Despite the fact that it can be a pricey vacation destination, London continues to attract plenty of travelers from around the globe. After all, there is plenty to do in this bustling metropolis but, after spending a few days amongst the crowds, escaping the city can start to seem like an excellent idea. While there are plenty of small town that make great day trips from London, our pick is Bath.
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Although the town was founded prior to the Roman occupation of Britain, it hit its heyday during the Regency period and much of the local architecture reflects that fact. The best way to take in all the sites is by joining up with a guided walking tour, particularly the one by the Mayor’s Honorary Guides which are provided free of charge to city visitors. These depart from outside the Roman baths at 10:30 am and 2 pm on weekdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer an additional tour takes place at 7 pm.
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The chief attraction here is naturally the old Roman baths, which were created around the hot springs to facilitate bathing in style. Although they used to be covered with a roof, the lead-lined bath is now open to the skies. However, travelers are protected from the elements since the area they will be traversing has a covered walkway. Admission to this site is approximately £15 ($21.75 USD) for adults but travelers can also save some money with a combined ticket for the baths, the fashion museum, and the Victoria and Albert Collection at £21 ($30.45 USD). Travelers that want to test the therapeutic waters for themselves might also want to look at the treatments offered by the Thermae Spa.
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Bath is also home to a magnificent Norman cathedral which was renovated several years ago and is now looking better than ever. The church stays open to 4:30 pm in the winter and 6 pm during the summer months. Bath Abbey visitors are asked for a small donation of £2.50 ($3.65 USD) for dropping by the building and presumably snapping some photos.
Of course, if you want to get out of town for even more sightseeing, all you have to do is hop on one of the local bus tours. These trips take in a wide variety of nearby places including the town of Glastonbury, the famous Stonehenge circle, and the charmingly picturesque Cotswold villages.
Sources: Wikipedia; Wiki Travel; Trip Advisor; Roman Baths website; Bath Abbey website
