An English friend had recommended a visit to Bath, so when we were looking to get outside of London for a day we found a tour (we were with out a rental car) that included Bath, Windsor Castle and Stonehenge it appeared to be the perfect thing to do.

Honestly I did not know what to expect, when the day began. For anyone interested in history it was very interesting. To see the architecture from the romans was incredible and there were some beautiful mosaic displays and the level of heat from the water was impressive. However it was not enough to make the trip from London worth while, if you were outside London and had a whole day to spend in Bath it would be a great addition to the day.

Our next destination was Bath. We had heard about it a little bit and it is supposed to be of historic value. To take advantage of our rental car, we decided to make our way to Bath, a small town 40 miles north west of Stonehenge. We were on our way on A36 (a local road) in minutes.

The drive to Bath was interesting but scary. A one lane, two-way, narrow, and extremely curvy road had a speed limit of 50 miles per hour. All sorts of vehicles—trucks, 18-wheelers, tour buses—were running at relatively high speed. Besides that, driving up and down the hills was fun. The route was scenic. Once in a while, when you approach small towns, you will also find some vehicles parked right on the pavements with half of its body on the one lane road. This was totally insane. Then there were these ancient Roman-style houses lined up on the other side of the hill. And there were so many of them that formed the town of Bath.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit the town of Bath every year for its beautiful Roman architecture and culture. The most popular sites are the Roman Baths and Pumps, Abbey Church, Pulteney Bridge, Royal Crescent, Royal Victoria Park, The Circus Building, etc. As we reached the city center, I was surprised to see so many tourists from all over the world walking up and down the city with a map in their hands trying to locate these spots. It is recommended to buy a small map of the town of Bath for £1 or £2 so that you don’t miss anything.

The Roman Baths and Pumps, The Abbey Church, and the shopping center are right at the city center. Entrance fee to the Bath was £11 for adults but with student discount it is £8.50. So guys, don’t forget to carry your student ID card with you while visiting Europe. They also have different fees for children and family and joint saver tickets. An audio tour is included with the entrance fee. You will be given an audio device that narrates the history of the site. The water in the bath is still warm. Water from the bath is drained out from the Roman drain to the river Avon. It has been well maintained by the government to preserve it historic value.

A little further towards the river Avon is the Pulteney Bridge built in 18th century. This one-of-a-kind bridge is famous for the shops on both the sides. The Royal Crescent museum, the Circus buildings, and the Royal Victoria Park are about 10 minutes walk from the bridge to the north.

There is a big municipal parking right below the Royal Crescent Museum that is pretty reasonable. If I remember right, it was £2 and change for 4 hours. There is hourly parking here and there but it might be more expensive than the municipal parking. It is safe and is usually in observation by police.

About 1½ hours from London, Bath (pronounced "Bawth") is an elegant city with a golden complexion made by the creamy colored limestone from which most of its buildings are built. You could easily spend the better part of a day here. Features that must not be missed include: The Royal Crescent, the Bath Abbey, and of course, the Roman Baths.

Every day millions of gallons of naturally hot water bubble up from deep underground, bringing health and vitality to the Roman spa, which is the centerpiece of this beautiful city. Once inside, there is a certain special aura about everything, which almost brings a feeling of health by simply breathing it in. (The popularity of Bath was greatly increased by the belief that the water enabled Queen Mary to conceive her first son.) In addition to the bath itself, there are ancient Roman artifacts, including carvings, mosaics, and inscriptions, which enhance the whole experience. Tea or a light meal may be enjoyed in the Georgian Pump Room upstairs. I realize that it may have been our imagination, but my sister and I told each other that we actually felt invigorated after sharing a glass of the curative water, which was available for 50p. And it didn’t taste as awful as we had been told!

We entered the Roman Baths near beautiful Bath Abbey and were given black "tour wands" that we would use as our mechanical guides. We simply typed the number of an exhibit into the face of the wand, held the black headphone up to our ears, and then listened to a recording that would explain the significance of what we were seeing. I find these types of wands to be pretty effective in tourist sites like this one because you always have the option of listening to every word, pressing another button for more information--or not listening to every word and moving quickly by something you don't find especially interesting. This last option did not happen so often for me because I love history, but the two boys in our company enjoyed the control they had over the amount of information they were given. I noticed that they really liked a lot of the dramatized bits of storytelling that were part of much of the narration--the sounds of the Romans mumbling prayers to Minerva before throwing coins and wine as offerings into a pool built for that purpose--but they did not have the patience to hear all the minutia. Still, if you have kids with you, they will have plenty of exhibits to occupy their attention while you listen ad nauseum to exactly how the Romans built a sort of plumbing system that still works today in this ancient spa.

The Great Bath is in the center of the spa and is the "main attraction" on the tour. It used to be covered and completely enclosed, but the roof fell in many years ago. Now this bath is green with algae nurtured by the sun. I enjoyed going beneath here into the museum where we walked on stones that were laid by citizens of ancient Rome. We were astonished by how much lead was used in the construction of the spa as this surely caused some of the citizens who sought improved health here to suffer lead poisoning!

Flash forward to the eighteenth century, when Bath was the center of society for the kingdom, and you will want to go and "take the waters" in the elegantly appointed Pump Room. (No worries. This water isn't green!) Pay 50 pence for a glass of lukewarm water. It's all you'll need for everyone in your party to share, because no one will want more than a sip. We also indulged in high tea, having made a reservation for a table earlier that morning. This was not an inexpensive treat, but what could feel more... uh... English than an activity such as this? The boys were skeptical at first, but their eyes quickly brightened when they saw the three-tiered, silver trey covered with so many yummy things to eat. Right outside of the Pump Room they were also thrilled to watch an absolutely fabulous street performer who juggled flaming torches on his unicycle. He definitely earned their donation of a few pounds.

The Roman Baths provide a fascinating look at the development of Britain. We went for the afternoon, and I lost track of the hours as I stepped back in time. This place is not only a historical landmark from one civilization, but it has a unique history and was in use up until last century. I was genuinely interested in all the facts and stories that the site provides through the audioguide - you take a tour of the baths through a hanheld audio device, available in eight different languages that offers explanations and interesting facts about a series of stops along the way. Also available was a children's version of the tour with special activities. I enjoyed this type of tour because it allowed me to move at my own pace and still not miss anything interesting. I was surprised at the artwork kept in the showcase area - beautiful stone carvings and metalwork. Also, they showcased the drainage system of the baths, which have amazing colorful mineral deposits in odd formations, which were fun to see.

The tour then headed out to the seperate sauna areas, telling about the heating of the rooms (the space below the floor was filled with heat from nearby fires) and the customs of those coming to use them. The Roman Baths are actually made up of several areas, but the most grand and famous is the Great Bath, an area open to the elements, surrounded by pillars and statues and filled with mineral-rich waters. The baths are closed now, but seeing this place that was part of everyday life for such a long time was fascinating. Whether your interest is art, history, or culture, this amazing complex offers plenty of interest for everyone.