Just an easy 90-minute train ride from London, the charming, compact and
walkable city of Bath former home to Jane Austen, among others offers a
perfect day trip or weekend getaway.
stay
We adored boutique B&B Villa
Magdala, across from lovely Henrietta Park (opened to celebrate
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee) and just steps from Bath’s downtown.
You’ll want to stay more than one night or bring a big appetite to
sample the delightful breakfast menu, with fruit, yogurt and pastries
plus to-order picks like the full English and our favourite, the
lemon-ricotta-pistachio pancakes. www.villamagdala.co.uk
dine
Book ahead and bring a group to sample Tilleys
Bistro’s tasty tapas menu, complete with clearly labelled veg and
gluten-free selections. Our French Farmers Salad, Baked Avocado Tower
and Butterbean and Root Ginger Firepot went down so well (accompanied by
a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc) that we tragically left no room for
dessert. http://www.tilleysbistro.co.uk
do
Bath is home to the UK’s only natural hot springs, put on the map by the
Romans, who erected a full bathing complex complete with temple. A visit
to the Roman
Baths Museum is a must while in town. Wander the site with the audio
guide and turn up your imagination to visualize the lives of the people
who millennia ago bathed in these same waters. If you have time, pick up
a combo
ticket to save on a trip to the Fashion Museum, too.
relax
You can’t enter the original Roman baths, unfortunately, but there is a
consolation prize across the street: Thermae
Bath Spa, which taps into those same natural springs. Sample the
selection of scented steam rooms, then soak in the rooftop pool and
enjoy the views of Bath Abbey and the rest of the city. www.thermaebathspa.com
Photo: visitbath.co.uk
Copyright: Bath Tourism Plus / Colin Hawkins
shop
Bath has no shortage of boutiques and other shopping pleasures. Make
sure to visit historic Pulteney
Bridge, a late-18th-century stone bridge complete with built-in
shops. One highlight for us was the Antique Map Shop, with its very
giftable collection of printed maps from all over the world.
Kat Tancock
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