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53°F / 12°C
(Passing Clouds. Cool.)
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Bath and its attractions have enticed visitors for a very long time. The Celts worshiped the steam that rose from its hot waters heated far beneath the earth's crust. The Romans came along, saw its potential as a place to relax and socialize away from their duties of conquest, and immediately built a roof over it. The bath and its surrounding city was born. Its buildings, its culture, and its healing waters were a magnet to people from all over the Roman Empire. And people still come today.
After the Romans left, the baths themselves fell into disrepair and it was not until the eighteenth century that the city once again became a magnet for the cultured and fashionable of Georgian England. Hence it is that the majority of Bath's hotels have been converted from elegant Georgian houses. History abounds in the area and, even in the hotel you choose, it is always with you. It was in this period that such places as The Royal Crescent were built, its windows facing an expanse of open grass where mature trees grew and sheep used to graze. The sheep are gone but the grass, the trees and, more importantly, The Royal Crescent remain. It is in the heart of this crescent that one of the more superior hotels is situated. The Royal Crescent Hotel offers accommodation of the most luxurious standard and, although expensive, it has to be said that to experience its ambiance, reminiscent of a bygone age, is well worth paying for.
Unusually for a city, Bath boasts a host of green parkland very close to its heart. It is within such an expanse that some of Bath's best hotels are situated. Spacious and offering a wealth of amenities, The Bath Spa sits amidst seven acres of such parkland and, as with so many of Bath's premier hotels, dates from the eighteenth century. Another with similar surroundings and amenities is The Priory which is located a little further out in the residential suburb of Weston.
An exception to being Georgian, The Hilton Waterside Hotel has everything the modern traveler could need including an immense amount of parking, a must in a city where sedan chairs used to be the favoured form of transport. It also overlooks the Kennet and Avon canal where gaily colored narrow boats still pass through its lock.
Because the majority of Bath's hotels have been converted from private residences dating from Georgian times, they tend to be small but their quality compared to those of similar size in other cities is quite astonishing. There is an enormous number of guest houses and traditional bed and breakfast accommodations all within walking distance of the city centre. Holly Lodge is of a very high standard and is situated not too far away from the elegant Victorian Dorian House and the more traditional bed and breakfast establishments such as Oakleigh House and Beckford's Bed and Breakfast.
If you wish to stay outside the city and visit other attractions in the area, you might like to consider the Bradford-on-Avon locale. Here you will find The Georgian Lodge Hotel, a historic building right in the centre of town. Seventeenth century Woolley Grange is another to be considered, or perhaps Cheney Cottage which is situated in the village of Box, convenient for exploring Wiltshire including Longleat, Lacock and Stonehenge.
Dating from way before the Georgian period, The George at Norton St Phillip is a must for those who love history and the unique architecture of the early Middle Ages. Budget travelers can choose from numerous campsites, a wonderfully appointed YMCA hostel in the centre of the city or perhaps consider the inexpensive accommodation a working farm can offer? Take Toghill Farm situated between Bath and the M4, Leigh Farm near the old mining village of Pensford or the wonderfully named Frying Pan Farm on the eastern side of the city.
Whatever your requirements, today as in years gone past, Bath and its surrounding area offers a diversity of quality accommodation ranging from the inexpensive to the exorbitant. The choice is yours, but whatever your choice you can be assured that many other travelers have come this way and found both the city and its hostelries well to their liking.
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