Train to Bath for a day - how much time to budget?

[TessM]

From Southampton, I'm planning to take the train to Bath just for the day. I'd prefer to buy the tickets in advance so I need to know how early to leave and how long to stay.

 

I'm thinking of getting to Bath at 10am and leaving at either 6:30/7:30/8:30pm. The 8:30pm train would get us back to Southampton around 10pm. This means we could have an early dinner in Bath. Our ship leaves the next day so I don't want to get back to Southampton any later than 10pm.

 

Any thoughts? - Any recommendations for dinner in Bath?

 

Oh, and this is the third day of our first trip to England so I don't expect to see everything - just a quick overview.

[Mumsysailor]

From Southampton, I'm planning to take the train to Bath just for the day. I'd prefer to buy the tickets in advance so I need to know how early to leave and how long to stay.

 

I'm thinking of getting to Bath at 10am and leaving at either 6:30/7:30/8:30pm. The 8:30pm train would get us back to Southampton around 10pm. This means we could have an early dinner in Bath. Our ship leaves the next day so I don't want to get back to Southampton any later than 10pm.

 

Any thoughts? - Any recommendations for dinner in Bath?

 

Oh, and this is the third day of our first trip to England so I don't expect to see everything - just a quick overview.

 

I would say the longer you can spend there the better. Look up on Trip Advisor for recommendations for restaurants. Bath really is a lovely city.

 

Mumsy.

[KirkNC]

It really depends on what you want to see and do. We spent the night but really only had about eight hours touring. We went to the baths and then took the walk that the mayor has.

[John Bull]

You'll find that Bath "dies" around 5pm to 5.30 as the trippers depart & the shops & places of interest close.

Plenty of eateries in Bath city centre, but apart from lunchtime trade top restaurants don't open til 7pm or later, same for good dining in pubs. So at that "twilight" time perhaps don't expect too much choice.

Mebbe keep your eye open during the day for suitable places, & check their hours.

 

JB :)

[KirkNC]

You'll find that Bath "dies" around 5pm to 5.30 as the trippers depart & the shops & places of interest close.

Plenty of eateries in Bath city centre, but apart from lunchtime trade top restaurants don't open til 7pm or later, same for good dining in pubs. So at that "twilight" time perhaps don't expect too much choice.

Mebbe keep your eye open during the day for suitable places, & check their hours.

 

JB :)

 

Yes it does die down a bite at evening. We ate at a Turkish place, can't recall the name but it was pretty good. It was a few blocks from the baths.

[Mairnealach]

I have eaten many times in the Garrick's Head pub and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

 

http://www.garricksheadpub.com/

 

It is situated beside, and owned by, the Theatre Royal, and there are tables outside where you can watch the passing life of Bath while eating. The pub serves three real ales, which change weekly, and they will give you a taster of each before ordering. For more fine dining options, TripAdvisor is your friend.

 

Bath is very easy to see by foot, or you could take the HoHo bus. It is a ten minute walk from the railway station to the Abbey and the Roman Baths are nearby. From there it is a 15/20 minute walk to the Royal Crescent and you pass the Jane Austen museum on the way. Enjoy your visit.

 

Dermot

[KirkNC]

Here is a link to the free tours I spoke of:

 

http://visitbath.co.uk/things-to-do/tours-and-sightseeing/mayor-of-bath-honorary-guides-p43001

 

They really are pretty good, you cover a lot of ground.

[Post Captain]

I have eaten many times in the Garrick's Head pub and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

 

http://www.garricksheadpub.com/

 

It is situated beside, and owned by, the Theatre Royal, and there are tables outside where you can watch the passing life of Bath while eating. The pub serves three real ales, which change weekly, and they will give you a taster of each before ordering. For more fine dining options, TripAdvisor is your friend.

 

Bath is very easy to see by foot, or you could take the HoHo bus. It is a ten minute walk from the railway station to the Abbey and the Roman Baths are nearby. From there it is a 15/20 minute walk to the Royal Crescent and you pass the Jane Austen museum on the way. Enjoy your visit.

 

Dermot

 

Excellent advice, Dermot!

 

Pub-wise, I love the Old Green Tree too:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/pubs/5125772/Somerset-Pub-Guide-The-Old-Green-Tree-in-Bath.html

The Crystal Palace is okay. But one of my erstwhile favorite Bath pubs, the Rummer, is no more.:mad:

For the first-time visitor, I also recommend dining at Sally Lunn's, another Bath institution:

 

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

 

The abbey and the Roman Baths are usually the first stop on the tourist's itinerary, but I also highly recommend the Assembly Rooms and No. 1, Royal Crescent:

http://www.bathvenues.co.uk/assembly_rooms.aspx

 

http://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/

I never tire of taking the free guided walks, linked in another post by KirkNC. No two walks are ever exactly the same, as much of the narrative is determined by the personality of your guide.

 

Finally... When in Bath for any extended period, I always try to get to the Theatre Royal, regardless of what's on:

 

http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3014/History

 

http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3148/Visit+Us