World Heritage – BATH NEWSEUM

Let’s celebrate Bath!

Bath will celebrate the annual UNESCO World Heritage Day with a free event at Green Park Station on Thursday 18 April 2019, from 11am to 3pm. Visitors of all ages will be able to take part in activities exploring the city’s exceptional architectural and engineering achievements: past, present and future. There will be themed talks, […]

by Richard Wyatt

Tax the tourists?

Bath shares with Venice the honour of being one of only two European cities to have a blanket World Heritage status bestowed upon its historic centre but, it seems, the Italian recipient is taking the lead in trying to protect what is precious. My partner spotted this article in the ‘I ‘newspaper yesterday. While we […]

by Richard Wyatt

Walk out for heritage charity

The UNESCO World Heritage symbol – set in the cobblestones of Stall Street – is something Heritage Services chief Stephen Bird steps over on his way to work every morning. But at 8 am – on Monday, December 10th – he will use it to mark the start of a five day walk he is […]

by Richard Wyatt

Pay and stay – says local heritage chief.

With increasing numbers of visitors Bath should be doing more to manage and market its status – and that includes introducing a voluntary tourist tax. That’s according to Professor Barry Gilbertson who is Chairman of the City of Bath UNESCO World Heritage Board. If you think that’s a mouthful of a title this is a […]

by Richard Wyatt

Shame about the Saw Close.

Am l alone in being very disappointed by the recently ‘re-imagined’ Saw Close – an historic open space which lies just inside what was the old city wall. As part of a recent redevelopment – that has seen the construction of a restaurant, casino and soon-to-open boutique hotel – the space between the old Palace […]

by Richard Wyatt

It’s a ‘no’ to a Pulteney Bridge interview

Followers of Bath Newseum will know l am a little shocked at the state of the stone balustrade facing Pulteney Bridge which is – itself – exhibiting a widening crack in its stonework. Bearing in mind how historically important this part of Bath is – and how it contributes to its World Heritage status […]

by Richard Wyatt

Not a pretty picture.

As far as ‘photo opportunities’ go, Grand Parade is THE spot for tourists to stop and take a ‘selfie’ with the iconic – Robert Adam designed – Pulteney Bridge behind them. While some may linger to admire the waters of the River Avon rushing over the weir beneath them, l can’t imagine many taking in […]

by Richard Wyatt

Get out of Bath!

Christmas excesses and New Year resolutions could both lead you to consider a late stocking filler which offers you fourteen different scenic and historic walking routes out of Bath to help you feel both fresher and fitter as 2018 begins. We tend to get a little city-centric here with so much in the way of […]

by Richard Wyatt

Free lunchtime World Heritage talks at the Guildhall

A series of free lunchtime talks will take place at the Guildhall, Bath, this November to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bath becoming a World Heritage Site. Management professionals from Hadrian’s Wall, Stonehenge, the Tower of London, and Bath & North East Somerset Council will give 30-minute talks on how they are undertaking the […]

by Richard Wyatt

No fracking threat to Bath

Bath’s MP has received written ministerial confirmation that the World Heritage city will be free of any fracking activity. The risk to its hot springs from any prospecting for shale gas has been widely reported. Ben Howlett has already said he wanted to fully understand the risk to Bath and the water supplying our thermal […]