Bath Time

This is something that Laura and I have been hearing since we arrived in the UK. And let it been known that we haven't waited a year and half to get to Bath on purpose.

Time for a nice Bath

We drove down from Gloucester, a fairly standard motorway drive, followed by fairly standard British A Roads. But soon we reached the outskirts of the town, and it was then that is when we realised we were somewhere special. The buildings suddenly ages by a few centuries, the road became narrow enough for only the most slender horse and cart to pass on. Then, and oh glorious then, the road started to dip. A 16% grade... And a view to match, I could hardly contain my excitement. 

As we searched for a parking spot on streets that were more akin to Wellington that the UK, we made a game plan; info centre for a map was the first stop, unless of course we get distracted on the way. 

Which of course we did. So our actual first stop became the Market; a few dinky stalls, quite a good Second Hand Book Shop, but overall the feeling of a Huntly Haberdashery ten years after Hamilton Westfield opened.

Bath, as you might well know, is an old Roman town, dating back to 60CE, and the central attraction - the Roman Bath House. Begging the question, what came first, the Bath or the bath?

Like most super touristy spot the Bath House was too expensive for us to justify, so we peeked over the fence and moved on. (That and the line was literally around the corner and down the street) We'll come back one day!

Map in hand we found some interesting points and charted a route. 

This took us along the main high road, past a lovely little shopping arcade, around the Forum Theatre, and finally up to what, for me at least, was to be the highlight of the day. 

We turned down the small alleyway and there it was - Sally Lunn's Tea House. The original. Oh my! To understand my love for sally lunns is to understand that during high school some friends and I started a band off they back of a love song we wrote all about those glorious buns!

For those of you who are wondering what they hell I'm talking about, here goes... Back in New Zealand we have bakeries. Not the lame excuse for a bakery that they have in the UK, Kiwi bakeries always have names like 'Golden Horse', 'CF Bakery', 'The Bread Winner', are seldom owned by anyone but a Chinese expat, and sell actual Steak & Cheese Pies, proper Sausage Rolls, REAL Custard Pies, and Sally Lunns: a soft white raisin bun, with white coconut icing. Perfection. 

Now, my Mum had warned me that the original sally lunn buns are a bit different to the ones we have back home, the ones I love so much. But only when we arrived and peered through the window did I realise how horribly lost in translation the recipe had become. 

The original sally lunn is a giant brioche looking bun, cut in half and filled with all number for things. From salmon and cream cheese, to Nutella. They are Bath's answer to the New York Bagel. 

Now I respect these for what they are, but it does make you wonder why we call our sally lunn's sally lunn's at all. 

Anyway, with a massive waiting line (turns our Bath is quite touristy), we settled instead for an amazing filled baguette, something that seems in abundance in that part of the country. 

But let it be known Sally - I will be back.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandered around discovering cool little spots. Down by the water is the Pulteney Weir, a cool waterfall type thing, and a lovely walk. This is capped by Pulteney Bridge, which from the road you wouldn't know was a bridge at all due to the shops and cafés clinging to the side.

The (I don't know how to pronounce it) Weir.

There is a Laura Place, which is a giant round-about with a fountain in the centre, and a great photo opportunity for all you Laura's out there.

Laura placed, at Laura Place.

Turns out Jane Austin is from Bath. But considering my entire knowledge base of Jane Austin material consists of the film Pride & Prejudice & Zombies we deemed it unnecessary to visit the museum. But for those of you more inclined towards period drama, it looked amazing!

There is also a great looking museum of fashion that, again, if that was your thing, would make for an interesting visit. 

Laura and I were more interested in just walking the streets and taking in the town, which despite the tourists, you could still imagine Georgian folk wandering around in. 

I would definitely recommend Bath as I have been recommended. I know too that you can get a Bath Card which provides discounts on most attractions if you have a bit longer to spend. 

A few quick tips for Bath:

We parked just up the hill, near The Circus, it was cheap, but we only got two hours. This meant that our day involved a series of zig zagging up and back down to the town. I imagine you could park slightly further away for free and only do one slightly longer walk, than many short ones!

Bath is super touristy. Be prepared. It's probably best to go off season, and get ready to spend some money, because even things like the 'free map' at the information centre cost. And if you want to sit in the park, and not in the middle of the round-about across the road, be prepared to fork out...

Other than that, have fun, and enjoy your Bath time!

Our ride!

Laura looking at a blurry background.

Lunch, in the middle of the round-about...