Photos of our weekend in Bath, August 2006
Deborah near the Pulteney Bridge & Weir
With both of the kids on overlapping holidays during August, we managed to get a romantic weekend away - our first in years! Charlotte was already away for two weeks with her friend & family in France. After dropping Matthew off for his Air Cadets camp, we packed our bags and set off on the three hour journey down to Bath. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, a clean modern hotel just south of the river and about ten minutes walk from the centre.
Stuart near the Pulteney Weir
Once in the centre, we strolled around the shops until eventually we arrived at the Abbey. Although you can visit the Abbey for free, there's a suggested donation of £2.50 per person to help with its upkeep. After visiting the Abbey, we wandered down to see Pulteney Bridge, then stopped for a drink outside a nearby pub.
Deborah at the Great Bath, with the Abbey in the background
We decided to eat early at Il Tocco D'Italia, a relatively new Italian restaurant overlooking the Pulteney Bridge & Weir on the River Avon. There's a pub garden with a good river view right next door, for a pre-dinner drink. The service, the food and the view at Il Tocco were all superb - thoroughly recommended!
View of the Great Bath, with the Abbey in the background
During the Summer the Roman Baths stay open until 10pm, with the Great Bath lit by torchlight. After eating at Il Tocco, we got to the Baths at around 8pm. The display seemed very different to when we first visited many years ago. Individual audio tours were new; also the false walls suspended above the roman ruins, to give an idea of how the baths might have looked in roman times. Some computer displays added to this reconstruction of the original layout. The pools looked different - I'm sure the Frigidarium used to be a beautiful turquoise colour, with spotlights bringing out the stone walls above. Now it's full of coins like a trashy wishing well.
Deborah outside the Roman Baths, near the Abbey
Took a late-night stroll around Bath, and stopped for drinks somewhere near the Theatre Royal towards the west of the centre. Lots of pavement-cafe style bars there, where you can sit and watch the world go by.
Deborah by the River Avon, near Pulteney Bridge and the Weir
Next day, we took a boat trip from just below the Pulteney Bridge. About £7 each, for over an hour on the river. Our skipper was also an official 'blue badge' guide for Bath, and gave an entertaining commentary about some of the wildlife and landmarks on the trip. Very enjoyable way of passing an hour or so.
Il Tocco restaurant, from the boat in the weir
At the end of the trip, the boat pulled right up into the apex of the Pulteney Weir - a great photo opportunity. In the background of this photo you can make out the new building of the Il Tocco restaurant, with its river-view balcony.
Pulteney Bridge & Weir, from the boat trip
