Advertisement
Published: June 21st 2010
The Circus
The Circus, BathAfter being very ill with a viral infection and skin allergies plus sitting my university exam, I was in need to hit the road again and as I was recovering I had the strength to do a trip. I did not fancy going abroad as I want to stay on my two feet here. I was able to retake some of the leave from the cancelled cruise in April. I fancied going somewhere far from Leeds so I thought of Bath, why not? I visited Bath for the first time four years ago when I visited an ex friend of mine in Bristol. We had only spent an afternoon in the city and I felt no justice was done there so this was more than a good opportunity to explore the city more thoroughly.
It is prohibitively expensive to travel to the South West including Bath from Leeds cross country by train. I have no desire to travel down there by coach because of the hideous long journey even if the ticket would have been cheaper. However, when I made
my enquires, it was possible to travel by train to Bath via London for half the price of the advertised fare for travelling cross country from Leeds. It meant purchasing two APEX returns and stopping in London at the beginning and at the end of the trip. London was perfect to break up my journey and I also saved a considerable amount of money on rail fares.
I travelled down to London Kings Cross the first evening and I stayed overnight at the YHA Hostel on Euston Road, a five minute walk from the station. The next morning, after a lie in and the wish to avoid London's rush hour on the tube, I got over to Paddington Station late morning for my train to Bath. The journey was pretty uneventful, around 1.5 hours, although a passenger claimed that I sat in her seat but only for her to have realised that the same seat was reserved on a later train! As it was a couple of minutes before departure, she was unable to get off the train because the doors were automatically locked and had to ride on the train until we had reached Swindon so she could
The Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent, Bath catch her correct train to Bristol. It must have been a nightmare to have be on the wrong train! However, the conditions for advance tickets are very strict and you have to pay the difference up to an Open Single which is extortionate (As I know from experience!). So it probably was best that she got off and get on her booked train. Anyhow, we arrived at Bath and I made my way to my hostel
Bath YMCA , a charity organisation that provides hostel accommodation. After checking in and getting organised, I went out exploring and hitting the sights especially it being a nice sunny day.
Bath Assembly Rooms On my first afternoon, I checked The Circus and then The Royal Crescent. I then walked to the Bath Assembly Rooms where Georgian High Society met regularly in the early 1800s and Jane Austen described those parties in her novels. There were only three rooms available to look at including the ball room. The rooms are beautifully decorated with the opulence and colours that were associated with the era at the time. It only took a short time to look around what was there and I relaxed a bit at
The Cross Bath
Bath Thermae Spa, Bath the cafe. There is the fashion mueseum in the lower ground floor of the building which I was not interested in.
Thermae Bath Spa With the skin allergies I have been experiencing, I have not swam and visited a spa in ages. As much as I wanted to go, I was not sure if I could make it to the spa in Bath. As I was more or less recovered and just suffering with mild skin problems, I thought it would be beneficial to bathe in the spa for a short time especially that the water containing the minerals and at a warm temperature (not too hot nor too cold). I had decided not to go in to the main complex, New Royal Bath, as it was too expensive, busy and the minimum spa session, two hours, would have been too long for me. Instead, I purchased a shorter session, 1.5 hours, at The Cross Bath and at a reduced price (still expensive but not as extortionate as the main one). I am glad I chose going to The Cross Bath instead. The bathing area is more authentic with the historic architecture. It is also smaller, more unique
The Circus
The Circus, Bath and quieter!! In fact there were only three other people during my time there! So it was relaxing and enjoyable to bathe in the waters in the uncrowded spa. I got chatting to a nice lady called Gill who is from Oxford. Gill works for the OU and we were able to talk about many things. I felt the time at the spa was sufficient and it did my skin ailments some good even if I cannot still swim at the moment.
Sally Lunn House I went for a Sally Lunn cream tea four years ago when I was in Bath and it was enjoyable. I was looking forward to repeating the experience and did not mind waiting a bit until there was a free table in the Jane Austen Room. I ordered a Jane Austen special but for some reason I was disappointed with it. Maybe going again lost it appeal compared to the first time. I am not sure why I felt this way. After my tea, I had a quick look in the small museum in the basement and it was interesting to learn how the Sally Lunn buns became popular!
Another blog to follow
Advertisement
Tot: 0.06s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 7; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0223s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Debbie Howe
non-member comment
interesting blog
Really interesting update Dawn. Though I personally (as a bit of a clothes lover) would have loved to have seen some pics of the fashion exhibition...x