Your favourite places in Bath
 

I will spend two days in Bath this weekend (oh joy). I have the guidebook, I have done some reading, and I have identified the 'important' places. I just wonder - if I could speak to those of you who know Bath well - where would you go? And what would you rather not bother with?
Example: I love Jane Austen's books and I was quite touched when I saw her handwriting and little desk in the British Library. But I think I will skip the Jane Austen Museum in Bath. Do you agree?
I am fascinated by architecture and history and art and literature (AND FOOD), but I would rather not see something than spend hours in a queue. I tend to enjoy out-of-the-way places more than the main sites. Any special recommendations?
Also: where to eat? Any restaurants that you particularly enjoyed?
THANKS.

The free guided tours were really good when I was there. Check the times and meeting place.

Of course, the Roman baths are incredible.

Don't miss the Abby - beautiful.

Skip any Ghost tours - waste of time and money.

What Sassafrass said. You might enjoy the Pulteny (sp?) bridge and a walk in (or view of) the gardens beneath it.

We did a bus tour which was reasonably enjoyable as it also got us up to the Royal Crescent.

Assuming it is still in business, The Coeur De Lion is a tiny pub that I happened into for a pint. Not sure if they serve food.

Didn't you just get back from London? Are you living in the UK?

The Baths/Pump Room and the Abbey (and definitely do the Baths even if there is a crowd, and there will be). After that my favorite thing in Bath is just 'Bath'. The city is very pretty and very photogenic, from the river to the Royal Crescent to the Circus to Pulteney Bridge to all the flower baskets to etc.

Bitter: thanks for posting here too. I do not live in the UK. I visited the UK & London for the first time last year (2013), then went to Oxford in March 2014, now Bath and London November 2014. I have to be in London for work, but added the 2 days in Bath as an extra treat.

Janis: Thanks, I will just 'be' in Bath, that is my favourite thing to do in a new place.

Sassafras: Thanks for the advice!

kovsie, I obviously was confused by your timing. I'm envious of your trip (but glad you are getting out of London!).

It's been a decade since I was in Bath, but we took the Mad Max tour from Bath to Stonehenge Avonbury and Lacock. However with only two days, you are better off spending your time in Bath.

I enjoyed visiting the Sally Lunn bun cafe/shop:

http://www.sallylunns.co.uk/

Kovsie,

I enjoyed the HOLBURNE MUSEUM, at the end of Great Pulteny Street, a short walk from the iconic covered Pulteny Bridge. This street, once the home of Jane Austen I believe, provides a sweeping vista used in many film productions.

The museum is small, doable, with a lovely cafe and grounds. It features many THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH portraits right out of Austen's era.

Spend some time in the Cathedral - gorgeous. Have fun.

The Royal Crescent (you can visit No.1) and The Circus a short walk away.

no1royalcrescent.org.uk

There's a very good restaurant on Brock Street connecting the two areas.

www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk

Herself is a Jane Austen fan; I'm not. She enjoyed visiting the Assembly Rooms and using her imagination to fill them with Regency people.

The Jane Austen museum is suited for ill-informed people: it has no connection with the scribe.

Padraig: I assumed as much about the J Austen museum. I will enjoy the rest of Bath!

Tarquin: I will definitely go and look for that restaurant, looks nice.

LDTraveler: thanks - by now I know that I usually enjoy your favourite places. Is it you who always stay in the Strand Palace hotel in London? I have booked there for next week.

Bookmarking for my trip next year. So excited to spend time in Bath.

With two days you can easily see the Abbey and the baths (roman excation very interesting), the Assembly Rooms and the fashion museum on lower level, the Royal Crescent and tour No.1, a lovely Regency townhouse, and still have time to wander. The gardens along the river are nice.

The baths might be very crowded (school break). I would try those early Sunday.

This is implied, but take some time to just walk around the town. I was just doing a little google maps tour and forgot how beautiful parts of the middle of town are.

Hi KOSVIE,

" Is it you who always stay in the Strand Palace hotel in London?" Yes, I have stayed there during my last three visits to London. Why? Location and price point. Not luxurious, but clean and comfortable. Hope you like it.

A place that I would like to have visited in Bath is 1 ROYAL CRESCENT, an elegant 18th century town house. Sounds intriguing. Maybe "next time." Agree with above that the JANE AUSTEN CENTER is not primo. (On the level of the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London - yawn)

http://visitbath.co.uk/things-to-do/...rescent-p25441

I love the PARADE GROUNDS in the center of town - fabulous garden - but not sure how it would look at this time of year.
Hope you do a trip report. Enjoy....

Definitely an out of the ordinary recommendation but, if you are free in the evening, we enjoyed this walk: http://www.bizarrebath.co.uk.

We also enjoyed this museum: http://www.bath-at-work.org.uk/the-museum.

You might like the Building of Bath museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sham_Castle

Sham Castle was one of my favorite Bath places - it was called Sham Castle because it is a folly - a sham - just a facade with nothing behind it - a little out of the center of town however.

http://everything2.com/title/Ralph+A...7s+Sham+Castle

This tells the weird history of Ralph Allen's Sham Castle and why he built it.