Quote: 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.
From journals Three in One

Quote: Touted as “The best preserved Roman religious spa from the ancient world” if you are able to make the 2-hour trip from London to Bath, I would recommend it. For me, it was included in my day trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury on Gray Lines Tours so I was along for the ride.

The Romans settled here in 75 AD, dedicating their baths to the Roman Goddess Sulis Minerva, which loosely translated as the goddess of healing waters. People traveled great distances to be healed in these roman baths. The pump room here has been called ingenious engineering accomplishment long before its time. Fed by natural hot water springs from the earth below, you can actually see the roman baths as they appeared many centuries ago.

This archaeological find was made in the 1800s and these Roman ruins have been excavated and partially restored to their original form. With this entry are two photographs, one of the Grand Bath and the other of the Sacred Springs. The water looks a putrid color of green and is not fit for bathing today. The waters are green due to the chemical reaction with the metals used to build the actual bathing pools. What is amazing is that the 115 degree (Fahrenheit) hot water still flows at a rate of 240,000 gallons daily, as it has for thousands of years.

From journals Day Trips In and Around London - Part 2

Quote: 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.
From journals London, My First Europe Vacation

Quote:

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!

From journals London Side-trips