Bath Citywalk Guide: An Elegant Stroll Through 2000 Years

When I posted on WeChat Moments in Edinburgh, saying that it was my favorite city in the UK, a friend reminded me not to jump to conclusions so quickly because there is also Bath. Bath is indeed not simple. This small British city, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the white moonlight in the hearts of countless people. · 🌈Why go to Bath ✅Unique history and architecture: Wandering around, you'll feel like you're switching freely between the Roman Empire, the Regency Era, and modern Britain. ✅The source of inspiration for literature and art: Bath is the inspiration for Jane Austen, and it is also the filming location for films such as "Les Miserables" and "The Paddingtons". ✅Hot springs and healing traditions: Bath is the only city in the UK with natural hot springs. The Romans believed that the springs here had healing properties. · It was already afternoon when we arrived in Bath. Although it was a bit rushed, it was just right for a half-day City Walk: Royal Crescent → Circus → Jane Austen Centre → Pulteney Bridge → Bath Abbey → Roman Baths → Alexander Park. The whole journey was about 3 kilometers, just right for half a day. · 📸Must check in ✅Royal Crescent: Built between 1767 and 1775, it consists of 30 connected buildings arranged in a crescent shape, and is considered the pinnacle of Georgian architecture. In John Wood's design, the Circus symbolizes the sun and the Royal Crescent symbolizes the moon. ✅Circular Plaza: The circular plaza consists of three groups of 33-degree arc-shaped buildings, which implies the numerical code of Freemasonry. It is said that the design was inspired by the Roman Colosseum, so you can see many decorations with Roman columns. ✅Jane Austen Center: Turn into Gale Street, a Georgian townhouse hides a sanctuary for literary fans. Although Austen actually only lived in Bath for five years, the shadow of this city can be seen everywhere in "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion". ✅Pulteney Bridge: Built between 1769 and 1774, it spans the River Avon and connects the Old Town and the New Town of Bath. It is one of the few bridges in the world with shops on both sides. Standing on the bridge and overlooking the arc-shaped waterfall formed by the weir, it feels like being in Venice. However, this bridge is said to have been built in imitation of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. ✅Bath Abbey: The most striking feature of this building, which was built in the 7th century, is its fan-shaped vault, which is as light as an unfolded palm leaf. Remember to look out for the plaque on the ground dedicated to Jane Austen, the literary giant who was baptized here. ✅Roman Baths: This is the heartbeat of Bath. The Romans built this magnificent complex after discovering the hot springs here in the 1st century AD. At that time, bathhouses were not only places for bathing, but also centers of social, commercial and political affairs. ✅Alexandria Park: The best place to overlook the panoramic view of Bath. It is relatively difficult to find, so I will write a separate article to talk about it. · In my opinion, Bath is more like an eternally elegant British lady, perfectly blending the splendor of the Roman Empire with the elegance of the Georgian period. Strolling through it is not to check in, but to feel every delicate line left by time here. As for which one I love more, it or Edinburgh, I probably prefer Edinburgh a little bit. Besides its history, it also has a bit of wild magic.