Christmas Markets in Bath

Bath's story begins with the Romans, who founded Aquae Sulis around 60 AD after discovering the area's natural hot springs, building an elaborate bathing complex and temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva. After centuries of decline following Roman withdrawal, the city experienced a spectacular rebirth in the 18th century when it became England's most fashionable spa destination. Aristocrats and socialites flocked to take the waters and participate in the elegant social season, transforming Bath into a masterpiece of Georgian urban planning under architects John Wood the Elder and Younger. The city's distinctive honey-colored Bath stone, quarried locally, created the harmonious architectural unity that earned Bath its UNESCO World Heritage status. This legacy of thermal springs, Roman heritage, and Georgian sophistication makes Bath a compelling destination year-round.