Bath: 21 reasons to love your relaxation
1. For the great muse. Bath breathes Jane Austen through every corner of it: in the parks, in the leaves falling in autumn, on the dirt roads... everything is likely to become the setting for a romantic novel . Stop pretending not to be moved by Pride and Prejudice, dress up in period clothing (the Jane Austen Festival is famous) and relive the love of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy at the Jane Austen Center .
two. For Halloween. The citizens are really devoted to this Celtic festivity, and most of them dress up as zombies, skulls and even sexy nurses to celebrate (we don't know if this year someone will dare to wear the controversial English sexy Ebola nurse costume). Whether it's cold or not, it seems that they don't care a bit.
A coffee at the Jane Austen Center
3. For street art. In Bath many people seem to smile constantly as they walk by. It's a little weird but somehow nice. Part of that causeless good vibes comes from the music and art in the street : jugglers, youth choirs and rap groups fill the streets with vitality.
Four. For the cafes. Discerning baristas, lovers of homemade sweets and students in search of knowledge meet in Bath's charming cafes. Pleasant, quiet and perfectly decorated. Can someone order more for snack?
5. For being the Portland of England . The similarity is easy: both are quiet, good-natured and sustainable cities. Full of lovers of literature and coffee, they are two ideal places to rest in a eco environment . Who knows, maybe in a few years the English channel Channel 4 will start shooting Bathlandia.
The Roman Baths of Bath
6. For being a thermal complex. Long before Bath was named World Heritage , the Romans had already settled on the land taking advantage of the natural hot springs, unheard of in other parts of the country. Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") was the name of the place in 43 AD. c.
7. For the views from the pool. Part of these waters are in the center and offer a spectacular view of the city. The Thermae Bath Spa is an essential center that has various swimming pools, steam baths and spa treatments. And they also open at night. Can you ask for more?
8. For high quality water. Drink hot mineral water? In Bath it is possible. It costs 50 cents and comes out of a fountain in the Abbey, right in the center. Have a taste a bit weird , but its minerals are sure to be beneficial to health.
Thermae Bath Spa
9. for the bread . How could it be otherwise, Bath bread is handmade and organic. The famous Sally Lunn bun follows a secret recipe made in 1680 by the woman of the same name. It is a round and fluffy bread roll, halfway between bread and brioche. Something like the cronut of two centuries ago.
10. Through the parks. Because after so many calories it is good to walk a little, there is no place as beautiful to do it as the Royal Victoria Park. It is the most important park in Bath, opened by Princess Victoria in 1830, when she was only 11 years old. Now, in autumn, it is covered with hundreds of ocher and reddish leaves.
eleven. For its impressive abbey . Along with the thermal baths, the Bath Abbey is a must see from the city. Nerve center since the 7th century, it was the place of coronation of the first king of England in 973 AD.
bath abbey
12. For the bridges. Only compete with the Abbey the bridge Pulteney , the curious street that surrounds the Georgian building of Royal Crescent and the Circus roundabout. Three symbols of the curious architecture of the place that make us feel inside a palace.
13. For the walks. Bath is also a city of long walks and the one that takes the cake is the Bath Skyline Walk , famous for its wild flowers and views from above. Along the way you will see families having picnics and children playing with kites. All very Jane Austen, as it should be.
14. Bike rides. The most bucolic can also take a bicycle and ride the Colliers Way. More than 23 kilometers that follow the old railway lines and allow you to discover all the splendor of Somerset.
Pulteney Bridge
fifteen. Go to the theater. Surely it is difficult for us to understand the British accent. But it does not matter. Because the experience of attending a play in England is always rewarding. The best option is historic Theater Royal, opened in 1805. In November you can dance to the rhythm of the Bee Gees with the Saturday Night Fever show.
16. Odes to Mozart. And, of course, music could not be left out of the activities of Bath. The city annually hosts the Bath Mozartfest, a festival that pays tribute to the Austrian composer for nine days, from November 7 to 15. The pianists Steven Osborne and Till Fellner, the tenor Mark Padmore, the Takács quartets and the Emerson or Nash Ensemble are the protagonists of the next edition.
17. Live music. If you prefer jazz or blues you are also in luck. Because many venues and nightclubs offer live music three to four times a week , during dinners and also meals. One of the most mythical places to go is The Bell Inn.
The historic Theater Royal
18. For the Christmas market. We always think of Vienna or Budapest, but Bath's Christmas market has nothing to envy to the mulled wine and sweets of those capitals. The abbey area becomes a charming market with bright lights, wooden houses, handmade items and choirs singing Christmas carols.
19. Festivals that do not end. But let's not go so fast. Because just this weekend the Great Bath Feast , a benchmark in culinary trends that has the proposal of native chefs - some of the English version of Masterchef - and that has more and more followers.
bath christmas market
twenty. It is a good place to learn English. Because let's face it: London is not the best city to master this Germanic language. Bath, on the other hand, has various academies and more than nice people willing to practice with us and help us nuance the traditional accent.
twenty-one. For the people. Because in Bath the term “politeness” does make sense. People are just like that educated , and are happy to welcome and guide visitors. Let's take advantage of it while it lasts.
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Jane Austen's town