We took the train from London to Bath for a three-night stay in this charming town that is an almost perfectly preserved example of Georgian architecture. The train ride from Paddington Station to Bath takes 1 1/2 hours and costs about $80 per ticket. The train was comfortable and our fellow passengers were enthusiastic travelers and locals.
We stayed at Oldfields’ Bed and Breakfast, a charming house up on the hill above town. The room was comfortable, the staff friendly and breakfast was very good. Most visitors come by car, so the parking lot is a plus. We did not have a car and and it was a bit of a walk into town and uphill all the way back so we used taxis or Ubers.
We took a Bridgerton Walking Tour with Paul Elliot (available on Trip Advisor). He was both informative and fun. On this tour you will see the major sites in Bath along with on location sites from the filming of the Bridgerton series. (Netflix)
A walking tour is a perfect introduction to Bath. Once you have an overview of the town, you can return to the sites you which to visit. We visited The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, and the Jane Austen Centre. I highly recommend all three. Reserve your tickets ahead for the popular Roman Baths. We were able to walk into the Jane Austen Centre, but it is housed in a Georgian house that can get crowded rather quickly. I wasn’t able to browse the gift shop as I would have liked, because it also serves as the ticket office and there was a large group checking in. We did not go to the Tea Rooms upstairs, but you might want to reserve a table for the full experience.
We spent three nights in Bath. Many tourists visit on a day trip from London, but we are slower travelers and Bath has a lot to offer. We had time to enjoy lunch at Bath’s oldest pub : The Saracens Head. Bath has a number of good restaurants to explore and enjoy.
From Bath, we took a half-day small bus tour to Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is only an hour away, so if you have a car you can go on your own. Our driver pointed out a few points of interest along the way, but once we arrived we toured on our own. Admission includes an excellent audio-tour. Visitors are only allowed inside the stone circle on certain days (solstice) on approved tours. If you follow the perimeter path you get good views of the structures from various sides and learn valuable facts about Stonehenge from the audio narration. All along the route are printed signs pointing out certain features and discoveries; there are even “selfie stops”. Carbon dating pinpoints Stonehenge around 3100 BC and human remains indicate that it may have been a Neolithic burial ground. The type of stone is found in northern Scotland, a considerable distance from the site. Archeologists continue to study and wonder about its origins.
Next Stop: Liverpool
Note: Any mention of commercial ventures is purely based on my own experience. I am independent and unpaid.
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