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A city with a sense of community. Bath’s historic architecture and culture are the perfect settings for year-round events, including concerts, carnivals, sports, and exhibitions. There’s always something interesting and fun going on. Bath student life means you get all the convenience of living in a vibrant, historic city but with a friendly and safe community atmosphere.
Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its Roman heritage and Georgian architecture, so there are loads of historic locations to visit around the city. Because of its cultural contributions, TIME magazine listed Bath as one of the World’s Greatest Places 2021, making it one of only three UK cities to visit.
Student life in Bath lets you enjoy major exhibitions in the city’s museums and galleries or watch West End plays at the Theatre Royal. There are also lots of parks and gardens to relax in, but if you’re looking for something different, try Britain’s only natural thermal spa or a boat trip along the river. Bath’s sports venues are in the center of town, so you can enjoy the exciting atmosphere on match days and support local teams, including Bath’s Premiership rugby club. Throughout the year, you can get involved in one of the city’s many events and festivals, including the Bath Carnival.
Decided to go to university in Bath? Excellent choice! Bath is a beautiful city. Here are the best things to do while living a “Bath Student Life”
Student Guide To Bath: Top Things To Do in Bath
The Sydney Pleasure Gardens
Situated behind the Holburne Museum at the end of Great Pulteney Street, Sydney Gardens is the oldest park in the city of Bath. It was planned and laid out by the architect Harcourt Masters in 1795 and throughout the end of the eighteenth and into the nineteenth century it was the popular place to see and be seen by the fashionable visitors to Bath. Sydney Gardens was frequently visited by members of the Royal family and, of course, the famous author Jane Austen who lived at number 4 Sydney Place, directly opposite. Public breakfasts were only one of the many attractions the gardens had to offer, alongside firework displays and concerts. The gardens were reached via the Sydney Ho.
When in Rome…or Bath in this instance. Gorgeous views and historic tours result in a well-cultured individual city for Bath student life. These not only give you a piece of Bath’s most famous history, but provide you with amazing moments you can only find in a city like this.
Bath Christmas Market
Living in Bath as a student during Christmas is definitely an advantage. As well as the many historic sites in Bath, another favourite is their beloved Christmas Market! For 18 days a year Bath brings the festive spirit out in full force with gorgeous light displays and local designers showcasing their unique gifts to the public. What’s not to love? It is one of the most highly-anticipated and well-known Christmas Markets in the UK. Go grab a mulled wine or hot chocolate, and buy some fancy Christmas gifts for your friends and family.
The Thermae Bath Spa
You cannot experience Bath without some luxury included. The Thermae Bath Spa is the UK’s only natural thermal spa with rooftop views of Bath and state-of-the-art facilities including a steam room, an ice chamber and an infra-red sauna.
Thermae Bath Spa eventually opened to the public on 7 August 2006, ending a 28 year period during which the waters remained unavailable for bathing. The spa is largely sited in a new ‘Glass Cube’ building by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, near the site of the ancient Royal Bath, which has been interlinked with historic Georgian spa buildings such as the nearby Hot and Cross Baths. The building is in a strong contemporary style in contrast to its Georgian surroundings. The complex houses both traditional and modern spa facilities.
Work hard, play hard is the motto for every student living a Bath student life, and if you need a break from studying and writing essays…What better way than to visit your local spa? Which is world-famous!
Green Park Station
“A thriving platform for local life & culture right in the heart of Bath. Home to flourishing markets, independent shops, restaurants and cafés.”
Green Park Station is a market that you can visit year-round and features anything from organic groceries to antiques. This is a unique market located in a former railway station with a cast iron and glazed roof, and luxurious decor.
Green Park Station was originally Queen Square Station, built in the 1860s, and in operation as a working station until the 1960s. By the 1950s, holidaymakers were flocking to Green Park Station in order to escape to the coast. Changes to British Rail led to services being slowly wound down, and the doors were finally closed on 7 March 1966 as the last train from Bristol pulled in. The derelict site was restored as retail and market space in the 1980s and has provided a space to support local businesses and events ever since. A full display of the Station’s remarkable 100 year history can be found in the Station foyer.
Bath City Farm
A completely free-to-access farm. Bath City Farm is one of the must-visit places in the South West. A working farm with spectacular views across the city with a Trough Cafe and selection of activities and Fort play area to keep the children entertained. If you want to see the teeny tiny Shetland Ponies plus goats, pigs, ducks amongst others. If you’re an animal lover and disappointed you can’t have a pet in your student accommodation, this is the place for you.
Fashion Museum
The Fashion Museum is one of the major reasons to study in Bath! This museum is dedicated to the history of fashion. Whether you are studying for a degree in fashion or history, or just love a bit of fancy dress, this museum will interest you. It’s fascinating just to see how tiny women’s waists were back then. The museum also runs sketching and craft lessons on a regular basis. They have Victorian-style clothes for you to try on too!
Bath Student Life At Night
Check out Sub 13
An elaborate cocktail bar with comfy leather booths and a stylish cellar interior, it is the perfect night out for a drink and a catch-up after a long week of lectures. Voted ”The Best Cocktail Bar in Bath”, Sub 13 is home to a large variety of extravagant cocktails, a heated rooftop terrace and DJs to keep the party going whilst sipping on half-price cocktails till 10 pm!
Moles
A legendary Bath nightclub and live music venue. This place has played host to very cool acts such as The Smiths, Blur, Oasis, The Killer and, more recently, Mumford and Sons, Bastille and Ed Sheeran. They have club nights most nights of the week covering pop, rock, emo, Hip Hop and RnB.
So there you have it, some really great and a variety of things to do in Bath. If you are heading there soon, have an amazing time!
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