Bristol and Bath are only 11 miles apart, separated by some lovely countryside and joined by the peaceful River Avon. It is perfectly possible to combine a tour of each city's highlights in a day, but much more enjoyable is a full day in each.

Bath grew up around its thermal water springs that can still be seen today in the Roman Baths Museum and the nearby Cross Bath. As well as these attractions, Bath is famous for its stunning architecture , the beautiful Abbey, its flower-filled streets and parks and gardens. The city's compactness makes it ideal for walking tours in the company of a knowledgeable local guide who can theme the day to suit your group's interest.

Roman Baths and Pump Room. The first stop for any visitor to Bath is the Roman Baths surrounding the hot spring at the heart of the city. The Great Roman Temple and bathing complex built almost 2,000 years ago is one of the country's finest ancient monuments.

Allow 1 1/2 hours

Nearby Bath Abbey is Bath's parish church on the site of which Christian worship has taken place for over one thousand years. However, first and foremost it is home to a thriving family of believers, a mixture of beautiful buildings and modern activity.

Allow 1/2 hour

	The best way to explore Bath from here is to continue by foot to Pulteney Bridge. This bridge is full of shops and overlooks a beautiful weir and public gardens. Next stop, by way of characterful shopping streets and narrow lanes, is The Circus.
Together with the Royal Crescent only a few hundred yards away this is perhaps the epitome of Georgian architecture.

Allow 45 minutes or longer if it's a sunny day

No1 Royal Crescent is open to the public, redecorated and refurbished to show how these houses might have appeared in the late eighteenth century.

Allow 1 hour

If you are interested in how Georgian Bath was created retrace your steps to take a look at the Building of Bath Museum in the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel in the Paragon. It is a fascinating and often humorous insight into the architectural and social development of the City.

Allow 1 hour

Otherwise you could choose to find somewhere for lunch. You will find plenty of restaurants and pubs in the Upper Town, an area famous for its antique shops.

The Assembly Rooms epitomise the social whir that was Bath in its heyday. It was the centre of all socialising, balls, game playing, and gossip. In its cellars The Museum of Costume is one of the world's finest, telling the story of fashion from the 1600s with nearly 200 dressed figures.

Allow 1 hour

After the Assembly Rooms you may well be in the mood to further explore a side of Bath made famous in the books of Jane Austen. The Jane Austen Centre on Queen Square was newly opened in 1999. Set in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, it brings to life the story of Jane Austen's Bath, a city which appears time and again in her popular books.

Allow 1 hour

Sally Lunn's Refreshment House and Museum beckons for tea before departure. Sally Lunn's is the oldest house in Bath (c1482) and still serves the original Sally Lunn bun. The museum shows the original kitchen Sally Lunn used in the 1680s.