Enjoying a Bath

Gosh it's been a busy touristy day. Enjoying the city of Bath in the glorious April sunshine. There's so much to see and I've taken hundreds of photos, far too many to share with you, but here are a few to give a flavour of what we have been doing.
We started the day off with a City Sightseeing Tour on the open topped bus.  Our guide was so good that we didn't get off to visit any of the places on the way as we wanted to hear him all the way round. That gave us a good history lesson into the existence of Bath from the Roman occupation in AD43 to the present day. 
Then the first stop was at the Roman Baths, the centre piece of the city and the reason it is here.

Here water springs from the ground, over a million litres a day at 46'c. The only hot springs in this country. The Romans found this and built their small gated town called Aqua Sulis.

The Great Bath

The Hot Spring

Roof section from the original vaulted roof 

Fragment showing the open block, part of the roof spine

Next a look at Pulteney Weir on the River Avon built in the early 1970's as part of the flood defences for the city. 

Distinctive horseshoe shape

Next onto Pulteney Bridge, which has shops built along it.

On the bridge itself, but you wouldn't know it.

A visit to the Abbey which is a grand name for this parish church, but nevertheless grand to see.

grand facade with flying buttresses

grand carved door

grand fan vaulted ceiling

even a grand ancestor of ours!?

 We took a tower tour to take advantage of the grand views over the city and see the bells.

over the first roof top

behind the clock face

out across to the canal

over the city

the thermae spa swimming pool

grand pinnacle towers

Outside again and we walked past Sally Lunn's, home of the Bath Bun and the oldest house in Bath, but we didn't stop to taste their wares today.

However Ian was more taken with the building next door.  I wonder why?

Tilleys Bistro

And the Tilley is a proper one too. We could see one in the window, but resisted the temptation to go in, it was a bit pricey for us.

Ruth take note.

On to the Circus, where 3 curved stretches of wonderful Georgian terraces create a circle around a grassy centre.

Designed by John Wood as was much of this grand Georgian city.

The frontages are uniform,

With Corinthian pillars at the top level, Doric in the middle and Ionic at the street level.  There are also two floors below street level.

Next round to the Royal Crescent, all still housing accommodation, with just the middle section operating as an hotel.

The frontage is again uniform, neat and perfectly balanced in true Georgian style, while the backs are vastly different meeting the varying needs, whims or desires of their many owners over the years.

Number 1 is currently being refurbished as a showcase 18th century home and servant's quarters.

Still plenty to see and do here; Royal Victoria Park, the Market, more of the river, many museums. Tomorrow's another day.