Bath & Beyond

Bath Tourism Plus, the tourism marketing organisation for Bath and the surrounding area, is pleased to announce the release of its annual guide, Bath & Beyond 2008, providing visitors with all the ideas and inspiration needed for a day out, short break or holiday.

As well as an accommodation guide for staying visitors, the brochure also provides essential information on places to see and things to do.

Attractions

The city is surrounded by landscapes rich in history and heritage and offers visitors a variety of attractions ranging from historic houses and churches to steam railways and art galleries. Visit Lacock Abbey and its enchanting village, the magnificent gardens at Stourhead, the mining towns of Midsomer Norton and Radstock or the Peto Garden in Iford.

For families, there are also plenty of suggestions including the Safari Park at Longleat, the Avon Valley Country Park or Horseworld where children can get close to all types of horses from Shetlands to Shires.

Festivals & Events

The city’s year-long programme of events includes everything from Mozart to Jane Austen and comedy to food - there is something to suit all tastes! A full listing of major events as well as exhibitions and sporting fixtures for 2008 are all given in the Bath & beyond guide.

Some of the main attractions for music lovers will be the popular Bath International Music Festival - presenting an eclectic mix of classical music next to jazz and folk - the International Guitar Festival and the Mozart Festival.

For reading enthusiasts the city offers the annual Bath Literature Festival in February, with this year’s theme exploring Origin and Identities, and the Children’s Literature Festival in September celebrating children’s books for readers of all levels. Bath and the surrounding area boasts many award-winning restaurants and excellent food and with the Taste of Bath festival taking place on the 3rd - 6th July in Royal Victoria Park there will be an opportunity to sample some local delights.

Shopping

Bath is the perfect place for a day out in retail heaven! Listed in the Bath & beyond guide are all the main shopping areas in the city, hidden gems worth exploring such as Margaret’s Buldings and The Paragon, details on where to find everything you need - from homeware stores to handmade handbags and jewellery shops to designer boutiques - and for something a little different there are suggestions on where to shop in nearby towns.

Spas

The city of Bath has been a centre for health and wellbeing since the Celts and the Romans and that tradition continues today where you can bathe in the natural warm waters of the Thermae Bath Spa. In addition, the city has a superb choice of day spas as well as luxurious 5 star spa hotels, many of which are open to non-residents for a day of pampering, such as the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel and Lucknam Park Hotel near Colerne.

Tours

There are many hidden secrets in Bath and the surrounding area and a great way to uncover them is by joining an organised tour. Guides will bring local history to life, sharing many stories that may have previously been unknown. A bus tour is often a popular way to see the city, but there are ideas on other options available including boat trips, free walking tours and chauffeured excursions of the local area.

Activities

Surrounded by beautiful countryside Bath is an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors and with a great network of paths and waterways, with stunning views along the way, it is easy to explore on foot, bicycle or by boat. The city is excellent for sporting fans with rugby at The Rec, the racecourse in Lansdown, Bath Cricket Club and superb golf courses in the surrounding area.

There’s plenty to do in and around Bath to suit all types of weather and visitors so why not book some time away in this beautiful spa city! The Tourist Information Centre next to Bath Abbey offers friendly, helpful advice on attractions and things to do.

For further information visit Bathtourism.co.uk.