| Spa Towns: A Living Spa Tradition in the Cotswolds |
|||||||
|
Whilst many of our traditional Spas are no longer used for bathing, the medical, cultural and architectural inheritance of BritainˇÕs 18th century spa heyday remains. Spa Towns continue to attract visitors from all over the world, drawn by beautiful buildings, parks, gardens, theatre, festivals, museums and the availability of a wide range of complementary therapies. |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Bath
|
Bath is BritainˇÕs leading Spa town, and is designated as a World Heritage Site. The hot springs were the reason for the cityˇÕs foundation, dating back 2000 years to when the Romans recognised the unique qualities of Bath and settled here. The Romans channelled a unique resource - the natural hot water of Bath - from the thermal spring that is central to the city through a series of bathing pools, creating what is now known as the Roman Baths. They surrounded the baths with the stone pavements that you can still walk on today and the monumental pillars that are still visible. It is easy to imagine Romans bathing here 2000 years ago. An exquisite Georgian city grew from those ancient roots. The Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pultney Bridge are among the finest architectural treasures in the world. The finest example of late 18th century architecture in this Georgian city, the Grand Pump Room, is found to the other side of the Roman Baths complex. Warm spa water flows constantly from a fountain on the south side of the room, and visitors are still offered the opportunity to ˇŌtake the watersˇÕ. Bathing in the natural mineral-rich hot waters is to again become possible with the opening in 2003 of the fabulous new Thermae Bath Spa, which will once again make the city a source of health and well-being. The new state-of-the-art Spa complex is located just 100 metres from the Roman Baths, and will make use of the thousands of gallons of water that is heated deep within the earth to a steady 46 degrees centigrade. The Spa will offer bathing and relaxation together with a contemporary range of treatments and therapies.
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
| Cheltenham |
Cheltenham became a Spa town in 1716. According to tradition, the first medicinal waters were discovered when locals saw pigeons pecking at salty deposits, which had formed around a spring. King George III came to take the waters in 1788 and as a result of the royal patronage, the town developed rapidly as a fashionable Spa. The legacy of those bygone times can still be seen in the town's beautiful Regency architecture. CheltenhamˇÕs salty waters were hailed as something of a cure-all in the 18th Century. Today, no such claims are made, but the waterˇÕs main properties are antacid, mildly diuretic and laxative. Visitors can still take the Spa waters at the Town Hall and Pittville Pump Room. An exciting new spa development, Chapel Spa, has just opened to the public. Located in the heart of Cheltenham, Chapel Spa is a luxury water-based day spa offering an exotic blend of therapies from around the world, with the emphasis on harmony, tranquillity and a total mind/body experience. But it is not just the water that makes Cheltenham popular for well-being and relaxation. Cheltenham's colourful parks, gardens and award winning floral displays are the glory of the town. Throughout the summer the town centre is a riot of colour as Cheltenham competes in the annual Beautiful Britain in Bloom competition. The town is also a stage for annual music and literature festivals of international repute.
|
||||||
 |
