Bath - Go4Accommodation - Hotels in Bath, England - Where to stay in B About Hotels in Bath, England The lovely city of Bath was first established almost 2000 years ago as a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis. Whether in Latin or English, the city is quite aptly named since there are a number of hot springs, Roman baths and other similar features found here. As a result, the city has become a popular tourist destination and local accommodation facilities range from the extravagant five star Royal Crescent Hotel Bath and the MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel; to more affordable options like the Mercure Francis Hotel Bath and the Premier Inn Bath, or self contained, serviced apartments in Bath. Of course, for anyone specifically seeking cheap accommodation in Bath, you can always count on the local hostels to offer some of the lowest rates around. Relaxing things to do in Bath and interesting museums One of the best ways to relax when in Bath is to take a walk and enjoy the wonderful greenery and views from the Prior Park Landscape Gardens. It’s most famed features include a stunning lake, beautiful views of the city of Bath and of course the Palladian Bridge.

The Royal Victoria Park is another wonderful place to enjoy a quiet stroll and let the kids play. There are some wonderful facilities for children as well as toilets, picnic benches and park wardens on duty for added security. The Roman Baths Museum is as fascinating as it is educational. It is an absolute must for anyone interested in the history of Bath and getting a first-hand look at the ancient baths that added to the city’s fame and popularity. No. 1 Royal Crescent has been refurbished and welcomes guests to enjoy an eye-opening experience. As a historical building and museum, a tour will give you some insight regarding how the wealthy lived years ago. Art lovers can take a trip to the Holburne Museum and enjoy some of the finest decorative art. After feasting your eyes on the sensational works, feel free to take a break and enjoy the gardens and beverage from the café. Other local Bath sights One of the top activities in Bath is Falconry. This is a highly skilled practice and, due to the overwhelming popularity, it is necessary to make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment. There are also a number of wonderful local religious sites in Bath. Such include Bath Abbey and the Bath City Church. No matter your personal beliefs, the architecture itself is truly breathtaking.

For some fun shopping, visit the Pulteney Bridge. This 18th century bridge is only one of three in the entire world that is lined with shops. It is also one of the most famous structures in Bath so, even if you don’t purchase anything, it is still worth visiting. Other significant places include Bath Street, The Circus and Royal Crescent. In Bath, one thing is for sure, there is no shortage of wonderful old structures, activities and history. When choosing between all the beautiful hotels in Bath, England; bear in mind that the best Bath hotel deals and cheap hotels in Bath city centre can be found online. Compare the rates and services of the various hotels in Bath UK and other forms of accommodation in order to find the best option for accommodation in Bath, UK. By searching and booking online, you can save a fair amount on your travel and accommodation expenses while making it that much easier to decide where to stay in Bath. Bath - England | A Blog Voyage The Pulteney Bridge, Avon River City of Bath Somerset, England In the South West England, there is a town that is too pretty for words.

It was founded in the 1st century AD by the Romans as a thermal spa (Aquae Sulis) and thus renamed Bath. It’s current form started in the 18th century, under in King George III. We must give thanks to the hard and inspired minds of John Woods the elder (1704-1754) and the younger (1728-1782), and their interpretation of Andrea Palladio’s (1508-1580) concept of picturesque aestheticism. We now see the seamless integration of the The Roman Baths and temple complex, the remains of the city of Aquae Sulis, and the more modern English City. (above photo Royal Crescent © Christina West ) (above photo Palladian Bridge at Prior Park © VT Professor ) This Palladian bridge in the Prior Park Landscape Garden was built in 1755, and it is one of only four in the world. is set into a sweeping valley with magnificent views of the city of Bath. (above photo The Circus © Robert C ) From ‘Obsession: John Wood and the Creation of Georgian Bath’, 2004, pp95-98).

The (originally ‘Kings’) Circus (South Eastern Section – c1762-6) bathed in the late October sun of 2007, one of the best autums I can remember. As ever, the play of light across the beautiful Bath stone allows this shot to become magical! (Best viewed large size.)It has been pointed out that the Circus was originally devoid of any plants or grass, being a circle of cobbles, since Wood intended the link to nature to be a direct one-to-one relationship between the architecture and its symbolism and the open skies above – ‘a dramatic and theatrical space where the architecture took centre stage’. Wood believed that there had always existed a temple to the Sun and Moon on Lansdown hill and the Circus was to be his recreation of a temple of the Sun, with the Royal Cresent the reborn temple of the crescent moon! As such the Circus is the same internal diameter (318′) as Stone Henge, itself an ancient temple of the sun. Uk | A Blog Voyage The Pulteney Bridge, Avon River City of Bath Somerset, England In the South West England, there is a town that is too pretty for words.

It was founded in the 1st century AD by the Romans as a thermal spa (Aquae Sulis) and thus renamed Bath. It’s current form started in the 18th century, under in King George III. We must give thanks to the hard and inspired minds of John Woods the elder (1704-1754) and the younger (1728-1782), and their interpretation of Andrea Palladio’s (1508-1580) concept of picturesque aestheticism. We now see the seamless integration of the The Roman Baths and temple complex, the remains of the city of Aquae Sulis, and the more modern English City. (above photo Royal Crescent © Christina West ) (above photo Palladian Bridge at Prior Park © VT Professor ) This Palladian bridge in the Prior Park Landscape Garden was built in 1755, and it is one of only four in the world. is set into a sweeping valley with magnificent views of the city of Bath. (above photo The Circus © Robert C ) From ‘Obsession: John Wood and the Creation of Georgian Bath’, 2004, pp95-98).

The (originally ‘Kings’) Circus (South Eastern Section – c1762-6) bathed in the late October sun of 2007, one of the best autums I can remember. As ever, the play of light across the beautiful Bath stone allows this shot to become magical! (Best viewed large size.)It has been pointed out that the Circus was originally devoid of any plants or grass, being a circle of cobbles, since Wood intended the link to nature to be a direct one-to-one relationship between the architecture and its symbolism and the open skies above – ‘a dramatic and theatrical space where the architecture took centre stage’. Wood believed that there had always existed a temple to the Sun and Moon on Lansdown hill and the Circus was to be his recreation of a temple of the Sun, with the Royal Cresent the reborn temple of the crescent moon! As such the Circus is the same internal diameter (318′) as Stone Henge, itself an ancient temple of the sun.

coordinates 51.4275131,-1.8549353 We gathered together outside the stone ring at Avebury – it is the world’s oldest dating from between 2,500-2,600 BC)and one of the largest with a diameter of 331.6m – to experience a bit of druid magic. Surprisingly enough, we did. Equipped with copper divining rods (on loan) and open minds we began the circuit allowing our steps to be guided by touch, ley lines and gravitational pull. The divining rods did rotate in our hands and quietly and surely guided us. Most interestingly, it seems the sheep are also guided by the same forces! Invariable the rods would cross as we reached the matted down depressions, where one of our furry friends had bedded down (or in some cases recently quickly vacated at our approach!) (above photo © Jon Morris-Smith ) The rings symbolize an ancient power. These megalithic monuments making it up are of an age with the Pyramids at Giza – and represent another engineering feet.

There were originally 98 sarsen (sandstone blocks) standing stones, some weighting up to 40 tons and heights varying between 3 and 4.2 meters (10 & 13 ft.) The moving and standing of these mammoth stones required a level of cooperation that to erect that still mystifies to this day. If you find yourself anywhere near the ring – even if it is just as a country outing – it is worth the time 🙂 (above photo South Circle stones 103, 102, 101 & 105 and the Tower of St James church © Jim Champion ) (above photo The Cove, which is the remains of the northern inner circle © Steve Watson ) (above photo The Cove, which is the remains of the northern inner circle © Robert C ) Nearby is Silbury Hill which is the largest man-made mound in old Europe (above photo Silbury Hill © Martin Avtost ) Share this: 8:30 am – 6:00pm Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 5:00pm Saturdays D.R. Harris & Co is a throwback to an Englishness that defined a nation.

Established in 1790 this family-owned apothecary continues to produce the majority of their products using the same traditional methods. Being both hand-made and packed on the premisses just embues the aura even further. Amongst their diverse selection of products you can find – lavender water, soaps, colognes, bath and shaving preparations, skin lotions and aromatherapy oils, as well as body sponges, bone handled toothbrushes with bristle heads and – all sorts of little things that you just feel right acquiring – and a plus is they do not test on animals! You know you are shopping in the footsteps of giants as in 1938 D.R. Harris was granted the Royal Warrant as Chemists to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth & the Queen Mother and in 2002 the warrant to HRH The Prince of Wales. Aquae synonyms, aquae antonyms - FreeThesaurus.com Aquae synonyms, aquae antonyms - FreeThesaurus.com a shade of blue tinged with green Synonyms Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: The unfinished cline of grammaticalisation? Reflections on the uses of OE under and its derivatives From here it's just a five minute walk into Bath - or Aquae Sulis - itself. Travel: Narrow boat takes the stress out of a road trip to historic Bath; British Break JUSTINE HALIFAX takes a narrow boat trip away from the bustle of city life to visit Bath 5) That latter synod, securely dated to spring 256, had reaffirmed the position taken at the earlier synod: "statuentes unum baptisma esse quod sit in ecclesia catholica constitutum ac per hoc non rebaptizari sed baptizari a nobis quicumque ab adultera et profana aqua uenientes abluendi sint et sanctificandi salutaris aquae ueritate.

Validity of baptism and ordination in the African response to the "rebaptism" crisis: Cyprian of Carthage's synod of spring 256 Succere ergo, Virgo Dei genitrix, et nobis miseris peccatoribus famulis tuis in tua misericordia sperantibus, ut non nos demergeat tempestas aquae, neque absorbeat nos profundum, neque urgeat super nos puteus os suum, se tua misericordissima pietate et sanctissima intercessione adiuti ac confortati, serviamus vero regi, qui vivit et regnat per immortalia saecula. Bath Travel Guide - England - Eupedia 4 How to get there Bath (pop. 90,000, with suburbs 170,000) is a Georgian spa town predominantly built of limestone, not unlike Oxford and Cambridge. It is one of England (and Europe)'s most attractive and tourist cities, and is listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. History The site of Bath was already settled by Celtic tribes several thousands years ago.

According to the legend, Bladud, of the mythical lineage of the Kings of the Britons and himself father of King Lear, built the city of Kaerbadum (present-day Bath) some 2800 years ago. Balud was a leper and he had many hotspring baths built in the city, which supposedly cured his illness. The first written records of Bath date from Roman times. The Celts already had a shrine dedicated to local goddess Sulis (identified with Minerva/Athena, Greco-Roman goddess of crafts and wisdom), and the Romans founded the temple-town of Aquae Sulis ("Waters of Sulis") in the first century AD. King Ceawlin of Wessex took control of the region around 577 AD and the Saxons renamed the hotsprings Baï¿½um ("at the baths"), although the town itself laid in ruins at the time. A monastery was founded in 645. Bath became a royal possession and King Alfred the Great redesign its street pattern in the late 9th century, leaving its south-eastern quadrant as the abbey precinct. Edgard, first king of all England, was crowned at Bath Abbey in 973.

King William Rufus, second son of William the Conqueror, made John of Tours bishop of Wells and abbot of Bath in 1088. The bishopric of Somerset was moved almost immediately to Bath, and the town's first cathedral was built. Baths were built around the three springs, but the town was mostly a wool-trading centre and did not become a popular spa town until the late 17th century. Architects John Wood, father and son, remodelled the whole city and gave it a palatial air, with a rational street plan and a homogenous classical facades built of creamy gold limestone from the nearby mines of Combe Down. Post Master and Mayor of Bath Ralph Allen (1694-1764) commissioned John Wood to build his Prior Park estate in 1742. From then on, Bath had become a fashionable town with the elite, and quickly aquired its own theatre and assembly rooms. Richard 'Beau' Nash (1674-1761) was appointed Master of Ceremonies of Bath in 1705.

He played an important role in the revitalisation of Bath as a spa town, presided over social life and imposed strict regulations in regard to the upper-classes' garments and behaviour. Jane Austen spent a few years of her life in Bath, where she wrote Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. However, Bath's popularity with the aristocracy declined sharply in the early 19th century for the profit of the new sea resorts. Attractions The Baths The Roman Baths , established nearly 2000 years ago, were rediscovered in the 18th century and are one of the city's most visited attractions. The waters are now considered unsafe to bath owning to its passing through the lead-pipe built by the Romans and still functioning nowadays. The Roman Baths Museum include the Great Bath, the 12th century King's Bath, as well as the ruins of the Temple of Sulis and the 4th century East Baths. The tiny Cross Bath on Stall Street is where James II's wife, Mary of Modena, errected a cross in 1688 to thank god for her pregnancy.

If bathing, relaxation and thermal treatments is what you are after, then the brand new, multimillion pound project Thermae Bath Spa is the place to go. Bath Abbey Founded in 675, Bath Abbey saw the coronation of the first king of all England (see History above). It became the seat of the diocese of Somerset in 1088 and St Peter's church was raised into a cathedral. This latter was not completed before 1156. However the bishop moved to Wells and Bath cathedral fell into disrepair. In 1499, Oliver King, Bishop of Wells and Bath, shocked at the poor condition of the church, ordered it to be rebuilt, smaller than the first cathedral but in a lighter, more elegant style, with angels climbing stone ladders, first up then down, head first. When Henry VIII dissolve the monasteries, Bath Abbey became a possession of the Crown and was stripped of lead, iron and glass and left to rot. The citizens of Bath undertook to restore it between 1572 and 1617. The Abbey has no less than 640 wall monuments, which only Westminster Abbey exceeds.

Several great names are interred in the abbey, including demographer Thomas Malthus, Sir Isaace Pitman and Richard 'Beau' Nash. The Royal Crescent One of Bath's jewels, the Royal Crescent is an exclusive semicircular residential estate of 30 Palladian-style houses. It was designed by John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774. They overlook the Royal Victoria Park. House No 1 was completely restored to its original state and is open to visitors (Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm from March to October, and until 4pm in November; entry ï¿½4). The Royal Crescent Hotel occupies numbers 15 and 16 Royal Crescent. The Circus Brock Street connects the Royal Crescent to the Circus, a roundabout surrounded by another series of Palladian houses designed by John Wood the Elder. The Circus takes its name from Latin, and was part of the 18th century neo-classical (Roman) reconstruction project.

Pulteney Bridge Designed in 1773 by Robert Adam, Pulteney Bridge is one of the only four bridges in the world with shops across the full span on both sides (like Florence's Ponte Vecchio or Venice's Ponte di Rialto). It was named after Frances Pulteney who commissioned Adam for the construction. The bridge was altered 1792, damaged by floods in 1799 and 1800, but was rebuilt in its original form just after. The windows were later enlarged by shopkeepers, and the pavilion at the western end was demolished in 1903. Guildhall Built in 1779 by Thomas Baldwin, the Guildhall acts as a venue for conferences and meetings. Some of the rooms are sometimes open to the public (admission free). Check to see which can be visited when you are there. The most impressive are the neo-classical Banqueting Room and Aix-en-Provence Room. Smaller rooms include the Brunswick, Kaposvar and Alkmaar Rooms. Museums Bath abounds with museums to match almost anyone's interest.

The may want to check the official website of the following museums for detailed information : Museum of East Asian Art How to get there Trains from London Paddington take 1h30min (ï¿½39.50 saver return) to reach Bath. There are also frequent connections to Bristol (20min, ï¿½4.60), and a few trains to Exeter (1h30min, ï¿½16.10), Portsmouth (2h, ï¿½27.40) and Oxford (1h15min, ï¿½22.50). Most trains require a change at Bristol though. National Express buses connect Bath to London (3h30min, ï¿½21 economy return), Bournemouth (2h45min, ï¿½16), Oxford (2h, ï¿½14) and Manchester (6h15min, ï¿½31).

There are short-distance buses to Bristol (No X39, 332 and 339, 50min), Bradford-on-Avon (No X5 and X6, 30min) and Wells (No 173/773, 1h15min) among others. Bristol can also be reached from Bath by bicycle following a cycle-path of a disused railway along the Avon River. Eupedia MSA TOURS: England... in Search of its Literary Past MSA Cultural Tours presents This tour will include seminal venues related to the literary history of England. Stonehenge represents the oral tradition of the Druids, Glastonbury the Arthurian Tradition immortalized in the King Arthur and the Roundtable Tales, Stratford on the Avon, home of the Great Bard, a primary center of the Northhumbrian Renaissance (and possible birthplace of the Book of Kells), Canterbury, destination of the Pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and London, the scene of many great English novels such as those of Dickens. REGISTRATION: You may download the MS Word Registration form here .

(Please consider using the PDF instead which you type on your PC.) Or get the PDF version which you can fill out on your computer, then print and mail. The PDF is preferred as the info is typed, not handwritten. TOUR DATES: Oct 3 -12, and Oct 3-15 if taking the 3 day London extension. Note that these are the revised dates for this tour. DAY 2 SALISBURY AND STONEHENGE. OVERNIGHT in BATH. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument 8 miles north of Salisbury . One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones . Archaeologists believe the monument was erected around 2500 BC and the surrounding earth bank and ditch are dated to about 3100 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that Stonehenge served as a burial ground from 3000 BC, when the initial ditch and bank were dug and continued for another 500 years. The stones we see today represent Stonehenge in ruin.

Many of the original stones have fallen, been removed, or seriously damaged by visitors (prohibited since 1978). Construction of the Henge In its first phase, Stonehenge was a large earthwork; a bank and ditch arrangement called a “henge”, a prehistoric circular structure over 65 feet in diameter that is enclosed by earthwork and comprises a ditch with an external bank. The earthwork permits access to the interior by various entrances. Because of the defensive impracticalities of an enclosure with an external bank and an internal ditch (rather than vice versa), henges are believed to have served a ritual, rather than defensive, purpose About 2,000 BC, the first stone circle (now the inner circle), comprised of small bluestones was constructed. The stones used are believed to be from the Prescelly Mountains, 240 miles away, at the southwestern tip of Wales . The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and 80 stones were used in the inter circle. The giant sarsen stones forming the outer circle, weigh up to 50 tons each (Sarsen stones are post-glacial sandstone blocks which once covered much of southern England ).

The question of who built Stonehenge is largely unanswered. The monument's construction has been attributed to many ancient peoples, the most enduring being the Druids (see below). Julius Caesar and other Roman writers mention a powerful Celtic priesthood flourishing at the time of the Roman conquest (55 BC). It seems however that Stonehenge was begun in the late Neolithic period (around 3000 BC) and carried forward by a more advanced people called Beaker Folk. There is the legend of King Arthur told by the twelfth century writer, Geoffrey of Monmouth. In his History of the Kings of Britain , Geoffrey claims that Merlin brought the stones to the Salisbury Plain from Ireland to honor 300 British noblemen murdered by the Saxons. Salisbury Cathedral 90 miles southwest of London was built almost entirely in the 13th century and has the tallest spire and the largest cloisters in England. In 1075 the Normans built a cathedral in Old Sarum but in 1219 the Pope granted permission to move to a better location two miles away, at the confluence of two rivers.

Construction on Salisbury Cathedral began in the Early English Gothic style in 1220 and was completed quickly, resulting in an architectural unity rarely seen in England. The Holt Trinity Chapel was completed in 1225, the choir, transepts and nave, by 1258, the year the cathedral was consecrated. The west front was finished in 1255, the cloister in 1270 and the chapter house in 1284.The only major element added later was the famous spire in 1310-33. The Cathedral has many notable features, the most famous being its towering central spire, the tallest in England at 404 feet. A 332 steps climb up the tower (on a guided tour only) is rewarded with a view of the timber scaffolding above the nave and inside the spire and a wonderful views of Salisbury and the surrounding countryside. The west front was completed in 1255 and statues were added by 1300, (only 10 of the original medieval sculptures survive today).

The nave is striking for its great height and unusual narrowness, the entire length being in the Early English Gothic style of the early 13th century. Europe's oldest working clock (1386), originally located in the bell tower is now displayed in the north nave aisle. Salisbury Cathedral is home to the largest and oldest complete set of choir stalls in the country, made in 1236 from oak provided by King Henry III. Behind the choir at the east end of the cathedral is the Trinity Chapel (1225), with slender columns supporting a dramatic rib vault, which shelters the tomb of St. Osmund. The chapter house (1263-84) is a beautiful example of the Geometrical Decorated style, with rib vaults fanning out from a slender central pillar. Also on display is the best preserved of only four original copies of the Magna Carta (1215). Built in the 1250s and 60s, the English Gothic cloister of Salisbury Cathedral is the largest in England. It was used as a prison in the Civil War (17th century).

The central garden is home to two giant cedar trees planted in 1837. Druids were members of the priestly and learned class suppressed and abolished by the Romans in the 1st century AD. Little contemporary evidence about Druids exists, thus little can be said regarding them with assurance. It is known that they held their cultural knowledge in an oral tradition. Most of what is known about them comes from the Roman (usually hostile) writers. A common assumption about the Druids was that they were the priests of the Celtic peoples. The reality is that the term encompassed all members of the Celtic learned class including bards, judges, scholars, scientists, teachers, and priests. The core Druidic religious beliefs reported in Roman sources were their belief in reincarnation, and reverence for the natural world. Some sources report that the Celts in Gaul practiced human sacrifice. Current scholarship questions the practice of human sacrifice nor is it supported by archaeological evidence. Their reverence for various aspects of the natural world, such as the ritual of oak and mistletoe has also been associated with animism.

Animism is a philosophical, religious or spiritual idea that souls or spirits exist not only in humans but also in animals, plants, rocks, natural phenomena such as thunder, geographic features such as mountains or rivers, or other entities of the natural environment. DAY 2 - Cadbury Castle Cadbury Castle is the best known as the reputed site of Camelot. Cadbury is an isolated hill of limestone and sandstone. The summit is 500 feet above sea level, with an impressive view of central Somerset, including the Tor at Glastonbury 12 miles away. It has four lines of bank-and-ditch defense and surrounds an area of l8 acres. The first known author to refer to Cadbury as Camelot was Henry VIII's chief antiquarian, John Leland in 1542. The word "castle" suggests a medieval fortress with towers and battlements. Cadbury never had a castle; the fortified hill itself was the castle. Antiquarian writers from Leland on called Cadbury "Camelot". The crucial step from the Arthurian perspective was in the 1950’s when part of the enclosure was ploughed.

In the process, pottery was found which proved that somebody had lived there at the (believed) time of Arthur who was a person of wealth and standing who could import luxury goods. It became clear that British Celts of the Iron Age had not only built the earthwork defenses, but also reconstructed the top of Cadbury several times. A village flourished on the plateau for hundreds of years until the Romans stormed Cadbury (50 BC) evicted the survivors, and resettled them at the foot of the hill so they could not use Cadbury as a stronghold for future rebellion. During the Roman period the enclosure was empty followed a period of obscurity until the Arthurian period. On the highest part of the hill the foundations of a 63 by 34-foot timber hall (now called Arthur’s Palace) was discovered. Its walls were marked by post-holes cut in the bedrock. A trench running across it, closer to one end than the other, showed where a partition had divided it into large and small rooms. This defensive wall system surrounding the hill with timber bracing and superstructure was typical of British Celts building before the Roman conquest.

The excavation demonstrated that Cadbury was occupied at the time by a leader, an Arthur-type figure with extensive resources, who took possession of this vacant hill-fort and refortified it on a colossal scale. At the centre, he set up at least one fair-sized building and probably several smaller ones. Cadbury could hold a thousand men, plus ancillary staff, followers and families. The point about Cadbury-Camelot is not only that this hill-fort was converted into a vast citadel at the right time, but also that there is no other known instance in post Roman Britain of such a thing having happened. A number of hill-forts were reoccupied, but simply as protected places of residence for a household. The areas resettled within their ramparts were much smaller; none became a base for substantial forces; and none acquired a new fortification remotely like the stone-and-timber rampart of Cadbury, with its gatehouse and implied use of the whole 18-acre enclosure. Was it King Arthur who refortified Cadbury Castle? We don't know but (if indeed there was a King Arthur) it's possible that he could have been.

And saying that he "could have been here" may be as close as we will ever get to locating the elusive historical Arthur. Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset surrounded by hills, the tallest is known as the Tor, which happens to have an old stone tower on the very top which was once a church dedicated to the archangel Michael. Glastonbury may have been of religious importance in pre-Christian times. The abbey itself was founded by Britons, and dates to the early 7th century. Later medieval Christian legend claimed that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. This fanciful legend is intimately tied to Robert de Boron's version of the Holy Grail story and to Glastonbury's connection to King Arthur, which dates at least to the early 12th century. King Ine of Wessex enriched the endowment of the community of monks already established at Glastonbury. He is said to have directed that a stone church be built in 712, the foundation of which now forms the west end of the nave. Glastonbury was ravaged by the Danes in the ninth century.

The abbey church was enlarged in the tenth century by the Abbot of Glastonbury, Saint Dunstan, who instituted the Benedictine Rule. Dunstan became Archbishop of Canterbury in 960. In 967, King Edmund was laid to rest at Glastonbury. In 1016, Edmund Ironside, who had lost England to the Danes was buried there. At the Norman Conquest in 1066, the wealth of Glastonbury made it a prime prize. In 1086, when Domesday Book was commissioned, Glastonbury Abbey was the richest monastery in the country. Abbot Henry of Blois commissioned a history of Glastonbury, about 1125, from the chronicler William of Malmesbury, whose De Antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesiae is our source for the early recorded history, and much awe-inspiring legend as well. Then as now, legend worked more strongly than history to bring the pilgrims who sustained the Abbey's reputation and contributed to its upkeep. In 1184, a fire destroyed the monastic buildings but reconstruction began almost immediately.

If pilgrim visits had fallen, the discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's grave in the cemetery in 1191 provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. According to chronicle accounts a search, discovered at the depth of 16 feet, a massive hollowed oak trunk containing two skeletons. Above it, under the covering stone was a leaden cross with the unmistakably inscription Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arthurus in insula Avalonia ("Here lies interred the famous King Arthur on the Isle of Avalon"). King Edward I and Queen Eleanor attended the magnificent service at the reburial of King Arthur's remains to the foot of the High Altar in 1278. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed than Glastonbury. The abbot of Glastonbury kept a great estate, now only represented by the ruins of the abbot's kitchen, with four huge fireplaces at its corners. The kitchen was part of the magnificent Abbot's house built (1334–42).

It is one of the best-preserved medieval kitchens in Europe, and the only substantial monastic building surviving at Glastonbury. Archaeological excavations have revealed a special apartment erected at the south end of the Abbot's house for a visit from Henry VII, who visited the Abbot. The conditions of life in England during the Wars of the Roses became so unsettled that a wall was built around the Abbey's precincts. At the start of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, there were over 800 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in England. By 1541, there were none. More than 15,000 monks and nuns had been dispersed and the buildings had been seized by the Crown to be sold off or leased to new lay occupiers. Wells is a small cathedral city in Somerset, which has had city status since 1205. The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral.

The city was a Roman settlement and became an important centre under the Saxons King Ine of Wessex who founded a church in 704. During the English Civil War, Parliamentarian troops used the Cathedral to stable their horses and damaged much of the ornate sculpture by using it for firing practice. William Penn stayed in Wells shortly before leaving for America and was briefly arrested for addressing a large crowd in the market place, but was released on the intervention of the Bishop. Wells has been an ecclesiastical City of importance for hundreds of years. Parts of the building date back to the 10th century. It is known for its fine fan vaulted ceilings, Lady Chapel and windows, and arches supporting the central tower. The west front is said to be the finest collection of statuary in Europe, retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues. The Bishops Palace has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The hall and chapel are particularly noteworthy, dating from the 14th century. There are 14 acres of gardens including the springs from which the city takes its name. Visitors can also see the Bishop's private Chapel.

The Bishop's Barn was built in the 15th century. Built between 1175 and 1490, Wells Cathedral has been described as “the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”. The eastern end has retained much of its original glass. The exterior has a splendid Early English façade and a large central tower and the nave and transept are masterpieces of the Early English style of architecture. The first church was established on the site in 705. Construction of the present building was largely complete at the time of its dedication in 1239. It has undergone several expansions and renovations since then. There is archaeological evidence of a late Roman mausoleum on the site. King Ine established the first church in 705 and the present structure was begun in 1184. Wells Cathedral dates primarily from the late 12th century and early 13th century; the nave and transept are masterpieces of the Early English style of architecture.

In the 14th century, the central piers of the crossing were found to be sinking under the weight of the crossing tower, so the "scissor arches" (inverted strainer arches that are such a striking feature) were inserted to brace and stabilize the piers as a unit. By the reign of Henry VII the cathedral building was complete, with an appearance much as today. OVERNIGHT IN BATH DAY 3 - Bath Bath is in southwest England 97 miles (156 km) west of London. It was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590. Bath was first established as a spa resort with the Latin name, Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") by the Romans in AD 43. They built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon around hot springs. King Edgar was crowned king of England at Bath Abbey in 973. It became a very popular resort during the Georgian era, when expansion left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture. Bath was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is a tourism destination attracting over four million visitors each year.

Archaeological evidence indicates the Roman Bath's main spring was treated as a shrine by the Celts and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva; however, the name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis (literally, "the waters of Sulis"). After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, the baths fell into disrepair and were lost. Bath may have been the site of the Battle of Mons Badonicus (c. 500 AD), where King Arthur is said to have defeated the Saxons, although this is disputed. The ninth-century historian Nennius, mentions a "Hot Lake" along the Severn, and adds "It is surrounded by a wall, made of brick and stone, and men may go there to bathe at any time, and every man can have the kind of bath he likes." Bede also describes hot baths in the geographical introduction to the Ecclesiastical History in terms very similar to those of Nennius. By the 9th century the old Roman street pattern had been lost and Bath was a royal possession, which King Alfred restructured.

In the Elizabethan period the city experienced a revival as a spa. The baths were improved and the city began to attract the aristocracy. Bath was granted city status by Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590. In 1987 the city was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its international cultural significance. Jane Austen lived in the city from 1801 with her father, mother and sister Cassandra, until 1806. Taking the waters is also described in Charles Dickens' novel The Pickwick Papers. There are many Roman archaeological sites throughout the central area of the city, but the baths themselves are about 6 meters below the present city street level. Around the hot springs, Roman foundations, pillar bases, and baths can still be seen, however all the stonework above the level of the baths is from more recent periods. Bath Abbey (above) was a Norman church built on earlier foundations, although the present building dates from the early 16th century and shows a late Perpendicular style with flying buttresses .The building has 52 windows.

OVERNIGHT IN BATH DAYS 4 & 5 - Stratford upon Avon The Saxons founded Stratford upon Avon in the 7th century AD. The name Stratford is made up of Celtic and Saxon words. It was the "straet ford" that is the ford by the Roman road. Avon is a Celtic word meaning river or water. Stratford Upon Avon was a typical village until the late 12th century when it was transformed into a town. (At that time trade and commerce were growing rapidly and many new towns were founded). In the year 1196 King Richard I granted Stratford the right to hold weekly markets. Medieval Stratford Upon Avon was small by modern standards with a population between 1,000 and 1,500. Towns and cities were small in the middle ages; London only had a population of 10,000 at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. In the late 16th century Stratford Upon Avon was still a small market town with a population of between 1,500 and 2,000.

In 1557 a Glover from Stratford Upon Avon named John Shakespeare married Mary Arden, the daughter of a well-to-do farmer from Wilmcote. Their son William Shakespeare was born on or about 23 April 1564 in a house in Henley Street. The son of a middle-class citizen he attended grammar school and in 1582 married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a farmer from nearby Snottery. In 1587 William Shakespeare left for London but in 1597 he bought a house named New Place in Stratford Upon Avon. When he died in April 1616 he was buried in Holy Trinity Church. Gerard Johnson carved a bust of William Shakespeare in 1623. Shakespeare had a daughter called Susanna who married John Hall and lived in a house in Stratford called Hall's Croft. The maternal grandfather of John Harvard (1607-1638) lived in a house in Stratford now known as Harvard House. In 1636 John Harvard founded Harvard University in Massachusetts. During the 17th and 18th centuries Stratford Upon Avon remained a quiet market town.

Tourism grew in the 19th century as Stratford upon Avon became famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The house where he was born was purchased in 1847 and turned into a monument. Anne Hathaway's cottage was purchased in 1892.The Royal Shakespeare Theatre was built in 1932 and the Shakespeare Centre opened in 1964. Today Stratford Upon Avon thrives on tourism. It is a very popular tourist destination because of its status as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. In 2006 plans were announced to refurbish the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Today, the population of Stratford upon Avon is 24,000. DAY 6 - OXFORD Oxford is a city made prominent by its medieval university. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by the poet Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of Oxford's university buildings. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The exact date of its founding remains uncertain, the first mention of the University is in 12th century.

Oxford University grew rapidly after 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. Oxford's earliest colleges were University College (shown above) (1249), Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264). Following various disputes between students and Oxford citizens in 1209, a number of masters and students moved to Cambridge, where they established the University of Cambridge. Oxford was first occupied in Saxon times, initially known as "Oxenaforda", meaning "Ford of the Ox"; fords was more commonly used than bridges at that time. It was first mentioned in written records in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 912. In the 10th century Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes. St Frideswide is the patron saint of both the city and university. Oxford received a charter from King Henry II, granting its citizens privileges similar to those of London.

A grandson of King John established Rewley Abbey for the Cistercian Order; Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians all had houses at Oxford. Parliaments often met in the city during the thirteenth century and the Provisions of Oxford were instituted there by barons led by Simon de Montfort; these documents are often regarded as England's first written constitution. DAY 7 & 8 - CANTERBURY Canterbury Originally a Celtic settlement, it was renamed Durovernum Cantiacorum by the Roman conquerors in the first century AD. Later it received its English name Canterbury, derived from the Old English Cantwareburh ("Kent people's stronghold"). After the Kingdom of Kent's conversion to Christianity in 597, St. Augustine founded an episcopal see in the city and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury, a position that now heads the Church of England. Thomas Becket's murder at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 led to the cathedral becoming a pilgrimage site for Christians worldwide and provided the theme for Geoffery Chaucer's 14th-century literary classic the Canterbury Tales.

The literary heritage continued with the birth of the playwright Christopher Marlowe in the city in the 16th century. Many historical structures remain in the city, including a city wall founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and a Norman castle, and perhaps the oldest school in England, The King's School. DAYS 9, 10 11: LONDON - OPTIONAL EXTENSION London has a recorded history that goes back over 2,000 years. Londinium was established as a civilian town by the Romans seven years after the invasion of AD 43. Early Roman London occupied a relatively small area, roughly equivalent to the size of Hyde Park. During the 2nd century Londinium replaced Colchester as the capital of Roman Britain. In 410 AD the Roman occupation of Britain came to an end and Roman London went into rapid decline and was practically abandoned. The area's strategic location on the River Thames meant that the site was not deserted for long. In the 6th century, Anglo-Saxons began to inhabit the area.

Viking attacks dominated most of the 9th century, and attacks became increasingly common from 830 onwards. There were attacks on London in 842 and 851. In 878 English forces led by King Alfred the Great defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Ethandun and forced the Viking's leader to sue for peace. London was restored and within ten years settlement within the old Roman walls was re-established to improve defenses. The Roman walls were repaired and a defensive ditch re-cut. As the focus of the city was moved back to within the old Roman walls, the older settlement of Lundenwic gained the name of ealdwic or "old settlement". The name survives today as Aldwych. The Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 is considered the beginning of the medieval period. William, Duke of Normandy, killed Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. William avoided London until the city officials recognized him as King. They quickly did so, and William responded by granting the city a formal charter.

Under William several royal forts were constructed along the riverfront of London (the Tower of London, Baynard's Castle and Montfichet's Castle) to defend against seaborne attacks by Vikings and prevent rebellions. William the Conqueror also granted a charter in 1067 upholding previous Saxon rights, privileges and laws. In 1097 William Rufus, the son of William began construction of 'Westminster Hall'. The hall was to become the basis of the Palace of Westminster, which, throughout the medieval period, was the prime royal residence. During the medieval period London grew in two different parts. The town of Westminster became the Royal capital and centre of government, whereas the City of London became the commerce and trade center. The area between them was entirely urbanized by 1600. Trade and commerce grew steadily during the middle Ages, and London grew rapidly. In 1100 London's population was 15,000, by 1300 it had grown to 80,000.

The late 16th century, when William Shakespeare and his contemporaries lived and worked in London, was one of the most lustrous periods in the city's cultural history. Despite Puritan objections to the theater, Queen Elizabeth loved the theater and approved of public performances. The unsanitary and overcrowded City suffered from numerous outbreaks of the plague over the centuries. The last major outbreak which is remembered as the Great Plague occurred in 1665 and 1666 and killed 60,000 people, one fifth of the population The Great Plague was followed by another catastrophe, the 1666 Great Fire of London. Fanned by an eastern wind, the fire spread and destroyed about 60% of the City, including Old St Paul's Cathedral. The 18th century was a period of rapid growth for London, reflecting an increasing national population and the early stirrings of the Industrial Revolution, During the 19th century, London was transformed into the world's largest city and capital of the British Empire. Its population expanded from 1 million in 1800 to 6.7 million a century later.

During this period, London became a global political, financial, and trading capital. In this position, it was largely unrivaled until the latter part of the century, when Paris and New York began to threaten its dominance. As the capital of a massive empire, London became a magnet for immigrants from the colonies and poorer parts of Europe. A large Irish population settled in the city during the Victorian period, with many of the newcomer’s refugees from the Great Famine (1845-1849). At one point, Irish immigrants made up about 20% of London's population. London also became home to a sizable Jewish community. Many famous buildings and landmarks of London were constructed during the 19th century including: ▪ Trafalgar Square

Question: Aquae Sulis is the Roman name for what aptly renamed English spa city?
Answer: Bath