The Perfect Day Out in Bath
Bath is one of England’s great centres of tourism. It’s a World Heritage site with a living historical legacy that ranges from the Roman to the Georgian to the contemporary. Combined with the city’s status as a premier spa destination it also has great shopping and eating opportunities; but on a tight schedule the Hedonist is here to see how many of the main sights can be crammed into one day.
First stop is the Victorian Gothic magnificence of Bath Abbey with its beautiful vaulted ceilings. With a suggested donation of £2.50 for entrance it’s well worth a look. But for those with a head for heights the Tower tour (£6 ) with its wonderful views is a must.
There are ‘only’ 212 steps to the top of the Tower ascending two rather narrow spiral staircases, so a certain level of fitness and lack of claustrophobia is necessary; but for those brave enough to go up you are rewarded with a fascinating explanation of the history and mechanics of bellringing
and a close encounter with the Clock mechanism and bells.
You also get to stand rather precariously above the nave on the fan vaulting, also a feature of Kings College Cambridge, which shared the same architects. The view from the top of the Abbey is by far the best in Bath and gives you a panorama of the city and a real sense of the elegance of its Georgian layout.
Our next stop is no.1 Royal Crescent. The Royal Crescent itself is one of the great architectural sights of the western world and no. 1 is Bath’s latest tourist attraction. It is a fascinating journey into the lifestyle of a Georgian gentleman above and below stairs. Henry Sandford was the first resident of No. 1 Royal Crescent living at the house from 1776 until his death in 1796. Apart from the beautiful interiors and furnishings the story of the house and its inhabitants is really brought to life through the use of sound recordings and the staff are a mine of fascinating historical information.
No trip to Bath is complete without a visit to Sally Lunns, the tea shop and bistro that resides in one of the oldest houses in Bath. Sally Lunns is world famous for its eponymous bun which originated when a young Huguenot refugee from France called Solange Luyon came to Bath in 1680. She developed the brioche style Bath Bun which when combined with the local’s anglicisation of her name created a local legend!
The building is lovely and you should pop down to the basement to see the tiny museum and old ovens. Try one of the many savoury or sweet dishes based on the buns (or be like me and have one of each!).
The Hedonist recommends The Welsh Rarebit (£6.25) and The Amazing Lemon Curd (£3.25).
The Roman Baths (£13.50) are the premier tourist attraction in Bath with queues to match! The Roman name for Bath was Aquae Sulis and the baths were part of a much bigger temple complex. You get to see the spring that drives the complex, the extraordinary Roman drainage system and of course the series of baths and plunge pools culminating in the stunning Great Bath and its series of faux Roman statues. After all the history a visit to the Pump Rooms for tea (£19.50) is a must and the perfect way to finish off a hard day’s sight-seeing.
With its idiosyncratic shops, food festival, theatre and music there are lots of other reasons to visit Bath and it provides a great regional base for investigating the West Country. Other regional attractions include Stonehenge, The American Museum, the grandeur of Corsham Court and Swindon’s STEAM, the museum of The Great Western Railway so there really is something for everyone.
The Hedonist would like to thank everyone at Bath Tourism.
Pictures of The Roman Baths, The Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey and The View from Bath Abbey from visitbath.co.uk copyright Bath Tourism Plus.