One of Europe?s most beautiful cities, Bath has been drawing visitors since Roman and Celtic times. The city?s three hot springs were sacred to the Celtic goddess Sulis. With the arrival of the Roman Empire in AD 60 the settlement of Aquae Sulis was constructed around the thermal springs. The Romans were so captivated by the palace that they renamed the springs in honour of the goddess Minerva. Indeed messages to Minerva known as curse tablets continue to be discovered by archaeologists.
A World Heritage site located on the banks of the River Avon and on the cusps of the Cotswold Hills, Bath is 150 kilometres west of London and 20 kilometres southeast of the Bristol. From London Paddington Station Bath is 90 minutes by Great Western trains. From Bristol Temple Meads station the spectacular city is a mere 15 minutes by train. King Alfred laid down new foundations for Bath in the 9th century when the city was known as Baðum. During the Georgian period Bath re-emerged as a spa destination and was renowned for its architecture of golden hued Neo-Classical buildings and Royal Crescents. Bath has long been associated with the arts. The novelist Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century and all her novels featured Bath as a character. Despite being a major tourist centre, Bath has retained plenty of local attitude and independent culture ? the town has a plethora of year-round arts festivals. As spring arrives and the city shakes off the moody romance of winter, Bath ki...