Bath recommendations

[trousers]

I'm taking the missus to Bath for our wedding anniversary in November.

 

Hotel booked, dinner options shortlisted and usual tourist traps on the radar (Roman stuff).

 

Funny play-on-words with the word 'Bath' aside, any recommendations for some not so obvious attractions? (within walking distance of the city centre)?

 

cheers

[miserableoldgit]

I'm taking the missus to Bath for our wedding anniversary in November.

 

Hotel booked, dinner options shortlisted and usual tourist traps on the radar (Roman stuff).

 

Funny play-on-words with the word 'Bath' aside, any recommendations for some not so obvious attractions? (within walking distance of the city centre)?

 

cheers

 

I know that it not Bath but a short trip to Bristol to see SS Great Britain is well worthwhile.

http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/Home.aspx

 

A walk across Clifton Suspension Bridge to view the gorge and a look the Camera Obscura worth doing too.

Edited 14 October, 2010 by miserableoldgit

[rpb]

A boat trip along the river is very peaceful.

[Lets B Avenue]

A European Cup rugby match will have a great atmosphere.

[Bath Saint]

I'd have no idea where to go.

[tpbury]

Get a local train to Freshford, talk a walk (may be a bit damp), have a meal at the pub (that used to be there 20 years ago, probably still is). Romantically hail the train for your return journey, as there isn't (wasn't) really a station. It's probably all motorways now, but I remember a lovely meadow-y, wood-y walk rond thaaaaaaat waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy.

[landford.saint]

Kennet and Avon canal, right through bath. Walk along canal to pub, have a decent meal and liquid of your choice, then walk it all off on way back. Very peaceful and scenic. Just watch out at rush hour times for kamakazi cyclists using route for quick access to and from work. Throw them and their bl""dy bikes in the cut all of them.

[dellish]

I'm taking the missus to Bath for our wedding anniversary in November.

 

Hotel booked, dinner options shortlisted and usual tourist traps on the radar (Roman stuff).

 

Funny play-on-words with the word 'Bath' aside, any recommendations for some not so obvious attractions? (within walking distance of the city centre)?

 

cheers

 

the comedy walk is good, walks round bath takin mick ,think its every night starts at 6 ish cost £8

[Durleyfos]

Go to Thermae Spa

 

They have a massive jaccusi on the roof.

 

Fantastic place.

 

http://visitbath.co.uk/site/things-to-do/attractions/thermae-bath-spa-p26231

[thesaint78]

Can recommend the spa above too. Also had a cracking meal at the Moon and Sixpence : http://www.moonandsixpence.co.uk

[dubai_phil]

Radox is always good to relax I find, and Mr Muscle gets the grime off nicely in the morning

[rocknrollman no2]

If you are walking around Bath,then a word of caution.Watch out for the pigeons.There are millions of them flying around and the last time i was there,one went and did a pigeon bomb all over the nice black shirt i was wearing.

I was less than amused,although my wife couldnt stop laughing.

[bristolsaint29]

Have taken my wife to the spa a couple of times and can thoroughly recommend it.

The theatre royal in bath if you're looking for that sort of thing.

The Roman Baths(a world heritage site and nice afternoon tea)

 

Worth doing the open top bus ride, not much money but will take you to all the main sites within bath and you can hop on and off al day. Bristol only 20 minutes on the train and Cabot Circus very good for shopping and eating.

[saint_stevo]

saw this and was going to recommend the Thermae Spa....but i was beaten to it.

 

go for it

[Bath Saint]

Have taken my wife to the spa a couple of times and can thoroughly recommend it.

The theatre royal in bath if you're looking for that sort of thing.

The Roman Baths(a world heritage site and nice afternoon tea)

 

Worth doing the open top bus ride, not much money but will take you to all the main sites within bath and you can hop on and off al day. Bristol only 20 minutes on the train and Cabot Circus very good for shopping and eating.

 

Don't, please don't do the open top bus tour. I'm sick of watching those bloody things clog up the roads. You'd be much better off taking one of the FREE walking tours that go from outside the Pump Rooms. They are very good and run by volunteers. No need to book and at this time of year, you won't be there with hundreds of others.

 

Unfortunately, The Holburne at the end of Pultney Street is currently closed for renovation, but other things I would recommend:

 

- Number 1 on the Royal Crescent to see a Georgian House as it originally would have looked.

- Tea in the Pump Rooms

- As you're staying over, go to the Thermae Spa at night. You can sit in the pool on the roof in any weather - the water stays a lovely warm temperature. You can chat and look over the rooftops of Bath. Sublime.

- For something different, try the Museum of East Asian Art, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy or the Building of Bath Museum.

- If you're feeling fit, take a walk up to Alexandra Park for great views over the city or, better still, follow the Beckford trail from the centre of Bath up to Beckford's Tower on Lansdowne.

 

Other things already mentioned are the Theatre which is particularly good and gets lost of West End runs and a walk along the canal. Freshford Station is still a request stop and will take you into the lovely surrounding countryside. And, of course, we have quite a few excellent pubs.

[bridge too far]

This is a quirkly museum. It used to have an office that has been preserved as it was left and the first cordial bottles with stoppers as well as lots of tins / boxes from the past (like Pears Soap, Heinz tins etc).

 

http://www.cityofbath.co.uk/Museums/body_bath_industrialheritagecentre.html

[moonraker]

Some good ideas already mentioned, I can second the canal walk, Alexandra Park for views, on the way up or back into town the Bear Pub on Bear Flat is very good, both drink and food, the comedy walk, despite the comment above the open top bus tour is a good way to see a lot, also the museum of costume in the Assembly Rooms, the best park in town is Sydney Gardens both the railway and canal bisect it. If you like proper pubs there are a number of excellent ones in the city centre, The Old Green Tree in Green Street, The Raven, Queen Street, The Salamander 30 yards north of the Raven, The Garricks Head next to the Theatre Royal and the Bell in Walcot Street, for a more contemporary bar try Hall and Woodhouse another 50 yards north of the Salamander or the Lounge . You say you have shortlisted eateries but a few I would recommend are top of Walcot Street (Pricey but great steaks) Hudsons, Woods next to the Assembly Rooms, The White Heart in Widcombe, The Thai Balcony near the Theatre Royal, Messaluna (Italian) Kingsmead Square, for lighter lunch /cafe food try Cafe Retro York Street, The Wild Cafe Queen Street, Say Pasta St James Parade, The Green Park Brasserie Green Park Station, Banglos Lower Bristol Road, Hon Fusion Widcombe Parade, whatever you do do not use Binks Cafe in the Abbey Churchyard or the Eastern Eye Indian.

[Wes Tender]

Go and have a cream tea at Sally Lunn's, the oldest house in Bath, I think. There used to be a bakery on the site in Georgian times, I believe and the Sally Lunn buns are famous. Get there earlier, as sometimes there is a wait for a table. Its a stone's throw from the centre of town and the big church square.

[1976_Child]

don't sit up the tap end. that's my bath recommendation

[suewhistle]

I was thinking Twyford's are usually good quality, but then actually read the OP. Try a local bun?

[Yate Saint]

Have a Hot Chocolate from Boston Tea Party. Lovely!! As mentioned a few times above, the Thermae is a nice place to go if you have a spare couple of hours. Then you can go see the real thing, the Roman Baths.

[Danny R]

Me and the missus went to a really nice restaurant called the olive tree (this will be a hit with the wife) which is under an amazing boutique hotel that I can't remember the name of. Other than that the Thermae/Roman are deffo worth a visit. The comedy tour is also great and good value.

[moonraker]

Me and the missus went to a really nice restaurant called the olive tree (this will be a hit with the wife) which is under an amazing boutique hotel that I can't remember the name of. Other than that the Thermae/Roman are deffo worth a visit. The comedy tour is also great and good value.

 

The Olive Tree is excellent, it is in Russell Street and the Hotel is The Queensbury.

[Bath Saint]

Some good ideas already mentioned, I can second the canal walk, Alexandra Park for views, on the way up or back into town the Bear Pub on Bear Flat is very good, both drink and food, .

 

Just got back from having Sunday lunch there with the family. Yummy scrummy.