ElleKay

I hope these questions aren't too specific. And if they are, I hope someone can direct me to a website where I might find an answer?

1. To get to Kenilworth Castle from Warwick Castle, where is the closest bus?

2. Is there a train linking Windsor to Bath Spa?

Andrewmac

Hello Ellekay. There are direct bus services from Warwick to Kenilworth as follows:
Sundays - Service X16 or X18
Monday to Saturday Service X17
Go to www.warwickshire.gov.uk where you can download bus timetables in PDF format.

There is no direct route from Windsor to Bath. Windsor is on a branch line out of London Waterloo with the train services run by South West Trains. Bath is served from London Paddington on services run by First Great Western. Your best bet would probably be to return to Waterloo, underground to Paddington and catch a train to Bath from there. wwww.great-western-trains.co.uk will have details on train times and ticket prices.

ElleKay

Thanks for the help, Andrew! Very speedy reply!

And thank you for the bus information. That helps.

As for the trains... I'm probably making the big mistake of trying to cram Windsor & Bath in the same day. I've looked and I've looked, and there's absolutely no way to work them into my itinerary otherwise, and I'm too emotionally attached to drop one of them. So I have a dilemma...

On that crazy day, here's what I have planned:

-Breakfast in the morning (around 7 or 8)
-Travel to Winsdor around 9, so I can get to Windsor Castle when it opens (10:00)
-Spend 2 or 3 hours at Windsor Castle. Leave at 13:00

(I went to thetrainline.com, and you're right about there being no direct line. I'm not too crazy about the idea of backtracking to London, so I'd probably take the 2 hr. trip with 2 changes)

I imagine I'd get to Bath around 3 o'clock (15:00), which would give me maybe... 4 hours (?) to walk around? Mostly, I want to see the Roman Baths and see some of the architecture... and probably have dinner.

Am I insane? Is it impossible? Can it be done?

Andrewmac

Hi Elle. Glad to be of help. I think you are trying to cram too much in one day. You haven't made any allowance for delays caused by things like signal failures and points problems, which unfortunately are endemic on Britain's rail network. To do both you really need a day each. If you want the history go for Windsor, for the architecture choose Bath. If you try and cram it all in during one day I think you'll end up being disappointed. It's your call. In the meantime, welcome to Britain, you'll have a great time.

ira

Hi elle,

I agree with andrew. Bath is worth most of a day.

mclaurie

Hi Elle. Here's my 2 pence. Go to Bath FIRST as early as possible. It's a longer trip, there's more walking involved & you won't be wasting time waiting for anything to open (you'll be traveling). Forget about breakfast-grab somethung at the station or eat on the train. See Bath & then decide whether you have the strength & the time to go to Windsor. Windsor is so close to London (& Heathrow) you could do it in half a day. Another idea, go to Windsor mid afternoon one day, see the castle & have dinner in Windsor.

leonberger

I agree with the others that this may be too much to fit into one day (perhaps a good excuse to return to England soon?).

If I remember correctly, the Baths close relatively early - arriving at the Train Station at 3:00 wouldn't give you much time to see them. And, as others have said, that assumes perfect rail travel.

Another alternative - the only one that I think might actually salvage the day for you - would be to rent a car. It really isn't that hard to drive on the other side of the road. You could head to Bath "at the crack of dawn," stopping for breakfast along the way. Arrive as things open, spend the morning and then head to Windsor at lunchtime.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Windsor and Bath and highly recommend both destinations.

Gayle

leonberger

Arrgh! Sorry, I meant to post that comment on another question about an itinerary to Bath and Windsor!

Just ignore me today...I'm too tired to think straight!

Gayle

leonberger

Oh, never mind...this was the right thread...sigh...

Gayle

JudyC

If you travel in the summer,with long daylight,it is doable to visit both places in the same day. Since you could view architecture by walking around till 8-9 PM.

janis

It is very ambitious to try to squeeze bith into one day. But if you "must", do as mclaurie suggests. Go to Bath first. Arrive there by 9 a.m. have breakfast in the pantilles or somewhere near the Baths while waiting for them to open. Then hit the Baths/pump room right at opening time. It takes at least 90 minutes to tour the Baths - more if you really are into the Roman remains/history.

Then wander around Bath for another hour or so minimum. IF you still feel up to it - then take an early afternoo train to Windsor arriving by 3:30 or 4 p.m. at the latest. This will give you at least a little time for the Castle. Then you can wander around Windsor after the castle is closed and take the train back to London either before or after having dinner.

. . . . but - my REAL recommendation is to just do Bath and not rush it so much. . . . .

janis

That should read "both into one day" - not bith . . . . .

ElleKay

You are all very helpful! Thank you so much for your opinions!

Here's what happened:

My sister and I decided to add 2 more days to our itinerary (we'll be in Great Britain for 2 weeks). Windsor was already on our itinerary. We were trying to decide what to do with the other 2 days, and had narrowed it down to Bath, Dover and Wales. Wales instantly became a "must-see."

So it was between Dover and Bath, and we didn't want to drop either one. I was the loon who suggested the "Bath + Windsor" trip. It would probably be better to separate the two, and say goodbye to Dover (as sad as it is... White Cliffs... *sob*)