I was very impressed with the Roman baths that gave the spa town its name. This was a fashionable place during Austen’s time and where some of her characters meet.
The Roman Baths in Bath, England.
Mihaira Friel/Insider
According to Visit Bath, the 2,000-year-old Roman Baths are among the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world. People often came to bathe in and drink the water from the natural springs, recognizing their health benefits.
As Smithsonian Magazine reports, one of the main characters of “Northanger Abbey” was sent to Bath “for health reasons.” Her room, the adjoining pump where water was pumped from a spring fountain, was the site of Austen’s time and was also featured as a meeting place for her characters.
These days, the site operates as a museum, which my partner and I visited during our stay in Bath.
We had fun learning the history of this place with the audio guide and even got to try the water ourselves. According to the website, an adult ticket is £20 (about $24) on weekends and £17.50 (about $21) on weekdays.
