Why visit Bath

History, architecture, wonderful restaurants, and an intangible "vibe" of people who seem to really enjoy life. In that respect Bath is very much like York (and Cambridge). I can't really compare to Oxford or Chester as I've not been there. Just my opinion, you understand.

That's what great about travel, there is something for everyone. I live in Brooklyn and don't understand people putting it on their list of places to visit while in NYC, especially Williamsburg. I live one neighborhood away from Dyker Heights and there are tour buses of people coming to see the Christmas lights. I don't get it, there are Christmas lights all over the city. But, to each their own. When we were in Dodge City, Kansas we went to the stockyards to see the cattle. I am sure the locals thought we were nuts. The smell alone should have deterred us.

So maybe I need to look at Brooklyn through the eyes of a tourist next time I am walking around.

I was attracted to Bath for the architecture, the Jane Austen connection, the Roman baths, the Abbey, and the lovely river views. I know there are many other places in England that have some, maybe even most, of these attractions, but they weren't in the vicinity of where we were traveling without a fairly long detour. So, for expediency and checking off many boxes at one time, it seemed the logical choice. We tourists, especially those of us from other countries, sometimes have limited options; so we make decisions that those local residents that have unlimited choices probably wouldn't make.

I envy you, I wish I lived 25 miles from Bath, or anywhere else in England, that allowed to me to visit many other of England's wonderful cities.

The Roman Baths with their really well done museum. Add to that the Abbey, architecture, Jane Austen, good food, and proximity to London and other sites like Avebury/Cotswolds/Wells/Glastonbury. I also love York and it is one of my favorite cities.

I think Nancy very nicely covered the attraction of Bath for us. We've also been lucky enough to explore some of the other places the OP mentioned, but not on the same trips. As another poster mentioned, most visitors have limited time, and Bath is an easy place to get to, especially if most of ones visit is in London.

Perhaps the OP suffers from the not uncommon situations of people who view their own environs with a certain indifference. Familiarity may not breed contempt, but maybe a certain blasé attitude not felt by visitors. I live outside of Toronto, and have never thought if it as anything more than a place to shop, see a bit of entertainment, or catch a plane out of! Can't imagine planning a vacation there.

Well, living in a place is different than visiting it on holiday. Any serious American tourist would visit at least two of those places on a trip to England anyway. We were in Bath and York earlier this year, and must say I preferred Bath, although I found York equally, but differently, interesting. Its just very comfortable in Bath, and a good mix of old and new things to see.

My husband and I were in England a while ago on a business trip (his at the time). While he went to his appointment in Bristol, I went to Bath to visit the Abbey, the Roman Baths, the Roman Crescent and the Thermae Spa at the end of the day. It was a wonderful day!

I found Bath harmonious but visually dull. Don't care about Roman sites, so I skipped that baths. But visiting the Museum of East Asian Art made the visit very worthwhile. Bath is also a place from which you can launch a day-trip to the Cotswolds.

I did much prefer Oxford and Chester. Haven't gotten to York yet.

I spent one day in Bath-the HOHO bus and Georgian Museum-the latter was by far the best part of Bath to me, although I do think I would like to see the Assembly rooms and Costume Museum. It is a good location to take tours to other places-we plan to do one to Avebury and Lacock this summer.

We quite enjoyed it. I mean - I live just a few hours away from one of the most beautiful drives in the world (according to Nat Geo) - the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton - and I've been there all of twice in my adult life.

We used it as a base for a trip to Stonehenge, then the next day visited the Roman Baths, the cathedral, wandered around enjoying the architecture and the gorgeous sunny day (after some torrential rain and a bit of flooding).

Also, my sister moved to Portsmouth 10 yrs ago, and I don't think she's ever gone to the Historic Dockyards!

I love Bath! I've been 3 times in recent history (don't remember how many times in the 70's/80's!), increasing the number of nights each time. I also love to read novels set in the Regency era (not necessarily Jane Austen). For me, it's the juxtaposition of the Roman and Georgian along with current Bath that makes it a happy place for me. Last time was over the opening weekend of the JA Festival with many walking around in costume. It just makes me smile.

I love the well-done Roman Baths museum, the museum at #1 Royal Crescent, the Holburne Museum, Prior Park Landscape Garden (one of the few remaining examples of a Palladian Bridge), the Costume Museum/Assembly Rooms, The Parade Gardens and the view of Pulteney Bridge from there.

I find it a nice compact walking city and enjoy seeing the fronts and backs of the houses, lol!! Amble down Gravel Walk and see one of the early hanging toilets, lol!!

The only disappointment was the Jane Austen Centre. Total waste of money.

I've been to all the places you mentioned, as a tourist, and liked them all very much. Others have listed their favorite sights in Bath, some of which are mine too. I think we all tend to see our home areas as something other than tourist destinations because we do so much else in them. Tourism, or travelling if you prefer, is partly about places and experiences that are new to us.

That said, I think Rick Steves plugs Bath way beyond its inherent touristic merit, perhaps because it's so convenient to his recommended itinerary -- which is indeed a well designed one. The idea of sleeping off your jet lag in a place like Bath, rather than in London, makes sense. But he might have chosen Oxford, where we began our last trip, or Windsor, or Salisbury, just to name a few near-LHR destinations.

In addition to everything that's already been mentioned - the Thermae Bath Spa is lovely! I scheduled appointments for my husband and I for our first evening in England and it definitely set the tone for our trip. Highly recommend!

My wife reminds me that Bath includes a big Roman site, a great late medieval abbey, lots of Georgian architecture, a Jane Austen site, a costume museum, and an American museum (just what you need after a long transatlantic flight). In other words, something for everyone. Not sure the other cities we've mentioned have as much variety. This is probably another reason the RS crowd is so keen on Bath.

Thanks everyone. I guess Bath doesn't just have a few Georgian houses then!
I guess its like when my wife and I chose to tour Tennessee, Georgia and other parts of the south...it appealed more than NYC or LA at the time.... They are both on my list now though

Not mentioned yet is the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

The fact that one of Steves' tours starts in Bath is the most likely reason it comes up here so frequently. As well as how to get to it from Heathrow and less often Gatwick.

Thanks Marco-adding Astronomy Museum to my list.

Haven't gotten to York yet.

York is one of my favorite cities in England. That deserves at least two days!

Proximity to London is no doubt a factor too. Historic city that is accessible within a day + close to Stonehenge and Cotswolds = very attractive to tourists.

I've heard it described by Brits as "the American Itinerary". Yes, we tend to go to places we've heard of. Its the concentration of things to see that make Bath and York attractive. For most American travelers, an exotic place like England is likely a once in a lifetime, bucket-list experience. For the UK folks, if you only had 14 days to see some of England (including London), where would you go?

The other cities are well worth a visit, but no need to short Bath. I thought the Roman Bath Museum was amazing and that alone was worth our visit there. Also, the city is very attractive and historical.

It's never held any appeal for me and I've always found Rick's advice to start off in Bath rather than London to be baffling. I can certainly understand flying into another UK airport and seeing other parts of the UK before London, but if you're already at Heathrow or Gatwick, I'd just go into the city rather than have to deal with even more transport after a long transatlantic flight. But, that's me. I'm an urban guy and quaint doesn't do it for me.

I'm just surprised Bath is so well known by Americans, given it's not a town of huge significance here in the UK.

Well, akkiejakkie, I once had a brother-in-law who, with his wife, lived in Bath and they were terribly well pleased with themselves that they did, so it seems to have some prestige for some people.

I've been to Bath three times now. Went mainly for the Jane Austen connection, the first time, but really enjoyed all the other aspects people have mentioned. Did anyone else mention the American Museum? As Americans, my husband and I were intrigued to visit it and got there on our most recent trip. We thought it was very well done, with the period rooms and the timeline of U.S. history, etc. We were dismayed to see that in one of the period rooms, the maple syrup on display was a "product of Canada." We live in Vermont, so we took exception to this!

I agree with Barbara from Brooklyn. I work in Brooklyn ( an unglamorous part). I keep bumping into tourists wandering lost - I think they see Girls and some of the other American shows that have characters living in Brooklyn and think its going to be glamorous. Leave disappointed.

That said, Dad and I went to Ystad Sweden to see where the Wallander shows took place!!

Bath is a beautiful place. The museum attracted me as I have always been a huge fan of history. It is actually a very nice place, you should definitely go and visit it.