The architecture of Bath is recognised as including some fine examples from Georgian times, and the Royal Crescent is probably the best known. It is a grand semicircular row of houses, looking out over Bath across a perfect lawn. We walked up the hill to see it for ourselves, dodging the showers.
 |
| The Royal Crescent, Bath. |
Back down the hill we headed to the abbey, in order to climb the tower. They run guided tours, preceded by dire warnings about the number of steps to be climbed. As in other cathedrals and abbeys we have climbed, the route is a tiny spiral stone staircase; in this case just over 200 steps.
 |
| The abbey has a beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling. |
 |
| Halfway up the tower we passed through the bell-ringing room. |
 |
| Our tour group huddled inside the tower behind the clock face! |
 |
| In the abbey ceiling, high above the floor below. |
 |
| Sue out on the tower roof, beside one of the little corner spires. |
 |
| Looking out across Bath city centre, the new rooftop spa visible (light blue coloured). |
 |
| Sue getting diverted. |
Our last objective before leaving Bath was to get the real spa experience, in the new Thermae Bath Spa complex sited near the original Roman Baths but using clean water from a new bore. We paid our money (cough!) and were issued with robes, towels, and jandals, then joined the small crowd in the roof-top pool, soaking away our troubles in the 35 C water. It was very nice. I felt relaxed for at least a day afterwards!
 |
| The new "Thermae Bath Spa" with the rooftop hot spa pool. |
