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Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey Review
Dominating Bath's center, this 15th-century edifice of golden, glowing stone has a splendid west front, with carved figures of angels ascending ladders on either side. Notice, too, the miter, olive tree, and crown motif, a play on the name of the building's founder, Bishop Oliver King. More than 50 stained-glass windows fill about 80% of the building's wall space, giving the interior an impression of lightness. The abbey was built in the Perpendicular (English late-Gothic) style on the site of a Saxon abbey, and the nave and side aisles contain superb fan-vaulted ceilings. Look for the expressively carved angels on the choir screens. There are five services on Sunday, including choral evensong at 3:30. Forty-five-minute tower tours, allowing close-up views of the massive bells and panoramic cityscapes from the roof, take place daily except Sundays; the 212 dizzying steps demand a level of fitness.
- Address: Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LT | Map It
- Phone: 01225/422462
- Cost: Abbey £2.50 suggested donation, tower tours £6
- Hours: Abbey Mon. 9:30--6, Tues--Sat. 9--6, Sun. 1--2:30 and 4:30--5:30. Tower tours Apr., May, Sept., and Oct., Mon.--Sat. 10--4 hourly; June--Aug., Mon.--Sat. 10--5 hourly; Nov.--Mar., Mon.--Sat. 11, noon, and 2
- Website: www.bathabbey.org
- Location: Bath
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