Day trip to Bath – 6th June 2012
Despite the unseasonal summer weather, we enjoyed an excellent day out in Bath visiting various sites including the Roman Baths and the Abbey.
We managed to be organised enough to leave home by around 9am and were down in Bath, having caught the Park and Ride, by around 11am.
The weather in the morning was generally cloudy but for the most part dry and we decided to visit the Roman Baths.
Bath Abbey with the Roman Baths on the right
The entrance to the Roman Baths
On arrival, the process seems to be generally well organised. Visitors are initially separated into families/individuals and groups. We were told by three members of staff that we wouldn’t be able to take the buggy around the museum section.
Audio guides seem to be popular and are available for both adults and children. The only downside to this is that you end up with groups of people all in the same place at the same time tending to block the way for others.
Looking down at the Baths below
Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths below
Roman water
One of the statues, with Bath Abbey behind
Final view looking down
The Roman Baths are clearly a very popular attraction and were very busy while we were there. There is a lot to see and children are well catered for with an ‘Activity Room’ offering some respite from the relentless press of audio guide devotees. The children enjoyed making Roman ‘crowns’.
Rebekah and Holly with their crowns
We had a look down at water level, before leaving the Baths in search of some sustenance.
Bath Abbey reflected in the water
The family looking out over the water
Looking across the water
A full visit is recommended to take some two hours and we duly managed to escape soon after 1pm.
The singer Meeghan Shillington entertaining the crowds
Filled with an outdoor Greggs, we ventured into Bath Abbey where the girls completed a quiz as part of our tour around.
The nave of Bath Abbey
Holly and Rebekah find a convenient place to complete their quizzes
By the time we left the Abbey, the weather had deteriorated somewhat and we hastened to Ben’s Cookies for a restorative cookie and hot chocolate while we waited for the weather to improve.
Ben’s Cookies
Simply the best cookies in the world
After enjoying the afternoon snack, we walked through persistent rain to see the Royal Crescent.
Old light in The Circus
The Royal Crescent in a downpour
As we began to walk around the Royal Crescent the weather deteriorated further and we were forced to take shelter where we could find it – the girls in a disused telephone kiosk.
Holly and Rebekah taking shelter
With the weather seemingly determined to have the last word, we took advantage of a brief lull and found our way back to the Park and Ride bus.
A slightly damp Holly and Rebekah on board the Park and Ride bus
Emily and Sarah on the bus
On the way home, we made a customary stop at a Little Chef for dinner. The Chippenham restaurant where we ate was one of the smallest that we have encountered and was fairly empty on our arrival.
Little Chef in Chippenham
The Early Starter
Classic pancake
Food and service were excellent and we’d certainly return if we go back to revisit Bath at some point.
It had been a good day, despite the best attempts of the vagaries of the British weather to compound our plans and we look forward to returning to Bath in due course.
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