Judy's Postcards: Bath

Bath is the perfect base for exploring the Cotswolds, Wiltshire and Somerset towns.

We spent a week in an apartment a 10 minute walk from the city centre. So much to see and do in Bath.

The Roman Baths are right in the centre of Bath, home to Britains only hot spring. Archaeologists recently discovered 17000 roman coins which are now on display in the museum along with loads of other roman artifacts.

We visited the Holburne Museum which was holding a temporary exhibition of Dutch Masters paintings owned by the National Trust and usually displayed in country houses around the UK.

We also took a day trip into the Cotswolds to visit Tetbury.

Tetbury, an historic wool town, is the southern gateway to the Cotswolds. The town is known as an architectural gem with many of the wool merchants’ houses remaining the same as they were in the 16th & 17th centuries during the height of it’s the town’s prosperity from the wool trade.

Tetbury’s buildings include, the Grade1 listed Market House, for centuries this has been the hub of the town & markets are held there regularly. The Parish Church of St Mary’s (the Virgin & Magdalen) has one of the tallest & most elegant spires in the U.K and greets the visitor whichever way they arrive. The cobbled Chipping Steps flanked by weavers cottages climb from lower Tetbury to the Chipping & are one of the iconic views of the town.

Chipping is the old world for market.

We visited the Police Museum in the Old Court House which houses the world renowned Alex Nicols collection of handcuffs & restraints, together with Gloucester policing memorabilia.

Tetbury is well known for its independent shops, exclusive boutiques & the Highgrove shop. Highgrove Estate, home of Prince Charles and Camilla is one mile away and we saw the impressive gates of their Estate.

Back in Bath I followed the trail of the Owls. Minerva's Owls of Bath. Why Owls?, Minerva whose symbol was the owl, was the goddess of wisdom. The owls are being auctioned in October and the proceeds going to charity. There are 82 owls displayed around the town.