Bath Spa, UK

The picturesque and charming town of Bath Spa, just a 90 minute train ride from London, is filled with a rich and interesting history dating back to 60 AD when the Romans built the famous baths here. Situated on the River Avon, you will find other fascinating points of interest here including Bath Abbey, the famous Royal Crescent, Royal Victoria Park, many museums and the Assembly Rooms, where public balls and other activities were held in the 17th century. This beautiful and easily walkable city should not be missed when visiting the UK.

Bath became a popular destination during the Georgian era and was considered the place to see and to be seen at that time. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens were regular visitors to Bath, along with many others who came for the waters, which were thought to be curative.

The Roman Baths are an incredibly interesting place to visit, filled with history, artifacts and amazing engineering feats. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider visiting first thing in the morning on a weekday.

Bath Abbey is another stunning place to visit and is just a short distance from the Baths. The highly detailed stained glass windows with scenes from various Bible stories are quite impressive. Tours are available which include details of the history of this beautiful abbey. Services are held here on Sundays, and also during the week.

The Royal Crescent is a unique example of Georgian architecture and should be included on your itinerary. This row of 30 terraced houses, situated on a gently slopping, grassy hill, is a lovely place to stroll. Several of the houses sustained damage during WWII, but were restored soon after to preserve the iconic appearance of this structure.

Royal Victoria Park, not far from the Royal Crescent, is another lovely place to visit.

As usual, my favorite activity is just to wander and take photos.

You’ll work up an appetite with all that walking and sightseeing, so head to one of the local pubs; our favorite is the Pig and Fiddle. This quintessential British Pub offers delicious food served in a friendly, casual setting.

Be sure to stop in at the Bath Bun to enjoy one of their famous pastries and a pot of tea.

There are many hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and other accommodations to choose from in Bath. TheTravelersketcher and I prefer Brooks Guesthouse. This comfortable, boutique B&B is centrally located and has a terrific breakfast that will keep you going all day. We have stayed here twice and would stay again in a heartbeat. I don’t have many photos of Brooks, except for this little apple tree that grows along the side of the building.

In Batheaston we stayed at a vacation rental called Coronation Cottage. This delightful cottage has a stone fireplace, wood beamed ceilings, spacious kitchen, a spiral staircase that leads to the upper floors, and a lovely outdoor sitting area. It is located in a quiet area, and the Gather Cafe, just over the road, as they say in the UK, is a good spot for breakfast. The neighborhood is a nice place to stroll.

There is a bus that runs between Bath and Batheaston that is quick, convenient and inexpensive.

Not far from Coronation Cottage is Bathampton Mill, a pub that has creative and delicious food in a beautiful setting next to the river.

Bath has been a popular tourist destination for centuries, and will probably remain one for many years to come. The summer months are the busiest time to visit, but you can avoid the crowds if you visit in the off season.

I absolutely love Bath and have visited numerous times. One of my visits was as a solo traveler, and I felt completely safe and comfortable during my stay. I highly recommend a visit to this lovely town when you visit the UK.

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Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia