Bath is a city about which I had heard so much prior to visiting, and I’m happy to say that on my first walk-about visit, I was far from disappointed! The city claims its name from the Roman public baths that were predominantly used by the priests of a nearby temple complex, and today both the baths and temples still exist (though the latter in the form of Bath Abbey). The town was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth I, and has been a tourist centre in the South West ever since. In 1987, the city was awarded the status of World Heritage City by UNESCO, due not only to the baths and their history but also to the unique materials used in the construction and beautification of Bath. You see, the warm honey-coloured limestone of Bath was extracted from a handful of mines and quarries throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, proving both durable and easy for craftsmen to work with, and it is the fruits of their labours that make Bath a splendid place to sightsee.

To illustrate a fine example of the use of Bath stone, one of the more pleasing of Baths sights is Pulteney Bridge, as is pictured above. Built in 1774 and designed by neoclassical architect Robert Adam, this bridge over the River Avon is lined on either side by shops and markets. In this regard, the bridge is one of the last bridges in Europe to serve as both a river crossing, and as a shopping arcade. It was around the time of the bridge’s construction that Bath truly became a centre for fashion in 18th-century Britain, with other landmarks such as the Royal Crescent and The Circus being built.

Hope you enjoy!