wilees

I have just booked a posh weekend away in Bath in January. We are taking the train from Paddington on Friday night and back on Sunday evening. We are staying at the Hilton and get dinner on Friday at the hotel.

So what should we do??
Are the free Mayor's walking tours worth it?
Any restaurant recommendations?
It will be cold so best inside activities?

Please tell me about your trip to Bath - there are very few trip reports that cover Bath in any detail!

willit

We met up with a party taking a council run walking tour a couple of years ago, and I found it both educational and entertaining (And it was free!). The tour was quite long in terms of time, but people drifted in and out of it while it was on. I am fairly certain it both started and finished outside the Roman Baths.

My favourite path of bath was the main Roman baths, but this is because I am particularly interested in Roman history.

BTilke

I was in Bath on Thursday. Had a lovely time. I didn't take the walking tour on this trip, but it does seem worth it. I would suggest you take a little time to get away from the main tourist sights and wander the back streets on your own...that was my favorite part of the day.
As for restaurants, I don't know your taste, but I had dinner at a new restaurant, Blackstone's and LOVED it. I had homemade pumpkin ravioli with wild sage and goat cheese, followed by a homemade potato cake with house-smoked salmon. Plus a glass of NZ sauvignon blanc. Blackstone's is on Queen Street, just off Quiet Street, and next to a nice-looking pub, the Raven.
The new baths are nice, although I still prefer Baden-Baden (where we will be in two weeks ) . The Waitrose in the Podium shopping area carries the local beer, FYI.
Passed by many shops and galleries, some good, some obviously touristy, the best of the bunch IMO was Gallery Nine, up near the Royal Crescent.

mclaurie

We had a very nice meal at the Olive Tree restaurant inside the Queensberry hotel (Italian).
http://www.thequeensberry.co.uk/olivetree/index.html

carolyn

Have lunch at Sally Lunn's and see the museum downstairs.

wilees

Gosh I forgot to say thank you for all the replies (how rude!)

I am going to Bath this weekend yay!

Thanks for the suggestions - I think I will take the walking tour if the weather behaves. And I've noted the restaurants.

I will report back afterwards to try and remedy the lack of trip reports about Bath.

Thanks!

Fidel

Wjlees, You might be already on your way...but if you're interested in textiles or ballet, the Museum of Costume is showing "The Nureyev Style" (a display of his costume, fashion and textiles), beautiful exhibit. Have fun in Bath.

wilees

Thanks Fidel. I don't go until Friday. But I actually saw the Musemn of Costume in my guide book and I was wondering if it was good.

I would love to go see the ballet costumes (not sure about my husband lol!)

JoeTro

I enjoyed the Museum of Costume and the City Art Gallery. I also took and liked the walking tour.

travelerjan

As I understand it, the Mayor's Free Walking tour starts outside City Hall at 9 a.m. or so. Takes a bit under 2 hours... TOTALLY WORTH IT. The one I took was led by a retiree professor who explained he was new, and being critiqued by an expert (another professor type who t railed us around, making marks on a clilpboard). Our guide was superb, full of insights we could not have got from any book, lots of humor too. As I recall, there was no tipping either... this is a volunteer post.

Fidel

Wilees, as well as some of Nureyev's own professional costumes, you can see some of his collection of 18th century costumes, and also his personal clothing, flamboyant as you can imagine. Send your hubby to the pub for a pint and sneak in for a half-hour!

Enjoy your posh weekend.!

wilees

Thank you all for your help! I have returned from my trip and finally had time to complete a report.

I have posted my trip report here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1