Bath, Somerset

Bath is a city in the county of Somerset in England. It is 97 miles (156 km) west of London, and 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Bristol.

Bath
Pulteney Bridge
York Street, south to The Roman Baths
Bath Location within Somerset
Population	88,859 [1]
Demonym	Bathonian
OS grid reference	[ST750645 ST750645]
• London	97 miles (156 km) E
Unitary authority	Bath and North East Somerset
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BATH
Postcode district	BA1, BA2
Dialling code	01225
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bath
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	City of Bath
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iv
Reference	428
Inscription	1987 (11th Session)
Area	2,900 ha
List of places UK England Somerset 51.38°N 2.36°W / 51.38; -2.36

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2] The city has preserved some of its Roman remains and its 18th century architecture.

History

The city gets its name from the famous Roman baths in the town. The Romans built the baths as part of a spa, in the year 43 BC. They called it Aquae Sulis, which means "The waters of Sulis". Sulis was a local goddess.^[2]

During the Middle Ages, it was an important city for buying and selling wool.^[2]

Bath became a city in 1585, when Queen Elizabeth I declared it to be one.

Bath has two universities and several schools and colleges.

Bath is where Roald Dahl's short story "The Landlady" takes place. The city is also mentioned in many of Jane Austen's books, like Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice.

A panoramic view of the Royal Crescent

Pulteney Bridge in Bath, designed by Robert Adam. It is one of only four bridges in the world to have shops on both sides.

Gallery

• 
  Pulteney Bridge by Robert Adam
• 
  Aerial view of Royal Crescent at Bath