It was known there were hot springs in what is now Bath long before the Romans arrived. But in typical Roman fashion, it was they who saw the potential in pools of warm water amidst the often cold, clammy environment of what is now Somerset and built extensive formal bathing facilities around them. Those baths remain virtually intact to this day, and in 1987 became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But there is more to Bath than the baths, and below we are going to take a quick look at some of the best things to do in Bath this weekend.

The Baths – This is the primary reason visitors come here so it would be wrong to not put these incredible Roman structures at the top of this list of things to do in Bath this weekend. While the Romans built public baths nearly everywhere they went these remain the best existing example of their engineering prowess and architectural mastery.

The Royal Crescent – This remarkable example of Georgian architecture was built when the British Empire was on the ascent in the late 18th century, shortly before it would explode in the 19th century to include a 1/4 of the world’s people. The sweeping multi-storey arch is unmistakably authoritative and the crescent-shaped lawn it looks out upon provides the ideal location for a family picnic.

Bath Abbey – Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th century and is an outstanding example of British Gothic architecture. Constructed from distinctive Bath limestone and featuring some of the most breathtaking stained glass in northern Europe the Abbey has survived war, neglect and numerous restorations and emerged, here in the 21st century, as one of the historical and architectural treasures of England.

The Circus – The Circus is a collection of Georgian townhouses in three semi-circular sections of equal size which together form a perfect circle. The Circus is only a couple of hundred meters down Brock Street from the Royal Crescent. Together the two form one of the most distinctive residential areas in all of Europe.

And Let’s Not Forget…

• Pulteney Bridge – Think the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
• The Jane Austen Centre – The Centre offers a permanent exhibition that explores the life and work of one of Bath’s most famous residents.
• Prior Park Garden – A breathtaking example of formal landscape gardening at its best.
• The Holburne Museum – An outstanding collection of Renaissance and Golden Age art.

To enjoy an authentic Bath experience book your room at the Royal Hotel in the historic city centre.