Georgian architecture, hot springs among gems in Bath

Yes, there really is a natural hot spring beneath the city of Bath, but soaking in the above-ground sights and sounds will leave you plenty relaxed.

With its Georgian brick buildings and lush green hills, almost everywhere in Bath feels like a living postcard. With landmarks from Roman and medieval times, you may feel you've landed back in time, but the juxtaposition of stately terraced houses and people hustling about on smartphones brings you out of that fantasy.

Bath somehow weaves together threads of small-town life with cosmopolitan sophistication. It has galleries, museums and theaters. It's a college town anchored by the University of Bath. And it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even on a mere day trip from London, just 90 minutes away by train, Bath bubbles over with charm.

Bath Abbey

A majestic landmark in the center of town, Bath Abbey is the third place of worship to occupy this site in 1,200 years. The first church, built in 757, was replaced by a cathedral soon after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. That one gave way in the 15th century to the abbey that's there today.

Walk inside and eye the vaulted ceiling and stunning stained glass windows showing 56 scenes from Christ's life. A floor plaque marks Queen Elizabeth II's 1973 visit. Tours of the church tower are available.

Roman Baths

The Roman Baths date back to the year 70, with a sprawling pool of natural, hot spring water called the Great Bath located below street level. You can see the steam swirling from a terrace on the street above. People dressed in period clothing??such as a Roman soldier or stone mason??stand in the archways.

The complex includes several underground spaces and displays. The self-guided audio tour thoroughly explains how the citizens of Aquae Sulis (the Roman name given to Bath) socialized, worked and worshipped. At the end of the tour, visitors can sample some of that rejuvenating water.

Jane Austen Centre

Novelist Jane Austen lived with family in Bath between 1801 and 1806. Avid readers of Austen's work know that Bath was a prominent setting in two of her books, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. But even fans only familiar with the movie adaptations will geek out inside the Jane Austen Centre. The three-story building on Gay Street has a permanent exhibit and tea room.

The exhibit offers two floors of clothes, knick-knacks and anecdotes about what daily life would have been like for Austen in Bath. You can end your wandering with afternoon tea in the third-floor Regency Tea Room, where a portrait of Colin Firth's Mr Darcy looms over patrons.

Royal Crescent

This half-moon formation of Georgian townhouses is one of Bath's most famous architectural masterpieces, an arc-shaped cluster of buildings set behind a green field. The first home, No 1 Royal Crescent, where former Parliament member Henry Sanford lived in the late 1700s, is also a museum. Rooms are furnished in 18th century style, with a glimpse of the upstairs-downstairs lifestyle of the era (think Downton Abbey but 150 years earlier).

Walking the canal

Every alley off the cobblestoned streets seems to be lined with adorable shop windows. But to truly appreciate the villages and fields that surround Bath, a stroll along the canal is the way to go.

You can access the path from Sydney Gardens in the town center. In a 30-minute walk, you'll see flower-filled backyards and stretches of bright green grass. There are even sheep nibbling off in the fields. And it doesn't hurt that you will pass a pub or two along the way.