I’ve read so many novels that mention Bath, but strangely enough I was not particularly itching to see it. I think it is because I wasn’t expecting it to look like it is described in books – you know, because its been like 200 years since those stories happened?
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The morning we left Cornwall it was drizzling. We hit the road early as we had a boat cruise on the Avon booked for the morning, which we ended up missing – and will Ally, Chintz or I ever let Spencer forget why we missed it? No, the answer is no.
After buzzing us around and out of the house saying “make sure you don’t forget anything” and “have you got your jacket” or “are you sure you packed xx” we piled into the car. Roughly forty-five minutes later I got a phone call from the landlady saying there was a laptop and a jacket left behind – and who did they belong to, I hear you asking? Oh yes, it was Spencer’s stuff.
So we turned around and went back to get it all, and that, dear readers, is how we missed our boat ride. There was prosecco. And dips. Hmph.
Anyway, we got to Bath and found our hotel. It was a really pretty little place, highly recommend Brooks Guesthouse! It had such a lovely feel to it, the rooms were gorgeous and the house had lovely living areas for guest use, beautifully decorated. And breakfast was A1!
Once we had dropped off all of our bags and had a good snoop around the sitting room, we hit the pavement and went exploring. We were a short walk from the Royal Crescent, so we started there and then walked through the parks and into the town. I was fascinated to find that street musicians are very much a thing there, and they’re incredibly talented ones at that!
It was around lunch time, so we decided to look for a bite to eat – fortuitously we had made our way to the Jane Austen Centre, who serve a fabulous high tea that hit the spot perfectly. There was a minor disagreement about whether milk belongs in chamomile, but it was speedily resolved and we moved on without further issue…
Afterward, we walked to Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths then decided to do the tour – what a place to see! It was amazing, getting to walk through this historical site, imagining the roof over the pool with the water bubbling and steaming up the room. The audio tours are really great for pointing out the significance of the artifacts and the carefully carved walls, and for explaining exactly how the baths work. The Roman’s were really clever when they built it, that much is certain. I spent quite a bit of time in the gift house toward the end too – I had to get my bestie a bottle of the ‘waters’ which had her laughing as soon as she unwrapped it a few months later when I gave her a haul of goodies.
We essentially just explored and explored. Down by the river, through the city streets, listening to musicians, patting the local doggos, window shopping at antique stores. There were so many book shops, and the entire aesthetic of the city was obviously meticulously cared for – snaps for the local council in making this historic city stay that way.
I can’t wait to visit again, there is so much we didn’t get to see. We’ve got two whole days planned for next time! But on this trip, our next stop – Stafford.
Victoria Clarke 