bath: small and perfectly formed
the city of bath is in the south-west of england, in the county of somerset. about 85,000 people live there. bath is very close to the bigger, vibrant city of bristol and is surrounded by beautiful countryside with landmarks including stonehenge, the avebury ring, cheddar gorge and the mendip and cotswold hills.
we asked tris bartlett, who lives in bath, to tell us about the city.
what sorts of people live in bath?
'bath is young and has a significant student population. bath is not as multicultural as most of the uk's bigger cities, but there is a significant afro-caribbean population and growing numbers of people originating from south asia. the multi-cultural nature of bath is enhanced by the huge number of foreign students and tourists that are always here, and they help to give bath a young and vibrant feel.' what do you like about living in bath?
'i live here because of its beauty, because of its size - it is a city with most of what you would look for in a city and all of it easily accessible......bath is also well placed for quick escape to the west country, london, the south coast and just about anywhere else in southern uk. the climate is mild and the streets feel safe. in short, the quality of life for us in bath is excellent.'
are there any big events and festivals taking place? 'bath has an international music festival, which starts in late may. several weeks and usually hosts famous musicians from all over the world. the opening of the festival is marked by a free concert at bath's famous royal crescent, with contemporary music and a lively fireworks show.'
is there any big industry or scientific work in the area? tourism is bath's biggest income earner, closely followed by teaching english as a foreign language. there is much industry in and around bath. this includes computer software, environmental technology, international development and the defence industry.'
are there any quirky local customs? '......walcot nation day, the day that marks the declaration of independence of walcot street from the uk. walcot street is turned into a mass of energy and activity for the day, with bands, international foods and a series of bizarre activities and events that anyone can get involved with.'
british council