Bath

Bath is a city in South West England most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. The city was first documented as a Roman spa, although tradition suggests that it was founded earlier. The waters from its spring were believed to be a cure for many afflictions. From Elizabethan to Georgian times it was a resort city for the wealthy. As a result of its popularity during the latter period, the city contains many fine examples of Georgian architecture, most notably the Royal Crescent. The city has a population of over 90,000 and is a World Heritage Site.

Places of interest

• Roman Baths
• Bath Abbey
• Lansdown Crescent
• The Royal Crescent
• The Circus (Bath)
• Great Pulteney Street
• Pulteney Bridge
• Cleveland Bridge
• American Museum
• Prior Park
• Thermae Bath Spa
• Solsbury Hill
• Kennet and Avon Canal
• River Avon
• St. Catherine's Court
• William Herschel Museum
• Beckford's Tower
• Claverton Pumping Station
• Bath Postal Museum
• The Recreation Ground

The 2004 remake of the film Vanity Fair was shot in Great Pulteney Street, and in August 2003 the Three Tenors sang at a special concert to mark the opening of the Thermae Bath Spa, a new hot water spring spa in Bath City Centre; however, as of this writing (August 2005), the spa itself is not yet open.

Related Topics:
Vanity Fair - August 2003 - Three Tenors - Thermae Bath Spa - Spa - August 2005

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The city has several public parks, the main one being Royal Victoria Park in the centre of the city. It was opened in 1830 and has an area of 150,000 m²{{ref|park}}. Several events are held in the park every year, including the International Music Festival (a one-off Three Tenors concert took place in 2003), and it is favoured as a take-off site by hot air balloon companies. The park features a botanical garden, a large children's play park, and sports facilities, including ones for crazy golf and lawn tennis. Much of its acreage is of lawn; a notable feature is the way in which a ha-ha actually segregates it from the Royal Crescent, while giving the impression to a viewer from the Crescent of a greensward uninterrupted across the Park up to Royal Avenue.

Related Topics:
Public park - Royal Victoria Park - 1830 - International Music Festival - Hot air balloon - Botanical garden - Crazy golf - Lawn tennis - Acre - Lawn

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Other parks in Bath include: Alexandra Park, which crowns a hill and overlooks the city; Sydney Gardens, known as a pleasure-garden in the 18th century; Henrietta Park; Hedgemead Park; and Alice Park. Jane Austen wrote of Sydney Gardens that "It would be pleasant to be near the Sydney Gardens. We could go into the Labyrinth everyday." Alexandra, Alice and Henrietta parks were built into the growing city among the housing developments{{ref|austen}}.

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The oldest house in Bath is located at 4 North Parade Passage. The basement showcases remains of Roman, Saxon, and Medieval architecture. Presently, the building houses the restaurant Sally Lunn's Buns, named after French refugee Sally Lunn, who moved into the house in 1685 and became famous baking oversized and delicious buns. Those buns are still baked and enjoyed to this day, over 300 years later.

Related Topics:
Roman - Saxon - Medieval architecture - Sally Lunn

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