Bath - a Royally Romantic Destination
With royal romances very much a hot topic in the news at the moment, the City of Bath and the surrounding area is claiming to be the perfect place for those special couples in question to take a luxurious romantic break.
Bath offers all the ingredients for a very special romantic break including luxury hotels, a superb range of restaurants for candlelit dinners, a vibrant and cosmopolitan retail scene and a year-round calendar of events for those that want some action between melting moments.
Here is just a taster of the things Bath has to offer for those who really want to spoil their own princess...
The Princess and the Pea
To ensure your princess has a wonderful night's sleep, there are beds fit for a princess in all of the hotels and guesthouses in Bath - with glorious four posters featuring in many of the rooms. Perhaps a suite at the MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel overlooking the golden city, or a secluded private section of the Royal Crescent Hotel would suffice? The £15,000 bed in the Ammique Suite at the Bath Priory Hotel will definitely fit the bill. This amazing bed has a special suspension system designed for the perfect sleeping position regardless of weight, shape and movement.
Seeing the Sights from a Carriage Made For Two
As the only city in England to hold the UNESCO designation of World Heritage Site, Bath boasts splendid Eighteenth Century architecture set against a backdrop of some of the most picturesque countryside in Britain. Trotting around the perfectly preserved streets in a horse drawn carriage must be the ultimate in romantic sightseeing.
Float in the Clouds
With the opening of the Thermae Bath Spa visitors can lie back in the naturally warm and soothing waters in the rooftop pool and look up at the stars glistening above. Health and wellbeing have been Bath's forte since Roman times and many hotels provide pampering and preening to order with some even offering couples' treatments for total togetherness.
Candlelit Dinner for Two or Afternoon Tea Serenaded by Strings
With a wealth of top quality restaurants - four with Michelin stars, you will be spoilt for choice when looking for an intimate candlelit corner for you and your princess to dine in style.
Tea in the stunning Pump Room with the string quartet playing in the background is like stepping back in time, to the romance of Bath's Georgian heyday. The Pump Room, the social heart of Bath for 200 years, is the place to taste the waters which have played such an important role in the city's history since Roman times.
A Lovebird's Excursion
A hot air balloon ride, gliding over the city and adjoining countryside with a glass of champagne would melt any girl's heart. Or perhaps an outing on the water - the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal, or the River Avon in the heart of the city - could provide a peaceful setting. Charter your own boat to treat her in style, or really put your back into it, and take your lady for a romantic row down the river. With a little forward planning, a box at the charming Theatre Royal or a concert in the Assembly Rooms during one of the music festivals would make an unforgettable evening.
Naughty but Nice
Temptation is all around you as you amble through the charming streets of Bath. Flower stalls with red roses and much more, handmade chocolates, sinfully silky underwear available in specialist and designer stores throughout the city. Bath's reputation as a fashionable city is due mainly to its vibrant retail scene with a high level of innovative and independent shops offering opportunities to find special souvenirs and indulge your princess with some retail therapy.
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend
For diamonds and other trinkets, a visit to Mallory's on Bridge Street is recommended. This fourth-generation family business buys diamonds directly from Antwerp and designs and manufactures rings but also carries a vast stock of watches, rings and luxury goods. Personal and unhurried service, typical of Bath shops, scores a hit with visitors looking for something very special. Sparkles is a new jeweller in Bath, and offers a wedding range for your special day, including Diamon't bridal clothing range, and Swarovski crystals.
Relive the Romantic Novel
The action in two of Jane Austen's novels is set in the city of Bath. Jane Austen's own life was so entwined with Bath that a visitor attraction, the Jane Austen Centre, tells the story of her connection with the city and the impact that it had on her and her writing. With the release of a new film "Becoming Jane" in March 2007 and ITV launching their Jane Austen season in the same month, the city's most famous author will be featured again on big and small screen.
Stroll Hand In Hand
Stroll hand in hand through the parks and gardens within the city or walk out into the charming countryside around Bath. The National Trust Skyline Walk is a six mile circuit of the city with magnificent views and benches for romantic moments. Or a stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal is easy walking on the flat out to the George Inn at Bathampton or beyond. There are numerous country pubs with welcoming roaring fires and cosy corners to reward romantic walkers with a wholesome pub lunch.
Tie the Knot
Bath has returned to its roots as the most romantic city in the UK. In the Eighteenth Century it became a magnet for fashionable society Bath and played a pivotal role in the marriage market. Today it is once again attracting romantics from all over the country. Over fifty percent (54%) of the weddings that take place in Bath are for people who do not live in the city. Unique historic venues like the Assembly Rooms, the Pump Room or even the world-famous Roman Baths, are among the 23 premises in Bath and North East Somerset that currently hold wedding licences.
More inspiration to make your romantic break in Bath quite unforgettable can be found on the official tourism website for the city, www.visitbath.co.uk. The dedicated "Love Bath" section includes romantic places to stay (including a number of special offers and romantic break ideas), ideal restaurants for a romantic candlelit dinner, lots of ideas for things for couples to do, top places to propose, helpful tips on planning a break in the UK's most perfectly preserved Georgian city - even where to hold your wedding!
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For further information please contact Debbie Ponting at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: debbie_ponting@bathtourism.co.uk or visit www.visitbath.co.uk, the official tourism website for Bath and the surrounding area.
Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk
The Love Bath section of the website offers many more ideas for romantic breaks:
http://visitbath.co.uk/lovebath/lovebath_home
Call to Action
If you would like to offer your readers a route to more information regarding visiting Bath, please feel free to direct them to the official destination website: www.visitbath.co.uk, or to the Bath Tourist Information line: 0906 7112000 (50p/min).
Top Quality Restaurants
To see the range of award winning restaurants in Bath and the surrounding area see:
http://visitbath.co.uk/site/eating-and-drinking/bath-award-winning-restaurants
Thermae Bath Spa
A new addition to the visitor offering of Bath, Spa officially opened on 7th August 2006. For more information contact Charlotte Hanna: charlottehanna@thermaebathspa.com, or see www.thermaebathspa.com
For a list of spa breaks offered in the city see:
http://visitbath.co.uk/site/special-offers/spa-breaks-o611
The Royal Crescent Hotel
Tel 01225 823333
www.royalcrescent.co.uk
The Bath Priory Hotel & Restaurant
Tel 01225 331922
www.thebathpriory.co.uk
The Pump Room
01225 444477
http://visitbath.co.uk/site/pump-room-p25611
Copyright © 2008 Bath Tourism Plus
