anyone been to the baths in Bath?
 

I will be in England in mid-September and am <BR>considering travelling to Bath. Has anyone been to the public baths? Are they sanitary? What does one do or see in Bath?

As far as I know there are no longer any public baths in Bath. The original baths are no longer considered safe. <BR>Bath is a charming destination. If you do a Search here on this forum on Bath you will see many postings. <BR>The usual sights are the Abbey, the Pump Room, the Baths, Poultney Bridge,the Royal Crescent, the Circus. There is also a costume museum. <BR>Bath is so beautiful architecturally, that it's a treat just to walk around, if you can close your eyes to the Disney store. <BR>

Elaine's right, the Roman Baths in Bath are no longer used as baths (haven't been for many years, I don't think). (And once you get a look at the pea-green tinge of the water, you won't want to.) The Baths are a historic sight at this point, and one that's well worth visiting--elaborate and fascinating. (You can also taste some of the "Bath mineral water" in the Pump Room restaurant; not yummy.) <BR> <BR>I agree with Elaine that Bath is a wonderful place to visit. I've been there twice and love it. The Georgian architecture is beautiful, all the sights she listed are worth visiting, and mid-September is a *glorious* time to be in western England. (Last year there were balloon launches every evening we were in Bath--bright hot-air balloons outlined against deep blue skies over the hills overlooking Bath and the Avon River--magnificent sight.) <BR> <BR>If you have time, I'd also recommend a day trip from Bath to Glastonbury and/or Wells.

The pea-green tint of the water in the Roman bathes is due to the high lead content. The bathes in Bath are wonderfull to vist, but not for public use. I would recommend visiting Bath but also keep in mind that you will not be far from other interesting sites.

Hi Sara: <BR> <BR>We visited Bath last May, and I highly recommend taking one of the free walking tours the city offers. Check with your hotel OR with the Rick Steves website for details (that's how we learned about it). <BR> <BR>You meet in front of the Baths, and the guides are strictly volunteers -- they make it very clear that they do not even accept tips! The tour lasted about two hours and was a wonderful introduction to the history and architecture of Bath. <BR> <BR>The tour guide informed us that the Baths were actually used until the 1970's; apparently a virus that causes meningitis was discovered in the water, and the baths were closed to bathers. You can still tour them of course, and they are amazing. <BR> <BR>Hope you have a great time in this beautiful city.

Sara,I agree with all of the above comments.I think should be the #1 daytrip for anyone visiting London.For lunch try a pub called the Crystal Palace.Enjoy.

Bath is absolutely worth a stop. If necessary it can ever be a day trip from London. The other posters had excellent advice, but here's another food tip: there's a teahouse called the Sally Lunn House (sp?) in one of the most picturesque townhouses in the city (it's on postcards). They sell a baked good called a Sally Lunn Bun which is a Bath tradition-you can eat yours inside the charming restaurant, or get it to go in a decorative cardboard box. Definitely worth a stop! <BR> <BR>

I highly recommend taking the train to Bath. From London the trip takes 90 minutes and it gives you the opportunity to see some of the English countryside. The rail line is Great Western and it departs from Paddington Station in London. They offer discounted fares if you can buy your tickets in advance. I was able to buy my ticket a day in advance, so I saved £13.50 (paid £24.50 for day return ticket). <BR> <BR>Also, check out Bath's website, www.bath.co.uk. It gives you everything you need to know about the town including sites, hotels, and transportation. Good Luck! <BR>

Lynn--wow, I'm fascinated that the baths were in use until so recently. I didn't know that and had definitely been under the impression that they were taken out of public use for bathing much earlier than that. <BR> <BR>Jane--oh yes, the Sally Lunn House! We had a fabulous dinner there; it's a lovely place and the food is very good. Their Sally Lunn buns are justifiably famous.

Gina - I know, isn't that amazing? The baths are a testament to Roman engineering! <BR> <BR>We learned a great deal on that walking tour and were very glad we decided to go.