The Pulteney Bridge in Bath is one of only four bridges in the world to have retail shops spanning…read moreboth sides of the bridge. Construction of the stone arch bridge was completed over the River Avon in 1774. Crossing the bridge (I was on a bus) has a very Old World feel. I was excited by the history and seeing the little shops on the bridge. The shops were packed with tourists.

Bath's iconic architecture is one of the many reasons why the city is a designated UNESCO World…read moreHeritage site, from its Roman origins to the fashionable eighteenth-century designs that form many of the city's most recognizable buildings. The guide informed us that the historic bridge is one of only four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides. (he meant Inhabited Bridges where shops/houses are built on the bridge) 1. Ponte Vecchio, Florence 2. Krämerbrücke, Germany 3. Pulteney Bridge, UK 4. Ponte di Rialto (Venice) I had been to #1,3,4 now. Pulteney Bridge is an impressive structure, its three arches sitting astride the River Avon, a splendid backdrop to the crescent-shaped river weir. The bridge in Bath is one of the most photographed examples of Georgian architecture in the city. it was designed in 1769 by Robert Adam and named after Frances Pulteney, wife of William Johnstone Pulteney. He had grand plans to create a 'new town' to rival that of John Wood's on the west side of the city. His grand scheme needed a new bridge, and he didn't want just any old bridge; he wanted a spectacular bridge, one which everyone would talk about, and that's how this came into existence.

Beautiful architecture and surrounding area. We were lucky enough to visit when there was a light…read morelayer of show and it just looked Apple magical. I recommend visiting outside peak times/holidays if possible as it's just a much nicer experience and is very relaxing to walk around.

Come and see where Harry Potter movies were filmed. Also to be noted this location was used for…read morefilm productions of Wolfman, Pride and Prejudice, Cranford Chronicles and Emma. Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order. Later, it became a quirky country house of various architectural styles within its own woodland grounds. It was a home for the Talbot family, including William Henry Fox Talbot 19th century, famous for his contributions towards the invention of the photographic negative. His amazing achievements are celebrated in the Fox Talbot Museum on the ground floor and the gallery above holds special exhibitions throughout the year. Wander through the Medieval cloisters, and 16th century stable courtyard, explore the furnished rooms and discover the 18th century Gothic hall.

At the eastern end of what must be one of the most picturesque streets in England stands the…read moremedieval parish church of Lacock, dedicated to St Cyriac. Cyriac was a three-year-old child executed by the Roman Governor of Cilicia in 313 AD for refusing to recant his Christian beliefs. Churches dedicated to Cyriac are common in Normandy, emphasizing Lacock's strong links to the region in the aftermath of the Norman invasion. You enter the church through a west porch, built in the late 15th century. The porch gives access to the base of the tower, built a century earlier. At the east end of the north aisle is a double squint. One opening allowed worshippers in the aisle to view the high altar while the other gave them a view of the Lady Chapel. HP fans: just behind the church, there is a house where HP's parents got killed in the movie. yup..!!

It's only to be expected, being in Lacock, that this church is rather pretty. It's also…read moreinteresting, having a cruciform layout which goes a little beyond the standard and includes an area off to the side. There's nice stuff to look at everywhere: big old fashioned pews, stained glass windows, memorials It's possible there was a Saxon church on this site, but the first definite church was Norman, built at the end of the 11th century. Since then there have been a number of rebuildings, additions and remodellings, leading to some mixing of styles and unusual features in what's there today (see website for more details). St Cyriac was a popular dedication in Norman times. There's two possible sources for the name: one is a young Christian deacon, who was martyred by the Emperor Diocletian. A perhaps more popular story is that Cyriac was a 3 year old child. His mother Julitta was crucified for her faith in 303 ad. During her interrogation the child sat on the knee of the governor of Silicia. Cyriac also confirmed his faith and boxed the governor's ears. Enraged, he threw the child onto the marble floor, killing him instantly. His saint's day is July 15th.

Bradford on Avon has a wel-preserved Anglo-Saxon (i.e., pre-Norman /pre-1066 English) Church of St…read more Laurence, also referred to as the Saxon Church. It was supposedly founded in the early 8th century and the surviving building is over 1000 years old. It has preserved a typical Anglo-Saxon style and decor and is both charming and interesting.

Bradford-on-Avon is a lovely historic town close to Bath, with a handsome mediaeval bridge, an…read moreimpressive 14th Century tithe barn and a lovely parish church of Norman foundation. But the most famous building in Bradford-on-Avon is undoubtedly the diminutive church of St Lawrence which, by an accident of history, is Britain's most perfectly preserved Saxon church. A church was founded on the site in AD 705 by St Aldhelm, although most archaeologists agree that the present building dates from the reign of King Aethelred II (978-1016). A charter granted Bradford to the nuns of Shaftesbury in 1001, and the church may date from this grant. It has been suggested that the richness of this small church implies that it was intended partly to house the relics of Aethelred's brother, Edward The Martyr. Its subsequent history is rather obscure, but appears quite early on to have been converted into secular use, with other buildings growing up around it, and extra floors inserted into its nave and chancel. These were removed when it was rediscovered and restored in 1856, although the walls still show evidence of them. There are no remaining additions from later periods, so the building we now see is purely Saxon. The church is tiny the nave is just 25ft long and the chancel is 13ft long, although it feels larger as it considerably taller than it is wide. A north porticus is still intact, but the south has been lost, although it is clear from the exterior where it stood. The robust Victorian buttresses on the south side were erected when the school-master's house, which had bee built on this side against the church, was demolished. Decoration is restrained: the exterior has Romanesque blind arcading, and the interior has simple mouldings around the narrow door arches, but the most interesting carvings are those of two bearded flying angels on the east wall of the nave. There are only a few, small windows, giving a dusky light. Although the interior is bare of furnishings, it is nevertheless an ancient and atmospheric space.

I am a Local Girl, who grew up around Bath! I emigrated to Germany and once again to the states…read more When I come "home" I can never NOT visit Bath - it is "The Famous Roman city" - and for good reason. It is listed in the TOP PLACES of England's must see places. When you do come here, here is a list of suggestions of things to see in Bath - Please do read my other reviews. The Roman Baths The Royal Crescent The Circus Alexandra park Bath Abbey Prior Park Landscape Garden Great Pulteney Street The Assembly rooms Sally Lunns The Thermae Bath Spa The Corridor The Theatre Royal The Prior Park Landscape The Jane Austen Centre And this is just a few suggestions.....NOTHING MORE TO ADD BUT GO!

Love this place. If you like Austen, Dickens, relaxing, walking everywhere, history, etc., you have…read moreto visit. An easy train ride from London, but feels like another world. We had lovely coffees, beers, lunches, walks through gardens, and I freaked out over all the names and places I recognized from reading so much oh my beloved Jane Austen. Just a lovely visit!

If you're visiting Bath for the first time, this is where you get one of a whole list of photo…read moreopportunities, particularly if it's sunny and the seagulls aren't hungry for your sandwich. There are a few ways to see the Weir, one of which involves catching a boat to the apex of the horseshoe, another is along the embankment having navigated your way down the steps from Pulteney Bridge, and the other overlooking the Weir from the street above. All are different and wonderful in their own way. Speaking of boats, you can catch a boat from the embankment all the way to Bathampton Mill along the River Avon (about £8 return for adults), and if you don't fancy that, there's a couple of nearby pubs and restaurants. The Weir really is one of Bath's special places, except for when it's doing its job of protecting the city from floods. This is when the water is so high, the Weir itself is almost hidden. It becomes a muddy torrent of fast-flowing water and large, heavy debris. Here's hoping you get a nice day!

I recommend treating the Pulteney Bridge and Weir the way you treat Tower Bridge in London: see it…read moreevery chance and in every way you can. Cross it in a cab, walk across it as a pedestrian, see it at day, see it at night, see it from both sides, see it by boat trip. And, unlike Tower Bridge, you've got that great water-wooshing effect of the stair-step waterfalls. I only wish there was a small visitor center/view from the inside open to the public!

I was walking over to restaurant and I had no idea that this is one of the sights in Bath but was…read moreimmediately taken by how unique the architecture and shape of the buildings were and took some pictures. It was only later that I saw that this is on the Bath Map as a tourist sight. It's close to the Royal Crescent which is another great architectue marvel.

The Circus is absolutely something worth walking through while you're traversing the city of Bath…read more(especially if you like unique and/or Georgian architecture): it's three sections of historic townhouses that curve to form a ring, and in the center is a pretty lawn space with a few very large trees. It was designed by John Wood, the Elder in the late 18th century (but he died pretty soon after construction started so John Wood, the Younger finished it). Supposedly it was inspired by Stonehenge. Fun facts: famed painter Thomas Gainsborough lived here and an aerial view of this area of Bath shows that Queens Square, Gay Street, and the Circus resemble a key (this masonic symbol was a theme with Wood apparently). You're not coming here to eat anything (unless you've brought a picnic to enjoy in the middle grassy area); you're not necessarily coming here to do anything (besides observe, reflect, take a few photos, walk around), but it is absolutely fascinating to check out!

So, when I knew I was planning a trip to London, I knew I had to schedule a tour to this location…read more The Roman Baths are located in the city of Bath. A beautiful city with so many breathtaking views. The site is located in the middle of the city surrounded by stores, restaurants, and other must see locations. I highly recommend booking this tour because you can learn so much and will learn about the Roman history of the baths. There is a self-guided tour that you can go as you wish. There is so much to see and so much information along the walls. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes since the ground can get a bit uneven throughout the tour and make sure you see the beautiful baths throughout the tour. Such an impressive experience and if you are in London, I recommend taking a day trip or two to visit. You will be mesmerized and taken back in time.

We came here as part of a tour and are glad we did. I didn't know much about the Roman Baths…read morebeforehand, but now I do. It is set in the middle of a quaint town named Bath. We had pre-bought tickets for a specific entry time, but there were tickets available at the door as well. I wouldn't chance it though. The line was short to get in at our time and the audio guide is included as part of the admission price. made the tour interesting and the facts provided were the perfect amount of detail. There was a kid's version too which was great! We were there a little over an hour and at the end you can taste some of the bath water, which was disgusting!!

So I'm a big Jane Austen fan and was excited to visit the center but have to admit it was a tad bit…read moreunderwhelming. First, the house itself has nothing to do with Jane Austen as she lived up the street as well as across the street. There's actually very little authentic items that belonged to Jane in the museum. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't fun - we did enjoy the dressing up area and it was fun to see the period, etc. The film was also enjoyable as you will learn some history of her family, etc. and we also enjoyed the movie memorabilia from Jane Austen movies. That said, I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

The Centre is very interesting. Staff dressed in costume were very friendly and helpful. The Tea…read moreRoom was beautifully set and and the choices of teas was outstanding.

Sharing the same space as the Fashion and Costume Museum downstairs, at least entry to the massive…read moreAssembly Rooms is free. Not much to see other than some very large rooms, plus a gift shop selling fashion books and postcards. Very pretty chandeliers.

Largely and magnificently renovated to their former glory. A…read moreNational Trust treasure administered by the local authority. Cross the ballroom floor and look up to see the balcony music stand. The 9 chandeliers within the building are priceless. The entry fee enables the visitor to see the costume museum in the basement with a changing display of the collection and loan items.