Page 132 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

130  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Bath

Set among the rolling green hills of the Avon Valley, the
beautiful and compact city of Bath has a long history of
tourism. For centuries, visitors have been drawn to the city’s
natural hot springs and thriving leisure industry. Today, the
traffic-free heart of this lively city is full of museums, cafés and
shops, while the elegant honey-coloured Georgian houses, so
characteristic of Bath, form an elegant backdrop to city life.

R Bath Abbey a backdrop for glittering balls. Front entrance of the Holburne Museum
Abbey Churchyard. Tel 01225 422462. Jane Austen’s novel Northanger of Art, the first public art gallery in Bath
Open 9:30am–5:30pm Mon–Fri, Abbey (1818) describes the gossip
9:30am–6pm Sat, 1–1:30pm & 4:30– and flirtation that went on here. E Holburne Museum of Art
5:30pm Sun. Closed during services, In the basement there is a superb Great Pulteney St. Tel 01225 388569.
except Good Fri service. & donation. display of cos t umes from the Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, 11am–
7 5 = ∑ bathabbey.org 5pm Sun. Closed 1 Jan & 24–26 Dec.
1500s to the present day.
The abbey was supposedly & 7 - = ∑ holburne.org
designed by divine agency. E Jane Austen Centre This building is named after
According to legend, God 40 Gay St. Tel 01225 443000. Open William Holburne of Menstrie
dictated the form of the church 10am–4pm daily (Apr–Oct: to 5:30pm). (1793–1874), whose collections
to Bishop Oliver King in a dream; Closed 1 Jan, 25 & 26 Dec. & 7 form the nucleus of the display of
this story has been immortalized limited. - = ∑ janeausten.co.uk fine and decorative arts, including
in the carvings on the west front. From 1801 to 1806, Bath was superb silver and porcelain.
The bishop began work in 1499, Austen’s (see p92) home. This Paintings by Gainsborough
rebuilding a church that had lovely museum explores how and Stubbs are on show.
been found ed in the 8th century. the author’s experiences here
The interior nave has impressive affected her work. P Thermae Bath Spa
fan vaulting, an addition made by Hot Bath St. Tel 01225 331234. Open
Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1874. E No. 1 Royal Crescent 9am–9:30pm daily. Closed 1 Jan, 25 &
Royal Crescent. Tel 01225 428126. 26 Dec. & under-16s not permitted.
E National Trust Assembly Open Feb–mid-Dec: noon–5:30pm 7 - = ∑ thermaebathspa.com
Rooms and Fashion Museum Mon, 10:30am–5:30pm Tue–Sun. People have bathed in the warm,
Bennett St. Tel 01225 477789. Open Closed 25 & 26 Dec. & 7 limited. mineral-rich waters of the spa
Jan–Feb & Nov–Dec: 10:30am–4pm 8 = ∑ no1royalcrescent.org.uk town of Bath since Roman times,
daily; Mar–Oct: 10:30am–5pm daily. This museum offers a glimpse of and the opening of the Thermae
Closed 25 & 26 Dec. & 7 - = what life was like for 18th-century Bath Spa in 2006 once again
∑ fashionmuseum.co.uk aristocrats, such as the Duke of made Bath a popular day-spa
The Assembly Rooms, built by York, who stayed here. Visitors can destination. There are three pools
Wood the Younger in 1769, were see Georgian mousetraps and fed by natural thermal waters: the
a meeting place for the elite and a spit turned by a dog wheel. New Royal Bath has two baths,
including an open-air rooftop
pool with views over the city.
Across the road, the oval Cross
Bath is a more intimate open-air
bath, ideal for shorter sessions.
The spa offers an array of treat-
ments that need to be booked
in advance. The signature therapy
is watsu, a water-based version of
the shiatsu massage.
E American Museum
Claverton Manor, Claverton Down.
Tel 01225 460503. Open mid-Mar–Oct:
noon–4:30pm Tue–Sun (daily in Aug).
Closed Nov–mid-Mar. & 7 limited.
- = ∑ americanmuseum.org
Founded in 1961, this was the
first American museum in Britain.
Its founders, psychiatrist Dr Dallas
Pratt and antiques dealer John
Spectacular fan vaulting over the nave in Bath Abbey Judkyn, bought Claverton Manor
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p177 and pp188–9

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