Welcome to Bath

The city of Bath is located on the River Avon, in the county of Avon in the south-west of England, approximately 110 miles west of London and 13 miles south-east of Bristol.

The city has a population of around 86,300. Administratively it is within the local government district of Bath and North East Somerset which covers an area of approximately 350 sq kms.

It is an historic and beautiful city renowned for its spring waters and elegant Georgian architecture, which has earned it World Heritage Site status. Unsurprisingly, with its many attractions and cultural variety, Bath is a major tourist destination drawing millions of visitors each year. It is also a thriving commercial centre and home to one of the country's leading universities.

The city was first recorded as a Roman spa after their invasion of Britain in AD43, although it is likely that settlement here was much earlier. Certainly the site of the springs was treated as a shrine, to the goddess Sulis, by the Celts. During the 18th century Bath was extremely fashionable with the middle and upper classes and this financed large cultural and architectural developments, such as the building of the Theatre Royal, Lansdown Crescent, The Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge, and the tradition of arts and culture remains today.  

Historically the town's economy was based upon its position as a resort for the wealthy. Today Bath is the most visited city outside London and tourism is its primary industry, which supports many smaller businesses. The city also has significant software, publishing, and service-oriented industries including one of Bath's largest employers, the magazine publisher Future.

The Romans called the town Aquae Sulis meaning 'Waters of Sul', after the Roman baths. It was captured by Saxons in 577 who gave it the name Baðum, Baðan or Baðon, meaning 'at the baths', from which the modern name Bath derives.