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Spas and Ancient Baths of Bath, England

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Shares 169 From the roof of Thermae Bath Spa I looked out over Tudor and Georgian rooftops with row upon row of cylindrical black chimneys as Charlotte Hanna, assistant sales & marketing manager for the spa, gave me a primer on the history of Bath, England. Archeological evidence suggests that humans were visiting and worshiping the hot springs in Bath as far back as 8000 B.C., but it wasn’t until 2,000 years ago, when the Romans colonized Britain , that written documentation began . The invaders wrote of a lush, uninhabited valley where natural hot springs bubbled up from the ground. Locals lived in forts atop the seven hills that surround the valley, descending each day to graze their livestock, fish, and to worship the water. But each night they retreated to their hilltop abodes, leaving the pristine valley to Sul, the pagan goddess of water, healing, and wisdom worshiped by Britons. “Clearly, the ancient people of Britain considered this a spiritual site ,” Charlotte expla...

Review: Thermae Bath Spa

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Thermae Bath Spa " /> Water is the ultimate life, pure as crystal, the divine influx.” – Ted Hughes. Thanks to it’s thermal springs, which are the only hot springs in the UK, delivering over one million litres of naturally hot, mineral-rich waters every day, Bath has long been associated with health and restoration. The seemingly miraculous emergence of the hot water steaming amongst the marshes was worshipped by first the Celts, then the Romans, who built baths and a temple to Minerva – goddess of healing and wisdom – on the site, founding one of their only settlements used purely for recreation instead of as a garrison. You can’t argue with history, so what better way to experience the beauty of Bath than at Thermae Bath Spa , the only spa which uses the natural water of the thermal springs? While the waters emerge from the three springs in Bath at a steaming 45°C, they are cooled down during the filtration process to the optimum bathing temperature , a relaxing 34°C which ...

A Stunning Japanese Ryokan in the Heart of Tokyo

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An ochanoma lounge at Hoshinoya Tokyo. All photos courtesy of Hoshinoya Resorts. A stay at Tokyo's first luxury ryokan did not disappoint. Fathom editor Berit Baugher checked into the city's most talked about new hotel. TOKYO – On a recent visit to Japan I checked into Hoshinoya Tokyo , one of the city's newest and most exciting hotel openings . Styled after a traditional Japanese inn , also known as a ryokan , the quiet 84- room hotel feels worlds away from the busy streets of Tokyo. Historically, ryokans are low-key affairs with minimal furnishings and services, shared bathrooms, and no heating or air conditioning. Hoshinoya Tokyo embraces the tradition of simplicity, but through an elevated and luxurious lens, differentiating it from other urban ryokans. Upon entering the hotel, I instantly felt at peace; fragrant incense filled the air and soft Japanese music played in the background. Instead of a traditional lobby , I was greeted by an attendant in a room laye...

Things to do in Bath - Visit Bath in England

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Hey! Give me a like! Things to do in Bath! Bath is a city in the county of Somerset, situated 97 miles west of London and it’s easily reached from the capital city as it’s only around 90 minutes by train from London Paddington. Originally a spa town in the Roman era, it’s now a World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical importance: the Roman remains and Bath’s spectacular Georgian architecture are the reasons for this award. The city is populated by about 85,000 permanent residents. It is one of the most popular tourist cities in England due to its fascinating history, culture, and beautiful architecture. Parade gardens, Bath, Things to do in Bath, England, UK by Adrian Pingstone Things to do in Bath, England What to see and visit in Bath Like many towns and cities in the UK, Bath has Roman origins, which are still clear to see today. The city originally started as a Roman spa, which then grew into numerous baths (hence the city’s name), and temples. The city is st...