Fun things to do in Bath

The theatre was built and designed by George Dance in 1804 and opened in 1805. A fire destroyed the theatre in 1862 and a new theatre was built on the same site in 1863. The theatre had to go through an extensive renovation including a fire-proof curtain, additional entrances and staircases in order to have it's Royal Patent reinstated in 1902. The theatre went through further renovations and today hosts regional and touring productions.

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Royal Victoria Park became a municipal park in 1829 where Bath residents subscribed to protect this green space from further development. The Park hasn't change much since the creation and is considered a typical Victorian style. It was opened by Princess Victoria who named it as 'Royal Victoria Park' which is an honour for a city park and is recognised by English Heritage as a Park of National Historic Importance.

I enjoyed spending an afternoon relaxing in the park and listening to Bristol wind band concert. The band played a variety of musicals and cinema theme tunes. The park hosts a number of events and concerts throughout the year. Please check out the link to find out what's on in Royal Victoria Park.

The park also has a children's play area and botanical gardens.

I came across this fountain of a life size girl pouring water and bearing the inscription 'Water is best'. This was erected by the Bath Temperance Association. The Association was founded on the 15th June 1856 and the statue erected on 8th June 1861 and a further bronze figure added in 1986. The fountain was originally used to access drinking and running water until the 1980s.

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Parade Gardens overlooks the River Avon in Bath City Centre and opened from April to September. It's a nice and chilled park to have a picnic or generally relax. The main features are the flower bedding displays and an annual 3-dimensional floral feature. There are nice views of Pulteney Bridge and the Weir, Bath Abbey and the River Avon.

There are concerts at the park's bandstand in the summer as well as children and the weir's entertainment. Please click on this link for further information.

There is also a cafe inside the gardens and deck chairs can be hired free of charge. I enjoyed the gardens but I have an issue with the charge the Council enforces to non residents (please see tip)!

Shopping in Bath, for souvenir's or for something different to what is different in your home Country?
There are plenty of shop's to choose from.
The one in my photo, was near the Tourist information centre, and I just had to take a photo of what they had to offer. They were closed, otherwise I would have gone inside for a look.
I thought the Salad server's were rather good!

I wondered, Who is King Bladud?

HERE IS HIS STORY..........

"It is 863BC., and Bladud, King of the Britons and father of the unfortunate King Lear has contracted leprosy.
He return's home and realize's an imperfect prince could not inherit the throne, so he left the royal palace in disguise to take a job as a swineherd in the Avon Valley, 1000years before the Roman's, and 1,500 year's before the Saxon's came to Bath.
As Bladud drove his pigs in search of acorns he crossed the River Avon at shallows north of Saltford - at a place which subsequently took its name from the legend - Swineford.
The rest of the story is famous. Bladud's pigs also contracted his disease but were cured when they rolled in the hot mud around Bath's springs.
Observing the miracle, Bladud also bathed in the hot murky water and he too was cured.
Returning home in triumph he went on to become King. In gratitude for his cure, Bladud founded a city at Bath and dedicated its curative powers to the Celtic goddess Sul and 900 years later the Romans called the city Aquae Sulis - the Waters of Sul."

There is a life-size stone statue of King Bladud in Parade Gardens and next to it, a pig carved out of Bath Stone! !

The Pigs in Bath, was a 2008 public art event to celebrate Bath, its origins and its artists. Over 100 decorated pig sculptures were on display throughout the summer around Bath and beyond.
Most of the pig's have gone, but I did manage to find this one in a street.

Each pig was sponsored, and sponsor and artist jointly decided what the pig was to look like, and gave it a name.
There was no direct remuneration for decorating the pigs but the artists were credited on a small plaque on each pig and received generous publicity in the press.
70 of the pigs were sold in a great gala auction at the Bath Assembly Rooms, and another 35 were sold in an online auction. One was raffled. None were left!

Check out the "Pig" page if you wish to see more of them!

http://www.kingbladudspigs.org/pigs/index.php

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Parade Garden's are owned by the municipal Council, and have a small entry charge for non Bath resident's. They are a very good example of an English Victorian Garden.

We were too late to enter the garden's, but we did manage a great view from the top Colonnade looking down upon the garden's, River Avon and Weir, it really was lovely!
It is these garden's from where Pulteney Bridge is viewed. What a great view, with the beautiful garden's in the foreground.
The floral display was excellent!
Concerts are held in the bandstand and children’s entertainment is provided during the summer holidays.
Deck chairs are available and Picnics are allowed.

Open all year.

ADMISSION....Concession £0.70 per ticket .....Adult £1.00 per ticket

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Unusual heading you may say, Well yes it is!

Having never been to England before, and only seen how people live through Television show's, Bath, when I first saw all the home's joined together, and all the Chimney pot's, is just how I imagined England would look like!

Coming from Australia, where we have lot's of room, and it is a "newish" country, I found it quite hard to imagine living in one of these home's!

I think Bath, being an old city, probably is a good example! You will see this style of home everywhere!