KOSTAS and the yummy world

Bath is one of the most tourist cities in the United Kingdom, which due to its relatively small size can be explored in a day trip from London (157km) or Bristol (18km).

Bath took its name after its Roman-built baths, the main attraction even today. The city is located in the valley of the River Avon, in a wonderful environment of hills and green pastures. Due to tourism, the city is well-preserved and full of beautiful and upscale shops, restaurants, and tea rooms.

The river Avon crosses the heart of the city, offering fantastic views. Pulteney Bridge and its little shops with windows overlooking the river is the city's most photographed site.

"The Bath Bun Tea Shoppe" at Abbey Green square. Step back in time to this traditional and elegant tearoom, where you can try one of Bath's famous delicacies - the Bath Bun. A quintessential English tea shop in the heart of the historic Bath, the Bath Bun Tea Shoppe is steeped in history

Another symbol of the city is Bath Abbey, which was founded in the 7th century and became a religious center; the building was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries.

In the 17th century, claims were made for the curative properties of water from the springs, and Bath became once more popular as a spa town in the Georgian era. Georgian architecture, crafted from Bath stone, includes the Royal Crescent, Circus, Pump Room, and Assembly Rooms, where Beau Nash presided over the city's social life from 1705 until he died in 1761. In the 18th century, the city became fashionable, and the population grew. Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century. 

Both the train and the bus stations are very centrally located, making it even easier to explore this fascinating city.

The Royal Crescent. The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent. Designed by the architect John Wood, the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the most outstanding examples of Georgian architecture in the United Kingdom. Today, The Royal Crescent is home to the five-star hotel The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, a luxurious haven of elegance and tranquility, a museum of Georgian life at No. 1 Royal Crescent, and private housing. It is also a popular location for films and period dramas. Jane Austen's Persuasion included many scenes shot at the Royal Crescent, and it also featured in the 2008 film The Duchess starring Keira Knightley.

The Circus. The Circus, originally called King's Circus, was designed by John Wood, the Elder. Construction began in 1754. However, Wood died less than three months after the first stone was laid, so his son, John Wood, the Younger, completed the design in 1768. The Circus consists of three curved segments of Grade I listed townhouses, forming a circle with three entrances. When viewed from the air, the Circus, along with Queen Square and adjoining Gay Street, form a fundamental shape, a masonic symbol similar to those that adorn many of Wood's buildings. Look a little closer at the detail on the stonework, and you'll see many emblems, such as serpents, acorns, and nautical symbols. Wood admired the druids, the creators of prehistoric stone circles. Convinced that Bath had been the principal center of Druid activity in Britain, Wood studied Stonehenge and designed the Circus with the same diameter. It is said that the Circus is joined to the Royal Crescent by a ley-line and that their design represents the sun and the moon.

Bath street. With its impressive colonnades and cobbled street, Bath Street is incredibly picturesque. Georgian architect Thomas Baldwin built it in 1791, who also built The Cross Bath, which you will find at the end of Bath Street. The Cross Bath is a historic bathing pool, using the waters which bubble up from the ground at a temperature of 46 °C. Opposite the Cross Bath, you will find the world-famous Thermae Bath Spa, Britain's s only natural thermal spa. Unadorned by shop signs and capturing eighteenth-century Bath perfectly, Bath Street lends itself well to filming and has been used as a set for many films and television productions, including the 2006 adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Abbey Churchyard, with Bath Abbey (center) and the Roman Baths (right).

The Pulteney Bridge. One of the most photographed examples of Georgian architecture in the city and one of only four bridges in the world to have shops across its entire span on both sides, Pulteney Bridge was designed in 1769 by Robert Adam. The bridge is named after Frances Pulteney, wife of William Johnstone Pulteney. William was an important man in Georgian Bath, owning much land in the surrounding area. He had grand plans to create a 'new town' to rival John Wood's on the city's west side. His grand scheme needed a new bridge, and he didn't want just any old bridge. He wanted a spectacular bridge, one which everyone would talk about. The architecture is classical, with pediments, pilasters, and tiny leaded domes at either end. The shops are small, and the roadway is not wide, but when the bridge opened in 1770, it was a revelation. Today it is undoubtedly one of the world's most beautiful and romantic bridges, best viewed from Parade Gardens and the crescent weir. Famously, it was the scene of Javert's suicide in the 2012 film version of Les Misérables.