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Last week’s British Isles Friday posts included a couple of book reviews and this great collection of photos of Nottingham at Junk Boat Travels. Don’t miss them if you’re a Robin Hood fan!
This week I’m sharing my current thoughts on what our itinerary might be for four nights in Bath.
Day 1
After delineating all my options last week for getting to Stonehenge, I’m doing something completely different. I discovered from Rick Steves’ guidebook that Celtic Horizons specializes in both airport transfers and tours. I emailed them and they are going to deliver us door-to-door from Heathrow to the hotel in Bath, via Stonehenge, Avebury, Nunney Castle, and a country inn for lunch.
Richard Pater, late 16th century owner of this castle, was a many-times great grandfather of mine.
This is a pricey service, of course, but by the time I deduct travel costs for some other transport to Bath and the coach tour we would have taken to see Stonehenge, it’s not unreasonable. Add in the extra care we will be getting on the day we need it most, jet-lagged in a foreign country for the first time. And, that we get to see Nunney Castle, a site I thought we would have to skip. And, that this gets us an extra day to tour in Bath. This starts to look like a bargain.
Day 2
10:30 The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides walking tour of Bath. Widely and highly recommended.
If the weather is nice, a picnic lunch from Guildhall Market to eat in the Parade Gardens. If rainy, eat at The Circus Café. With the same lunch plan for Day 3 in the hope we get to do both.
The Museum of Bath at Work occupies the site of the J.B. Bowler soft drinks and bottling plant.
Museum of Bath at Work. An industry museum in a former Victorian soft drinks factory.
Cross Bath. Rick Steves reports that this annex to Thermae Spa has hotter water and a cheaper entrance fee.
Supper at Same Same But Different.
Day 3
Roman Baths. Opens at 9:00. Reportedly the audio tour is particularly fun.
The Great Bath
Bath Abbey. Especially if the sky is clear and we can catch a guided tour to take us up in the tower.
See Day 2 for lunch ideas.
Building of Bath Collection. Architectural history of Bath.
Topping and Company Booksellers.
Supper at Rustico Bistro Italiano.
Day 4
Day trip to Bristol (about 15 minutes by train).
Brunel’s SS Great Britain. World’s first great luxury steamliner, fully restored.
Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol
Lunch at The Cottage Inn, with a view of Clifton Suspension Bridge, another Brunel design.
M Shed. Industry museum.
Supper back in Bath at Old Q Bar which has a seasonal menu on Saturday nights.
