Bath, Somerset
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The Royal Crescent, Bath, one of the city's striking 18thC neo-classical Georgian structures.

Bath, in the county of Somerset and a couple of hours drive directly west of London, had two great eras. The first was in Roman times when the invaders loved to build home comforts like long, straight roads [now you've got the less eco-friendly M4 motorway] and fine baths with complex heating and watering systems utilising local hot springs, hence the name.

Bath's second great period was in the 18thC when people began to realise that bathing more than once a year was a good thing and the town became known for its spa facilities which were reconstructed by order of affluent refugees from the filth and smog of London. These same rich bathers also paid for grandiose construction projects favouring neo-classical designs in sandstone by the architect John Wood.

Neo-classical was one of the styles within Georgian architecture [there was a succession of English kings named George at this time, from 1720-1840] emphasising the regularity and grand simplicity of Roman and Greek architecture.

These days the city is still spacious and elegant with fine museums, an interesting Abbey, varied old building styles and the Roman Baths are still running - actually recently renovated - for those who care for a dip into history or like to sit in mineral waters warmed by an extinct volcano beneath their bottoms.

Traffic can be tough in Bath so avoid the rush hours 8-9am and 5-6pm, while on-street parking is expensive and may be hard to find. The M4 from London is the fastest route here.

Pulteney Bridge, Bath, a fine Palladian bridge over a weir and lined with shops.

Cotswolds photos

Bath's Pulteney Bridge crossing the Avon river and designed by Robert Adams, is one of only four worldwide with shops on both sides. Built in 1773, Adams was influenced by Italy's Ponte Vecchio and Ponte di Rialto shopping bridges, but suffered various unfortunate extensions and facade changes over the years. The final renovation, commonly considered to be successful, was in 1975.

An excellent hiking route offering some terrific views is the Cotswold Way, a 103 mile [165 kms] footpath that runs from Bath to Chipping Campden.

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