Walk in the Footsteps of Jane Austen in Bath
Free MP3 Audio Tour Now Available Online
Bath Tourism Plus are pleased to announce the launch of a brand new, downloadable audio walking tour of Bath city centre, which takes in the main attractions and views associated with the city's most famous resident - Jane Austen.
With extracts from her letters and two of her novels (Northanger Abbey and Persuasion which are both set in Bath), the tour called 'In the Footsteps of Jane Austen', guides you around the main tourist sights and some more unusual ones, giving an interesting insight into the city as Jane Austen would have known it during the six years she spent here. Much of the Georgian architecture still remains the same as it was then, and the tour also describes how Bath has developed into the visitor-friendly, cosmopolitan destination it is today.
The main highlights of the tour include the Pump Room - the social heart of the city during Austen's time where people registered on arrival in the city and took the water; the Assembly Rooms - where people would gather to play cards, dance and take tea; the Royal Crescent - the most impressive address, where people enjoyed promenading and generally being seen; Queen Square - where Austen stayed for a period; Gravel Walk - the location of a touching love scne in the novel 'Persuasion'; and the Jane Austen Centre - the 'must see' exhibition celebrating the life and works of the great novelist.
The tour even guides visitors to the newly developed Thermae Bath Spa, explaining how the stunning, brand new complex that stands today was used in Georgian times to cure the sick, and telling the tale of Jane Austen's brother who took the water there to help ease his Gout. Today, the spa offers a different kind of well-being - the chance relax and bathe in the naturally warm water, alongside a range of complementary therapies and treatments.
The tour is completely free and can be easily downloaded from the new Jane Austen section of the destination website: www.visitbath.co.uk/janeausten/audio-tour onto any MP3 player - which is an essential piece of equipment these days for any independent traveller! The tour is the ideal tool for researching the city prior to visiting, or for finding your bearings when you first arrive in the city. It is very easy listening and very entertaining while being suitably informative - so it is suitable for anyone interested in the city, not just die-hard Austen fans.
To assist in helping people find their way around the route of the tour, the audio guide also comes with a free map that you can download and carry with you - just in case you somehow go off the right track!
To hear and download the Jane Austen tour: 'In the Footsteps of Jane Austen' for yourself, log on to www.visitbath.co.uk/janeausten.
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
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
Bath Tourism Plus is also responsible for the organisation and management of the Bath Christmas Market www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk, and is assisting with the organisation of the Taste of Bath event www.tasteofbath.co.uk
Jane Austen's Bath
To find out more about the connections between Jane Austen and the stunning city of Bath, see: www.visitbath.co.uk/janeausten
Audio Tour Credits
'In the footsteps of Jane Austen' has been developed by Bath Tourism Plus. We would like to thank Sulis Guides Ltd and Acoustiguide for their assistance with the creation and production of this tour. Sulis Guides also provide private tours in Bath, the west country and beyond.
Attractions featured in this press release:
The Pump Room
www.bathvenues.co.uk
The Assembly Rooms
http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=98443FF1-6448-40C5-857AB7CFCD34C8B9
The Jane Austen Centre
www.janeausten.co.uk
Thermae Bath Spa
www.thermaebathspa.com
Copyright © 2008 Bath Tourism Plus
