Living on Bath Road in London I somehow imagined that the road would lead me to the city of Bath. I imagined that it’s a suburb of London and that I can reach there on foot on one of my weekend long walks.
To my dismay it turned out that they have only a homophonic relationship – as a bite to a byte. The city is at a distance of 170 km west of London so made plans for a day trip one early spring.
Bath Road blooms at spring
Planning is the trickiest part of leisure travel in UK; nature can thwart all your well-laid plans in one stroke – with torrential rains as Archana found out at https://www.ghumakkar.com/idea-getting-soaked-roman-bath/. Your travel ticket comes a lot cheap if booked in advance – earlier the better – but weather predictions could go haywire on the day of travel. My Dover visit was a rain-soaked affair but was spared the ordeal for Bath.
Countryside
The bus-ride through southern England showcased the beautiful countryside; it pleases your eyes and soothes your soul with its soft contours of green hills and meadows. No rough edges or jagged ends to jab your field of vision. Occasionally you’ll find a cluster of trees as if to relieve the monotony. Looking out of the window one fails to notice that you didn’t blink for a long time.
Pultney Bridge
We reached Bath in just over 3 hours. Made of locally available honey-colored stone this city is known for its architecture and hot springs. Close to the bus station I had a glimpse of the famous bridge so retraced my steps to it.
Pulteney bridge and the weir
Built in 1774 across river Avon this bridge is lined with shops on both sides of the street and said to be best of the few remaining such bridges around the world. Supported by 3 arches there’s a weir close to it which makes good viewing.
Pulteney Street – the street on bridge
The town centre was flowing with tourists, street performers and shoppers whereas the locals were enjoying the sunny weather at cafes and pubs. Reflecting in the tiny bubbles, perhaps it adds to the intoxication levels when you watch a thousand suns in myriad hues right inside your glass. The man with pigeons will let them perch on you for a fee.
Live statue – the bike-rider
The pigeon man
Legend is that Bath was founded in 860 BC when Prince Bladud, father of King Lear, caught leprosy. He was banned from the court and was forced to look after pigs. The pigs also had a skin disease but after they wallowed in hot mud they were cured. Prince Bladud followed their example and was also cured. Later he became king and founded the city of Bath. You’ll find a few pigs here – not live, though.
Prince and the pig
Legend or not, the Romans ruled Britannia around a couple of millennia back. They found the hot springs and built up a temple and a place for epicurean indulgence hence the name Bath. Coming out of lime stones down below the thermal water contain over 42 minerals with sulphate as the principal constituent.
Roman bath (right), The Abbey (background) and musicians
Interesting name for a hospital
This hospital was opened in 1742 to ‘provide access to treatment in the thermal waters of Bath for the sick and poor from Britain and Ireland’. However, residents of Bath were not allowed treatment as they had right access to the water outside the hospital! This rule was in effect for about a century.
The Abbey Church
The Abbey church close by was not as big as Westminster or Canterbury nevertheless this Gothic style place of worship is no less elegant with its stained glass windows and glorious interiors. The choir was practicing an anthem accompanied by the strains of a pipe organ. I took the pews for a long time mesmerised by the captivating sights and melodious sounds.
Nave of the Abbey
Stained glass
The Circus
Bath is a fine example of Georgian architecture marked for its symmetry and proportion. The Circus (circular row of multi-storied dwelling units), the Royal Crescent and a host of other buildings are a testimony to this making the town a fabulous experience to walk around.
Circus
A neighbourhood
Jane Austen, the famous 19th century English novelist lived in this town for a few years resulting in two of her books being partially set here. The Jane Austen Centre not far from Queen Square is an exhibition centre dedicated to her life and times in Bath.
Jane Austen Centre
German air raids destroyed a part of Bath with a 500 kg high explosive bomb during World War II. Restoration work followed soon after and in 1987 UNESCO selected the city as a World Heritage Site.
There is lot more to see around Bath but are away from the town. So found a bus back to Bath Road where I live after soaking in history, architecture and glorious sunshine for over 4 hours; a time well spent.
Great write-up, Patrick. I am a bit disappointed that you haven’t actually shared pictures of the Roman Baths here. Well, food for thought for me. Perhaps I will write about those …
Glad you liked the post, doctor. I was complementing the post by Archana where rain-gods limited her exploration. Now you may do the same for this post exploring the insides of Roman bath, Royal Crescent etc.
So from the sand dunes are we going to the cathedrals and lake district ?
I would love to. I have been here in the UK since over a year and a half. Unfortunately, I have no time to write. I have sent one post to Archana (the admin) and awaiting its publication. Thanks for the good words.
Yes Doc. We will bring it up online shortly…
Seemed as if I explored a city which I never heard of…. Wonderful post with appealing pictures to get informed about the city of Bath….Thank you :)
Glad you liked the post, wondergirl.
The name of the city evokes interest and that’s the primary reason I visited the place. It was indeed a good experience.
About 9 years back, I guess in 2008, I was driving to Darbhanga in my Scorpio. There were cell-phones by then and when I was close to the city, I called up my father for last mile directions. He said, that I do not need to worry at all, as long as I leave the highway and get into the city from ‘Dilli Mod’ (Delhi Exit). Delhi was about 1250 KMs away from that Mod/Exit.
I thought it can only happen in India (or Bihar) so some solace for me when I come to know about ‘Bath Road’.
All these building have stood the test of time, though I haven’t been to Bath but we did do Windsor, Oxford, York and few other cities closer to London. And in each, we find these tall, old, gothic era buildings standing intact, inviting and so on. All the places of worship are mostly hundreds of years old and in a great condition. That is something we as a nation has to do much better on.
Thank you Pat for continuing the series. Now waiting for Doc to talk about the real baths (thermals)
Yeah, you need to leave certain things for others to continue. I’m sure the good Doc will not disappoint us.
What stand out in European cities are the immaculate condition in which the heritage is preserved; they too are struggling of late as the maintenance require colossal sums.
Thanks for going thru the post, more than once, I’m sure.
Pat, I have been here and done some of these too.. But reading it from your perspective has given me a whole new feeling about the place. Like they say, it is not the place, it is the experience!
Bath, to me looked like a fortress city of the bygone era.. and with all the tall and well kept buildings, it still does! Thanks to the HOHO bus ride for this experience..
Well written, well traveled, Pat! Great work..
Thanks, Archana, for liking the post.
Be it history or architecture British cities are treasure troves. Walk anywhere in central London you can gape at each building wondering about its character. Its a special feeling to stand where Wordsworth once stood on Westminster bridge to scribble that poem.
Excellent contribution to the travel world, It’s well established description from your side. Specifically from my point of view the gothic and historical view of old well maintained buildings are
of a special kind. Like lost in time with the country’s overcast mistic climate. Long ago I went from Heathrow to Luton air strip and after few years in Bristol. The description reminds me those of southern, never ending vast green meadows and apart from splendid tale of Bath, liked that crisp flavoured part very much.
Thanks a lot, Deb, for your wonderful comments.
Its a treat to travel midlands and southern England with its never-ending meadows and hills; Wales and Scotland have their own beauty, all in superlative terms.