Discount Hotels Bath
Historical interest: Bath
    
Bath lies on the River Avon, surrounded by the Cotswold Hills, and has been
described as the "most nobly placed and best-built city in all England".
The city is said to have been founded by the mythical King Bladud in 863 BC,
around the sacred hot springs that have made Bath so famous. Later, the Romans
built a vast religious complex around this sacred spring, having associated
it with their goddess of wisdom, Minerva, thus naming the city Aquae Sulis.
The city became a popular pagan pilgrimage centre with large numbers of inns
for visitors from across the Empire. Soon it also became a centre for commerce
and trade, as well as a cosmopolitan settlement, rich in arts.
Bath's first charter was granted in 1189, bringing with it considerable privileges
for the city, however the city was not formally incorporated until 1590. Various
fairs were held in Bath and it again became an important commercial centre,
when the wool trade was flourishing in Somerset. The local cloth, 'Bath Beaver',
was known throughout the country. However, as the cloth trade declined later
in the century, so did Bath, and it fell into a low period in its history, even
the baths fell into disrepair.
It was not until the 18th century that the city entered its 'Golden Age'. The
baths became popular once again and the city was transformed into a fashionable
health resort. This resurgence was linked with building work undertaken by architects
such as John Woods, Ralph Allen and Richard Nash. A grand architectural scheme
included Queen square, the Royal Crescent and the North and South parades.
Today it attracts more tourists than ever, thriving predominantly as leisure
town, with only one (recently opened) hot springs bath available to the public.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Ston Easton Park | | Royal Crescent Hotel | | Homewood Park | | The Bath Priory Hotel & Restaurant | | Hilton Bath City | | Lucknam Park Hotel | | Abbey Hotel | | Pratts Hotel | | Lansdown Grove Hotel | | Menzies Waterside Hotel | | Macdonald Hotels, The Francis | | Macdonald Hotels, The Bath Spa Hotel | | Limpley Stoke Hotel | | Combe Grove Manor | | Travelodge Bath | | Comfort Inn Bath | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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