Bath, England (July 2016)

In July, we took a day trip to the city of Bath! Bath is west of London, and is famous for the Roman baths that were built there in 60 AD. There is an interesting mix of very old architecture and Georgian era buildings, as it became a very popular spot for the upper classes in the 1800s. The biggest attraction is the restored Roman baths in the center of town.

We left home early in the morning to make the 2.5 hour drive. It was a windy drive to find the Park & Ride, but it was definitely worth not having to drive into the narrow streets of Bath. We headed into town on the bus, and went straight to the Roman Baths when they opened. There was a very short line to enter, and we were happy for our early arrival later when we saw that the line extended around the block in the afternoon. There were a few Davidson students in line with us, which made me happy to see! 

The baths were really neat to see. I loved seeing the spot where the famous hot springs come out of the earth, the various spa rooms, and of course the large pool in the middle.  We didn't read many of the signs about the artifacts found in the area, with a toddler in tow, but seeing the building was the highlight anyway.

After we walked through the baths, we went out to the town square to meet up with the large, free tour that is put on by a group called the Mayor of Bath's Corps of Honorary Guides. They run at certain times, but only one on tour on Saturdays. It looked like there was going to be a huge group, but 6 guides split the group up for smaller, more personal tours. We ended up having a group of 15-20, and although the tour is advertised as being 1.5 hours long, it was a little over 2 when it was finished. We walked through most of the center of town, then down to the Royal Crescent, a long row of Georgian homes built for socialites in the heyday of Bath. The tour then ended up back near the main square.

Charlotte at the Royal Crescent

Bath Abbey

After the long walk, we were hungry! We ordered sandwiches from a little restaurant, and waited outside for awhile while they prepped it to-go. We then went to a local park near the river to eat. You have to pay a few pounds to get into the park, but it was definitely worth it to be in a less crowded area, away from the crowds of other tourists. We ate and enjoyed the flowers in the park, then headed to visit the Abbey briefly.

Floral display celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday in the riverside park

After walking around the Abbey, we decided to call it a day and headed back to the Park & Ride on the bus, and then drove home. A nice day out exploring a new city!