years but fell into a state of disrepair following the collapse of the Roman Empire sometime around 510 AD. Saxons later took over Bath, respecting its Abbey as a place of worship and its baths for their restorative properties. Turbulent times affected Bath’s monastery during the reign of Henry VIII, but Bath still retained many of its ancient attractions. Bath’s population was also decimated by plague during the 1600’s.

During the Georgian era, the town saw massive growth due to the number of visitors that came flocking to the healthy Spas. Many buildings were constructed during this time which are still in evidence today and give Bath its own unique identity. Very fine examples of Georgian architecture are abundant in Bath, in particular the Royal Crescent which is a stunning example of a Georgian terrace.

Modern day Bath is a vibrant, exciting city. It is hugely popular with visitors from across the world. In 1987, UNESCO declared Bath to be a World Heritage Site, further cementing this pretty city’s importance both culturally and historically.

Bath has very strong links with the Classical Arts and is noted as being once home to Thomas Gainsborough and Jane Austen. Charles Dickens also refers to ‘the taking of the waters’ (of Bath) in his novel ‘The Pickwick Papers’. More recently, the Three Tenors sang to celebrate the opening of a new City Centre hot water spa.