Where We Be
Bath, England
We spent four days in Bath. Day 1 was our
arrival day on foot as we completed the 102-mile
Cotswold Way. Day 2 was devoted to seeing the
famous Roman Baths of Bath -- the most famous
and best-preserved Roman spa complex in the
world. Day 3 was a full-day tour of Stonehenge
and the Cotswolds (see the next page). Day 4
was devoted to the Jane Austen Centre and the
outstanding Georgian architecture of the city.

It's no wonder so many shows and movies have
been filmed here -- Bridgerton, Sherlock, Les
Misérables, Persuasion, The Duchess, Vanity Fair,
and so on. The architecture is gorgeous. Honey-
colored stone buildings curve their way into
your heart with their classical style and perfect
symmetry. They make an excellent backdrop for
period pieces -- and a fantastic place to stroll.

We stayed in the very heart of the city center,
just steps from the Roman Baths and Bath
Abbey, at a place called St. Catherine's Hospital.
This former almshouse has been beautifully
converted into a set of ten luxury short-stay
holiday apartments clustered around a peaceful
courtyard garden. Revenue from your stay goes
directly to fund charitable works and community
support. It's a win-win and makes for a fine base.
If you're a fan of Georgian architecture -- or a fan of
period pieces like "Bridgerton" -- then Bath is for you
Georgian Architecture
The morning after finishing the Cotswold Way, we visited the Roman Baths.
Constructed in 60-70 A.D., they remain in amazingly good shape today.
Prior to 1727 the area was basically a swamp, so the story of how the
Great Bath was rediscovered and excavated makes for a fascinating tale in itself
This gilded bronze Minerva head was found in 1727
during sewer work -- the first big discovery at the site
The audio tour is excellent, and it takes you through the entire in-situ complex. Adding to the experience,
videos superimposed over the ruins show people laughing, playing games, passing a ball back and forth,
getting massages, etc., to give you an idea of what it would have been like in Roman times.
York Street Arch perfectly frames the west front of Bath Abbey
Let's start with No. 1 Royal Crescent -- the crème de la crème of Georgian
architecture with its sweeping curve and unforgettable dimensions
This is where 18th-century aristocrats stayed
during the social season, and it still impresses today
Practically right next door is The Circus -- a massive circle of townhouses designed to mimic the sun.
Interestingly, the architect (John Wood) designed The Circus to have the exact same diameter
as Stonehenge and formed it as a perfect circle broken into three equal curved segments.
This ivy-covered Georgian townhouse on Queen Square
was also designed by John Elder (architect of The Circus)
Jane Austen lived just down the street from here for a time. Our visit began with a gentleman
in costume giving a 20-minute summary of her immediate family and her time in Bath.
Adding to Bath's UNESCO World Heritage status is
Bath Abbey -- a soaring "Perpendicular Gothic" cathedral
Bath Abbey is considered the last great example of Gothic medieval architecture in England
We loved our stay at St. Catherine's Hospital -- a former almsouse converted into luxury guest
apartments. Its central location near the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey makes it hard to beat.
This costumed character represents a Roman inhabitant of Aquae Sulis (now Bath)
Great Pulteney Street is a grand Georgian thoroughfare. Jane Austen lived nearby and
frequently walked this street. It appears in both "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion."
Pulteney Bridge -- an iconic landmark in Bath -- is one of only four
bridges in the world with shops lining its full span on both sides
The former Empire Hotel occupies a prominent riverside location next to Pulteney Bridge
At the end of Pulteney Street is the Holburne Museum -- which
you may recognize as the home of Lady Danbury in “Bridgerton”
There was also the chance to play dressup -- a highlight for many.
We enjoyed our visit but wouldn't consider it a must-see if time is tight.
Then we toured the museum, which included a short film, a gaming table with games Jane liked to play,
a tea-smelling game, a chance to write with a quill (not easy for a lefty), various and sundry displays
about her life, autographed posters of actors and actresses who had visited the Centre, and so on.
Jane Austen Centre
Roman Baths
The layout of the museum is great -- it's essentially a
one-way tour that takes you through the entire facility
Repurposed telephone booth filled with flowers
This famous Gorgon’s head was discovered in the 1790s, but it wasn't until 1878 that major
excavations began in earnest, unearthing the entire vast -- and largely intact -- complex
We tasted it! It's mineral-rich and safe -- or so they say!