In common with the rest of southern England, the weather in Bath is changeable, especially during the summer months, when a cloudy, cool morning can turn into a hot, sunny afternoon. Generally summer days are fine and warm, but spring is the best time to travel to Bath, when the city's parks and gardens are in bloom and the weather is mild. Winters in Bath are cold and very wet. Snow is rare, but days tend to be frosty.

The compact city of Bath can easily be explored on foot or by bicycle. Different walking tours, including a ghost walk, are offered, and some are free. But the best way for visitors to see the city and its sights is on one of numerous bus tours, many of which are open-top and offer a hop-on, hop-off service with tickets valid for 24 hours. The city's bus network is also good and connects the city centre and its outskirts. A park-and-ride service is available. Taxis are unnecessary in the city centre as walking is often much faster, but they are easy to find at the railway station. There are also several car hire agencies.

For such a historical destination, Bath may not be the first place one thinks of when planning a family holiday with young kids, but there is more than meets the eye in the beautiful city of Bath for children on holiday to enjoy. A must is a visit to Longleat where everything a kid could wish for can be found from miniature railways to elephants and zebras, while outdoor activities for kids include visits to the Cricket St Thomas Wildlife Park to discover exciting wild animals, the Cheddar Caves and Gorge to see how cavemen really survived, or take energetic kids on the Huntfun Bath Treasure Hunt where they'll love beating their parents to solve the clues! On days when the weather doesn't play along and outdoor activities with children are not an option, head to one of the many indoor playground dotted throughout the city such as Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, which features nine different indoor and outdoor playgrounds, or the Panda-Monium Indoor Play Centre which features, slides, swings and ropes and enough space for kids to run around.

English is the official language, though visitors will be astonished by the variety of regional accents.

The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels, however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks. Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges.

The nightlife in Bath is always buzzing and with a wide range of bars, clubs, restaurants and live music venues, visitors looking for a good night out will have no problem finding somewhere to suit their tastes. Those looking for a quiet drink will enjoy the Garrick's Head next to the Theatre Royal where a few glasses of good wine and a delicious and intimate meal can be shared, while the Hare and Hounds pub on Lansdowne Road is the place to go for great views over the city of Bath. The Bell on Walcot Street is always a good start where locals and tourists meet to unwind and enjoy a pint to the sounds of live jazz, rock and reggae, while Moles Club on George Street is always jamming with local and international artists gracing its stage. Ye Old Farmhouse provides the best live jazz in town and is guaranteed to get your toe tapping to the sounds of trumpets and bass, snare drums and cymbals. The Lamb and Lion on Lower Borough Walls, is a where everyone heads to drink and shout at each other above the loud music before hitting the town and clubs such as Cadillacs on Walcot Street, which is always bustling and anyone who is up for a good party should head here, while Babylon on Kingston Road is the pace for serious clubbers, but prepare yourself for a fairly hedonistic night out.

A day of shopping in the historic city of Bath is a fabulous experience for any shopaholic as the city's streets are lined with a fantastic selection of thousands of small independent shops, trendy boutiques, and larger retail outlets, providing plenty of unique shopping opportunities and something completely different to the rest of England.

Stroll across the Pulteney Bridge to enjoy looking through the store windows along Britain's only shop-lined bridge, where specialist stores can be perused and you can even stop off for a bite to eat at one of the cafés or restaurants that line the bridge. The newly-built Milsom Place is a fabulous shopping centre that stocks all the designer names such a sMaxMar and Cath Kidson can be found as well as everything from stylish clothing and accessories to jewellery and gifts can be found. Stall Street and Milsom Street in the Southgate shopping area are the places to go for main chain stores, as is Union Street close to Northgate Street, while Walcot Street shops are the place to go for jewellery.

Margaret's Buildings, near the Royal Crescent, is also a popular shopping area where many boutiques and designer outlets can be found. Green Park Station hosts the Bath Farmers market on Sundays where fresh local produce can be bought, while the Bath Flea Market also takes place on Walcot Street on Sundays where books, clothing, leather goods, antiques, hats and fine cheeses can be found. Great souvenirs in Bath include bottled Bath water, Bath monopoly sets and wonderful clocks and bowls made from Bath stone, which all make wonderful gifts. Most shops in Bath are open seven days a week from 9am to 5.30pm, but on Sundays most shops close a little earlier.

Not only is the city of a Bath a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is a highly popular city to visit for tourists, particularly during the summer months when the streets come alive with visitors, performers and other colourful people. Culture vultures will love this city as so much of England's history is reflected here, with everything from the Roman baths and Bath Abbey to the fashion museum and Royal Crescent, a residential road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent shape showcasing Georgian architecture - it's like taking a trip through time. Head to the Jane Austen Centre to discover all there is to know about Bath's most famous resident, stroll along the Pulteney Bridge and look in its shop windows; visit Sally Lunn's Refreshment House and Museum, the oldest house in town; or take a day trip to visit the nearby ancient ruins at Stonehenge. Visitors to Bath should make use of the Bath Visitor Card, which costs just £3, is valid for three weeks from the date of validation and can be picked up from the Bath Tourist Information Centre. The card affords visitors plenty of time to make their way around the city and also offers a wide range of discounts on food, drinks, shopping, attractions and sightseeing tours.

Local time in the United Kingdom is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).