144 | Cycling World
Famous for its incredible Georgian architecture built of local limestone , Bath ’ s crescents , streets and terraces are easily explored by bicycle . And to find out more about the Georgian lifestyle in Bath ’ s 18 th century heyday , step into the past at No . 1 Royal Crescent , one of England ’ s finest Georgian townhouses , and experience what life was like for Bath ’ s rich and fashionable residents – both above and below stairs .
Inside the house you will find 10 Display Rooms , a Georgian-style shop , a free Information Room and special exhibitions in the Brownsword Gallery . The ten rooms are staffed by incredibly well informed and friendly room guides and we also have Children ’ s Activity Packs and Dressing-up for our younger visitors .
As well as the world famous No . 1 Royal Crescent , Bath Preservation Trust runs three other fascinating museums and there are joint ticket discounts to help you explore more .
If you are looking to discover the story behind the elegant architecture of Bath then the Museum of Bath Architecture is a must-see . Located at the Countess of Huntingdon ' s Chapel , itself an unusual and historic building , here is the only museum that explores the creation of this World Heritage City .
The influences of classical design are explored and building techniques explained , alongside models revealing the
construction of an 18 th century townhouse . Old maps show how the city has grown , and the famous Bath Model offers an incredible insight into the development of the Georgian City .
Beckford ’ s Tower is an elegant , golden-topped neo-classical tower on Lansdown Hill , a good pull uphill from the city centre for cyclists . The Tower was built in 1827 as a retreat for the brilliant writer and eccentric William Beckford . Born to great wealth and endowed with precocious talent Beckford created magnificent buildings in which to store his extraordinary art , furniture and book collections . Today the tower houses a museum dedicated to Beckford .
Finally , the Herschel Museum of Astronomy at 19 New King Street is a delightful and unique example of a fully restored modest Georgian townhouse . It was home to the astronomer and musician William Herschel and his sister Caroline . Particularly evocative features include Herschel ’ s workshop , his music room and a charming 18 th Century formal garden where , with a telescope of his own construction , Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 .
2017 is a perfect time to visit Bath as we celebrate the 250 th anniversary of the Royal Crescent with a series of special events , exhibitions , talks and activities across our museums . For more information on all our museums go to www . bath-preservation-trust . org . uk and follow the links to each museum .