Traveller's Guide: Bath, UK

Your first sight of Bath is the sweetest. It is an architecture buff's heaven, a perfect Georgian city surrounded by steep green hills. When you look at it, you just know that it has been civilised for thousands of years. If Radio 4 was a place, it would be Bath. I was as excited as Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, when I alighted from the train: "She came to be happy and she felt happy already."

Getting there:

National Rail enquiries: 08457 484950; www.nationalrail.co.uk

Staying there:

Royal Crescent Hotel, 16 Royal Crescent, Bath (01225 823333; www.royalcrescent.co.uk). Doubles start at £225, including breakfast.

Visiting there:

Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard (01225 477785; www.romanbaths.co.uk). Open daily 9am-5pm, until 9pm in July and August; £10.50 and £11 in July and August. Thermae Bath Spa, Bath Street, Bath (0844 888 0844; www.thermaebathspa.com). Bath opening times vary, but the New Royal Bath opens daily from 9am-10pm. Two-hour spa sessions start at £22. Bath Balloons (01225 466 888; http://www.bathballoons.co.uk). Flights start at £99 per person.

More information:

Bath Tourism: 0906 711 2000; www.visitbath.co.uk

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