Bath

Parade Gardens

The Royal Crescent 

Tearoom, Bath Assembly Rooms

More Georgian Mansions, Great Pultenay St

Exploring Bath was now on the agenda for today and we set off in the sunshine for the 5 minute walk into town. Before we reached town, the rain had started to tumble down. Jill and Dave decided to do a tour of the Roman Baths but Phil and I weren’t keen so popped into the Tourist Information to have a look at what to do.

Decided that we wanted to see some other historical sights and they were up a big hill, so Eileen pointed out that they were conveniently on the Hop on Hop off bus route. So we boarded the bus for yet another city bus tour. The sun had come out again so we opted for the top deck. Had only gone a few stops when it started to rain again. We were prepared in waterproofs however E’s does not have a hood so out came the umbrella. It must have been quite a sight from the ground with someone with an umbrella up on the top of a bus. Well it did the job and by another couple of stops the rain had ceased again.

Got off the bus up the hill at the Royal Victoria Park named for the then Princess Victoria who visited in 1830 when she was 11.  We were told rather a funny story about how she felt insulted after her visit when she was described in the press as being dowdy and having fat ankles – she never came back to Bath in her lifetime. In fact, when Queen Victoria did a national tour to celebrate 50 years on the throne, she refused to stop in Bath (the train was on the way to Bristol and had to go through Bath), however QV ordered the train to go faster and had the blinds pulled down so she couldn’t be seen. Evidently QV was one to hold a grudge.

 We had a quick walk through the park to the Royal Crescent (a road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent) said to be a great example of Georgian architecture. From there we went to the Bath Assembly Rooms. E paid the €2 to go inside and see where the privileged gathered in the evenings in Georgian times for dancing and socialising, while in Bath to take the waters .

Next stop was the Jane Austen Centre which is not actually where she lived. We didn’t do the tour just went up to the 2^nd floor to the tearoom where we had the Ladies Afternoon Tea for lunch. A round of mixed sandwiches (smoked salmon & cream cheese, cucumber and cream cheese, ham and mustard and cheese and pickles) and a scone with rhubarb and ginger and strawberry jam with clotted cream and a cup of coffee each. Yummy and it was such a lovely setting.

Back on the bus to look at some more lovely historical buildings and then we did another bus tour of the outskirts of Bath. Yet again the rain started to come down. Not too heavy though. Bath is such a pretty city and we are glad we got to see a bit more of it today.