1-day trip to Bath

Bath is a city 14 miles away from Bristol. You could be in Bath in 40 minutes by car, yet it is not the best option as parking in the city centre will cost you an arm and a leg. So, what's the best way to get there? I always choose public transport if I go to Bath, either the bus or the train. The train takes 10 minutes from Temple Meads station and an offpeak return tickets costs £4.60 with the railcard. The bus ticket is free if you have a FirstWeek or FirstMonth ticket, but takes around one hour to get there. National Express offers return tickets for around £4 (with the coachcard) and takes the same amount of time. So, I would say the best option is the train.

It is located in the county of Somerset, the city was first established with the latin name Aquae Sulis by the Romans 20 years after they arrived to Britain seeking for hot springs in the valley of the River Avon. Much later, the city became popular as a spa town during the Georgian era. Bath city was added to the World Heritage List 1987 and it's unique architecture is famous anywhere in the United Kingdom. The city has a variety of theatres, museums and other cultural venues which have helped to make a major centre for tourism. 

Public transport, both train and bus, have their main stops by the Bath Thermae Spa, "Britain's only natural thermal spa" as stated in their website. Spa sessions go from £26 for a two-hour session to £56 for a full-day admission. Installations include an open-air rooftop pool (which looks very romantic in the picture), a very large indoor thermal bath and aroma steam rooms. I didn't go to the spa on my last visit, so I am unable to tell you if it is worth it or not. I haven't been able to find student discounts but their website has Spa Packages which includes a tempting Twilight Package for two (£80) including 3-hour spa session plus one dish from the menu and a glass of wine. Don't you think it can be a romantic plan?

From the bus station, I followed the river along Manvers Street until I got the famous Abbey on my left. The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, or more commonly known as Bath Abbey, is located right in the centre. The gothic style majestic abbey was founded in the 7th century and its interiors are visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The abbey's tower has ten bells which are unusually hung so that the order of the bells from highest to lowest runs anti-clockwise around the ringing chamber.

Perfect for a rainy day, the indoor Guildhall Market gives plenty of choices to enjoy a unique shopping experience within an historical building. Bath Guildhall Market is the oldest shopping venue in the city and has traded on this site for the last 800 years. During Christmas, there is also an annual market held under three interlinking heated  marquees at the rear of the building.

Close to Guildhall Market, there is a famous bridge you can find in most of the postcards in Bath. Pulteney Bridge crosses the river Avon since 1774. It is designed by Rober Adam in a Palladian style and originally, the shops along the bridge were not there. The 45-metres-long and 18-metres-wide bridge is named after Frances Pulteney, a wealthy Scottish lawyer and Member of Parliament. The bridge is always full of tourists, I bet you cannot take a picture of it without a stranger appearing in your photograph! 

Roman Baths complex is a well-preserved historical house which Romans used for public bathing. Just for the record, you are not allowed to have a bath in the roman baths. Roman Baths are the major touristic attraction of Bath and I have seen very long queues to get in. The admission fee is £12.75 per adult. If you go during summer (July/August) there is a one-pound increase in the prices. There is a discount for full-time students who must show a valid ID to proof it (£11). Next year, prices will slightly go up. Check them here. 
There are many things to see in the tour and I have learnt many things. However, they should improve the audio-guides. There are two different tours you can choose with an audio-guide: adult version or kids version. In my opinion, the adult version takes too long and voices are boring, whereas the children's version is too simple and explanations are vague, though it is more entertaining. 

I took a rest to have lunch at Market, a casual restaurant in the heart of the city. They have an offer which is the reason why I had lunch there: classic burger and a pint Dark Side Bath Ale for £7.95 (all day, every day). In addition to that, I also ordered a crispy calamari with lemon alioli (£4.95). I really recommend this place if you are looking for something not too expensive but yet very tasty. Very good location, great service and very juicy beef burgers!


I spent the afternoon window-shopping in the famous Christmas Market. The German Christmas Market in Bath is very good, I must say. There are 150 traditional wooden chalets offering unusual and handmade gifts, crafts and food items. Sadly, and don't ask me why, the Christmas market is now closed for 2013. They have been running it since 28th November and it was closed last 15th December, 10 day before Christmas day. So, any advice I give you here will be useful for next year. Advice for the market: be patient, do not rush. I wouldn't imagine the market would be that busy. And apparently it is busy at any time of the day, any day of the week. People travel from far away to check what Bath Christmas Market is offering every year, so take your time to visit every stall. It is really worth it!

The touristic visit to Bath is never finished until you have taken a picture of the famous 30 terraced houses designed by John Wood the Younger. It is called The Royal Crescent, built between 1767-74, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom. The Royal Crescent now includes a hotel and a museum, and some lucky (and wealthy) people have the honour to be the tenant of the rest of the houses which have been converted into flats and offices.

Right next to The Royal Crescent, there is a 57 acres green-flag awarded park called Royal Victoria Park which includes a popular children's area, a skateboard ramp, tennis, bowling and golf courses, a boating pond, and a botanical garden. It was opened in 1830 by Princess Victoria when she was just 11 years old and there is an obelisk dedicated to her within the park. I enjoyed last minutes of sunshine walking around the park before it got too dark.

LINKS
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THERMAE BATH SPA: http://www.thermaebathspa.com/
BATH ABBEY: http://www.bathabbey.org/
ROMAN BATHS: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/
GUILDHALL MARKET: http://www.bathguildhallmarket.co.uk/
BATH GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET: http://www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk/
"MARKET" RESTAURANT: http://www.marketbath.co.uk/contact-3/