Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: andrewc on 04 January, 2024, 10:26:24 pm
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I’m taking my sister for a week in Bath at the end of January. We’ve got a guide book showing the usual attractions, but I’d welcome any recommendations for interesting things to see, nice places to eat & good pubs. We’ll hopefully be taking a bus to Wells for a day as well.
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Okay, when you've had a look at the Royal Crescent, carry on up the hill, cross Julian Road and enter St James Sq. One of the houses in the bottom left corner is allegedly owned by Van Morrison housing his mistress, or rent boy, whichever you prefer to believe. Bottom right opposite the pub is a small but impressive Georgian arcade. Go up and leave by the top left corner, walk up Park Street to the top of the street (dead end). Wave at the second floor of no 21 from me for old times sake. Spot the footpath exiting the top corner of the street, walk on up and discover Lansdown Crescent, even more impressive than the Royal Crescent and definitely with better views.
See if there's live music (or lunch?) at the Bell on Walcot St. At the far end of Chatham Row, opposite the Bell, is an ice house but it's on private property and no longer accessible. The Building of Bath museum on or near Julian Road is worth a visit. The Costume museum isn't. The little park off London Road at the top end of Walcot Street is pretty and has interesting houses tucked around.
Avon Valley Cyclery next to the station, of course. And the Dark Horse on Julian Road and the St James pub should be avoided! At least they should have been 30 years ago.
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::-) :P :-* I'd employ you as a guide, but even you don't deserve my sister's wrath..... :hand:
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The house where Herschell and his sister lived is a very good afternoon out. Apparently he broke the flagstones on the floor of the house by spilling molten speculum metal in quite signifiant quantities whilst making mirrors for telescopes. As you do...
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The house where Herschell and his sister lived is a very good afternoon out. Apparently he broke the flagstones on the floor of the house by spilling molten speculum metal in quite signifiant quantities whilst making mirrors for telescopes. As you do...
Yes, good call.
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How are you getting there? Driving in the centre of Bath is not a pleasure and parking is even worse. There's also a Clean Air Zone but I don't know the details. You can hire bikes from Avon Valley Cyclery, but be aware that once you get more than a few hundred metres from the river, everything is either a long hill or a very steep one. Even Bear Flat is not flat (and has no bears, I suppose they've all moved to Surrey). But unless you decide to cycle or walk up to Beckford's Tower – and you should visit it; I can't remember what's inside but the building, location and history are impressive – rather than take the bus (the one that goes up to Lansdown P&R I think), it won't be too much of a problem.
I presume the Holbourne Museum and Sydney Gardens are on your list? With a short walk along the canal? Put them near the top, they'll fit in with a walk over Pulteney Bridge.
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We'll be on the train! Hopefully the tracks won't have been washed away by then..... Cycling is not on the menu. My sister's bike is gathering dust in a cupboard despite my best efforts to entice her out for rides.
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The George Inn in Bathampton is very pleasant for lunch, as is the walk along the river to get there from central Bath.
As I went to Uni there, I'd also say the university is worth a visit. The sporting facilities on the campus these days are amazing. There are a few routes to walk up to the campus from town that include footpaths. Whilst you are up there, Sham Castle is an interesting folly to see.
The Holburne Museum is in a great setting, even if only to visit their garden cafe.
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A vote for the Circus Restaurant - had a fabulous meal there a few weeks back. Good for an occasion (ie not cheap).
Oh, and the Cappadocia Turkish restaurant served an excellent rapid meal when we only had an hour to spare before the theatre - good value and fab customer service, a few yards from Pulteney Bridge.
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Bath is this for cycling: a TOTAL AND UTTER GIT! Hills abound.
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If you arrive by train you alight a short stroll away from 13 Angel Place on the Lower Bristol Road. It was the scene of a sensational murder* in 1849 and is also the last survivor of a terrace containing the house in which the inventor of the Anglepoise was born (number 8, demolished in 1975).
* as the verdict of the court would have it.
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If Angel Place is where I think it is, you'll cross the river on Halfpenny Bridge. If we're allowing things that aren't there anymore, walk west along the river a few hundred metres till you get to the main road bridge. Then look up the Old Bridge that stood there from the mid-18th century to the 1960s, and weep.
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Well we arrived mid afternoon & had a brief stroll through the shopping centre, past the Roman baths and Abbey, then a wander down to the river, weir & pretty bridge. Back through town to dump the bags in the Travelsplodge, then up to the Circus & Royal Crescent. I then remembered Cudzo’s advice & persuaded my sis to scale the hill to Lansdown Crescent. I think she’s now added you to her hit list Cudzo. Her knees were not happy. This place could give FatSamsDisco a run for its money.
Back down the hill & we dined in style at Pizza Express…..
On the way back to the hotel she tripped over a paving stone & went flat on her face. Luckily no damage but a bashed knee. I’ve a feeling tomorrow could involve an open topped bus ride.
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On the way back to the hotel she tripped over a paving stone & went flat on her face. Luckily no damage but a bashed knee. I’ve a feeling tomorrow could involve an open topped bus ride.
I’ve never heard that as an NHS euphemism before.
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Bristol is well worth a day
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If Angel Place is where I think it is, you'll cross the river on Halfpenny Bridge. If we're allowing things that aren't there anymore, walk west along the river a few hundred metres till you get to the main road bridge. Then look up the Old Bridge that stood there from the mid-18th century to the 1960s, and weep.
The 'Old Bridge' was originally the Medieval Saint Lawrence Bridge, but it was widened in 1754 and patched up again at the end of the Napoleonic wars. Telford had offered a single span design but sadly the war had taken all the public money and the city could not afford it. Now there is just a boring 1965 concrete structure christened the Churchill Bridge when opened.
During the 1950s Bath City Council started an 'orgy of destruction' during which large areas of good Georgian housing were demolished to make way for carbuncular monstrosities. A campaign was started to prevent further destruction and the damage was recorded in a book - The Sack of Bath, Adam Fergusson 1973.
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Bristol is well worth a day
But give me a day's notice so I can go to Bath to avoid your angry sister. I did warn you about the hills!
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Bristol is well worth a day
Smells of BO and dope. Or maybe that's just Clifton.
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When I'm in Bath I have to have a Schwartz Burger at some point. Not exactly a cultural hightlight, but delicious!
https://www.schwartzbros.co.uk/
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The Schwartz place is just up the road from the hotel.
Today was the Abbey & the Roman Baths in the morning followed by the Holburne Museum in the afternoon (excellent exhibition about Gwen John). Sadly the Victoria Gallery is being renovated.
Going Full Tourist we had lunch at Sally Lunn’s….
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Bristol is well worth a day
But give me a day's notice so I can go to Bath to avoid your angry sister. I did warn you about the hills!
Start riding Cudzo, it looks like we are heading your way tomorrow!
What’s to see ? I’ve been to Brizzle twice for the Exmouth Exodus, but have never looked around.
SS Great Britain worth the time ? The ship, not our current rulers ….
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Wells cathedral is well worth a visit. Dunno if you have time for a bus or train there.
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Wells cathedral is well worth a visit. Dunno if you have time for a bus or train there.
It’s on the list for Thursday I think. About 80 minutes on the bus, don’t think there is a train.
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Wells cathedral is well worth a visit. Dunno if you have time for a bus or train there.
It’s on the list for Thursday I think. About 80 minutes on the bus, don’t think there is a train.
Don't miss the swans ringing a bell to be fed at the Bishop's Palace.
Next door, to the right of the cathedral.
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Given Cudzo is on a bike ride to Lands End:
The circulatory walk round the floating harbour is visually spectacular and has places of interest, such as
SS Great Britain (https://www.ssgreatbritain.org), which is an experience rather than a museum, and that is how it has been set up. I'd say it is worth it.
I'd have said Underfall Yard (https://underfallyard.co.uk), but it burnt down as a result of arson, and is being rebuilt.
The M Shed museum (https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/)
Clifton Suspension Bridge (https://cliftonbridge.org.uk), and the visitor centre the other side of the Gorge.
I'd also have said that the Bristol Beacon (https://bristolbeacon.org) is a must for a music aficionado or two but I can't find anything about there being a tour.
Colston's Plinth (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4537391,-2.597432,46m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu), for a bit of modern history.
and to follow on, the area near Pero's Bridge (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.450133,-2.5984033,82m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu) (which you'd go over on the circular walk) which is right where Colston's statue was thrown into the water.
Banksys (https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/banksy-bristol-art-tour-map-449) - there are quite a few of them. The link goes to a Bristol Post article, rather than a tour.
Loads more, depending on what floats your rusty steam powered ocean liner ;D
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If you like ecclesiastical things, then there is the Cathedral (https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk), and if you arrive by train, St Mary Radcliffe (https://www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk).
A harbour tour by boat, or a boat taxi (rather than the long circular walk referenced up thread)
If you like kittehs and beer this (https://catpub.co.uk) is a must. (available on the circular walk...)
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Wot he sed. The tour of the Suspension Bridge which takes you down into the vaults is worth it, but you have to book ahead and I don't think it runs often. The Bag of Nails landlord has a reputation for being grumpy, which might suit you – or your sister. The Lord Mayor's chapel on College Green opposite the Cathedral is worth a look, if it's open. It's quite small and easily overlooked. Also St John's in the Wall. Which is where it says it is, built into the medieval city wall. https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-john-on-the-wall-bristol.html
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The Lord Mayor’s Chapel is Thu to Sat, I believe. Shame because it is a surprising little gem.
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The Museum of Bath at Work is good if you like industrial stuff from the past:
The main bulk of the Museum of Bath at Work’s collection is the J.B.Bowler collection, an amazing reconstruction of an entire business that was saved by local businessman Russell Frears in the late 1960’s.
Bowler’s was a shop that supplied practically almost anything to the industries of Bath, from nuts and bolts to fittings and brass works. What was even more extraordinary about Bowler’s and thus the items that were saved, was that nothing seems to have been thrown away from the time it began in the 1860’s! Next door there was also the family owned Mineral Water factory, and this too was saved piece by piece.
You can even try on Bowler's old bowler(hat) and take a selfie.
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Well we got the train to Bristol & wandered down to the docks, which appear to have been replaced by numerous vertical drinking places & cheap restaurants. A small ferry over to the other side & a couple of hours poking around the SS Great Britain. Alison has previous for climbing the masts after 2 tall ship voyages, but she was younger then, so decided against it. The steerage accommodation must have been the 19th century equivalent of Ryanair…. I bashed my head on a low doorway as well.
Back into the city & an art installation of mylar bubbles on College Green. The cathedral has gone full Woke with multiple panels regarding the city’s history with slavery & comments about Colston.
We walked back to the station via Corn St, which I imagine would be lively of an evening.
Back to Bath for steak & chips at the Green Park Brasserie.
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What did you think of the SS GB? We’ve been a few times and I often recommend it.
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Saw the Mylar bubbles last night...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/college_green.jpg)
and, although you have been to Bristol already, something I forgot to suggest, the Bristol Old Vic, which recently opened up the foyer area to reveal some of the original brickwork of the longest continuously operating theatre in the UK.
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Turdtowns on YouTube has just done Twerton, the side of Bath everyone pretends isn't there. They also found a weapons-grade local "character".
https://youtu.be/B1bVycpcff8?si=XbfOIQoMkK9FnBlt
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IQ North of 180, and 5,000 gallons of industrial bleach. Those were my takeaways.
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Isn’t a great deal of England like that these days?
We didn’t visit Twerton but what we did see of the city, the touristy parts, we found rather disappointing and run down.
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Many, (many, many) years ago, we lived on the Knowle/Totterdown border, and I worked in a silk screening company that I part owned.
This was before the Bath/Bristol bike path existed.
It was a lovely ride, but I've driven that route a couple of years ago and thought, "No". "Just no".
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Totterdown's quite lively (in a good way) and pretty, but Knowle or specifically Knowle West is very much a sink estate.
Twerton is just Twerton. Not really as bad as he makes out or certainly wasn't in the 90s, but a contrast with the Georgian areas. And there is a station nearby at Oldfield Park.
IQ North of 180, and 5,000 gallons of industrial bleach. Those were my takeaways.
£500 million in personal losses. Army of Gyppos. Mrs got put away in a nuthouse. Direct descendant of Mussolini.
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One of my favourite bands, The Langan Band, has a song called 'the bastard hills of totterdown'.
No idea if it is the same area. Is the Bath Totterdown hilly?
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Totterdown is very hilly, in fact it includes a street that claims to be the world's/Europe's/UK's/England's steepest residential street (Avon Street). But it is a district of Bristol (albeit bordered by the Bath Road) not Bath. Basil has led us astray because YACF.
Twerton is far from the hilliest part of Bath. Perhaps Andrew's sister would have liked it ?
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Unlikely Cudzo. All of my suggestions that we take a 2nd walk around that part of down were huffily rejected. (she's got mild arthritis in both knees).
We both enjoyed the SS Great Britain, and Bristol itself looks worth a longer visit. Maybe next year when I get my old buggers rail card ?
On Thursday we got the 173 bus from Bath to Wells. A pretty, though hilly route. I have done some cycling here in the past, but was a lot slimmer & fitter then!
We did the guided tour around the Bishop's Palace and gardens, then visited the cathedral which is beautiful. I'm not sure if I've been inside before ?
A beer in one of the pubs then the 174 bus back to Bath, arriving in twilight. Dinner was at Cappadocia as recommended upthread. I enjoyed my Mutancana but Alison was less keen on her chicken casserole.
Friday was a final wander around, a visit to https://www.finecheese.co.uk/bath-shop and then the train home. The bit between Bristol & Stafford was awful, the train was badly overcrowded & people were arguing over seat reservations.
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the train home. The bit between Bristol & Stafford was awful, the train was badly overcrowded & people were arguing over seat reservations.
Sounds like you were travelling Cross Country!
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Just a thought. Please pull the plug and clean bath before leaving ;D :demon: