Ancient baths come alive in English resort

Less than an hour-and-a-half train ride from the hustle and bustle of London lies the charming town of Bath. Long before the Romans arrived in the first century, Bath was famous for its 116-degree mineral hot springs and their therapeutic powers.

Bath's popularity peaked in 973 when England's first king, Edgar, was crowned in the Abbey. Bath's strong influence and popularity, along with the town itself, then declined until the mid-1600s, when Queen Mary bathed there. The queen had fought a long battle with infertility, but gave birth to a son within 10 months of bathing in the healing waters of the Roman baths. The birth of her son brought a new popularity to Bath and the town blossomed into a resort that became the place for all of high society to see and be seen.

Today, a museum surrounds the ancient bath, which contains Roman artifacts, mosaics and displays that tell the rich story of the bath's history. The actual mouth of the mineral spring is also contained within the walls of the museum.

Standing in the town center is a stately 500-year old abbey, which is considered to be the last great medieval church of England. The abundance of stained glass used in the construction of this church earned it the nickname "Lantern of the West."