Bath is the epitome of Georgian elegance and is a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. It’s a pleasurable day trip from London (take Great Western Rail from Paddington); or stay a night or two and truly indulge in all the romantic things to do in Bath!
Personally, I love Bath because it’s easy to get around but has all the perks of a city like shopping, coffee, plenty to see and do. Bath is rich in history – the buildings tell many lifetimes worth of tales, dating back to the Romans right through to Jane Austen, and even the birth of Royal Mail. And, aside from anything else, the city is strikingly beautiful.
It’s one for the romantics, for sure – a very special place, like York (which you also must visit). Here are seven of our sweetest ideas for you to explore…
7 romantic things to do in Bath, England
Bath Abbey Tower Tour
Bath Abbey is the divine structure that makes for a perfect meeting spot in the town centre. It is an utterly surprising find as you’re wandering the old streets, and you’ll have your phone in hand snapping pictures before you even realise what you’re doing!
Indulge in some people watching in the square, and when you’ve gathered your breath, climb to the top for a bird’s eye view of the area.
If this idea takes your fancy, you can book exclusive personalised tours which take place out of hours. Watch the sun set over this uniquely lovely place, away from the tourist crowds. More at bathabbey.org/towertours.
Stroll along the Gravel Walk
This is fine for all, but Austen fans will especially rejoice because it is the setting of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth’s proposal in Persuasion.
Continue your wander through to Royal Victoria Park for a picnic, and wind up your exploration in the lovely woodland of the Botanical Gardens.
Be mindful after dark though, for although it might seem pretty at dusk it is said that a number of Bath’s former residents often also wander here. Particularly notable is a white haired man who will appear before you on the Gravel Walk, only to vanish back into the night. Spooky, although perhaps a romantic pursuit for the ghost-hunters (like me) among you…
Boo!
Take to nature – canal ride, row boat or horse drawn carriage ride
As you step off the train into the city of Bath, you’ll spot signs for visitor information centres. Drop in and enquire about one of the unique opportunities to interact with nature.
Back in town, we suggest skipping the cab line and instead take a horse drawn carriage ride around the city, just like in Austen’s romantic age. Be enchanted as you pass by grand spaces like the Royal Crescent, Royal Victoria Park and The Circus. Courtyard Carriages will make it happen.
Stay overnight in a romantic hotel!
Bath is brimming with excellent accommodation options for all budgets. If you’re willing to splash out for a special occasion and take full advantage of this city’s status as a centre for romance, this one looks nice – the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. It’s centrally located with sublime views of the city! We’ve not stayed here, but sure would like to. Seems so very Austen-esque.
Another decadent property I spotted on our travels was Bath Spa Hotel, a five star stay overlooking the breathtaking Bath landscape.
Jane Austen festival in September
Yes, yes and yes!
Indulge in regal splendour – performances, balls, workshops, promenades, fairs, lunches, breakfasts (and the odd Mr Darcy sprinkled around town for good measure)…
There are even short tours of the surrounding area on offer so you can get your entire literary and adventure fix with the least amount of effort. If you’re a fan of the author, don’t miss visiting in September. More at janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk.
Note: there’s a plethora of Austen experiences open all year round too if you can’t make it in spring.
Thermae Bath Spa
Bath is of course famed for its ancient baths and healing waters, and now thanks to Thermae, we can all take a dip.
After you’ve explored the interesting old ruins, step it up to contemporary times in an utterly indulgent and romantic manner. Thermae now boasts a sensational rooftop pool with sweeping city views. There’s plenty of other treatments you can enjoy too – the best of modern pleasures and old world lush blended into a sublime chance to unwind and feel the love.
Country walks and quaint villages
When we visited Bath recently, we actually took the Hop on Hop off bus tour, which features two routes through Bath. One travels around the city and explains the local history, and the other highlights the outskirts upon the hilltops overlooking the city’s skyline. This is an excellent way to get your bearings in the city. Helpful too, because Bath is very hilly so it’s easy to get tired making your way around. An option like this makes it simpler to identify the places you might like to go back to, and the skyline journey in particular showcases some lovely walks.
Suggested places to visit include the ‘prettiest village in England’, Castle Combe (accessible from Bath), Kennet and Avon canals which are some of the loveliest waterways working their way through England. The tour guide also pointed out walks you can try nearby to stops on the tour’s itinerary such as around Middle Hill Lodge.
Words can’t describe how lovely it is here, although many writers have attempted to do so throughout history. Why not visit and see for yourself? You may find the Visit Bath website useful, and book your train tickets in advance for the best deal, Trainline.
If you’ve found this helpful or have a tip to add, please let us know in the comments.
Rolling green hills, pretty ponds, and sheep calmly grazing across vast expanses of English countryside − it was all very dreamy, as we headed towards the filming location of Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle.
We’d been driving along a quiet winding road for a while and wondered where it was.
“If you tilt your head to the left, Miss, just over the tops of those trees, you’ll see it in a moment,” chimed the jolly cab driver I’d met just 15 minutes ago in the nearby village of Newbury.
Filming location of Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle
As he spoke, indeed, it appeared! How amazing – Downton Abbey, or in real life, Highclere Castle – a very accessible day trip from London.
I couldn’t help the welling of excitement as we rounded the corner past more manicured greenery.
All of a sudden, England’s most famous stately home, Highclere Castle arose, grand as ever.
It reminded me of the excitement of when we had the chance to explore historical Blencowe Hall (part of my heritage and a stately place up in the north of England)!
It was just like in one of the world’s most-watched series’, Downton Abbey (sadly, final season aired in 2016, but as of an update to this blog, a film was released late 2019.
Exploring Highclere Castle (‘Downton Abbey’)
You too can play out your Crawley family fantasies by visiting the filming location of Downton Abbey, as do thousands of others who visit annually during the lavish property’s open periods (usually UK’s spring/summer).
The Jacobethan-style country house is set on 5000 acres (five times bigger than New York’s Central Park).
It’s an opportunity to step back into another world altogether.
The library is magnificent, housing over 5000 classic editions; pause a moment in the posh dining room and ballroom (where many a romantic Downton moment has been stolen), and the bedrooms (there’s over 50!).
You can wander the formal gardens, plus enjoy a spot of tea and scones. It’s very special, almost royal like Buckingham Palace, that’s for sure.
When Downton filming is done, Highclere hosts expensive events and celebrity weddings.
It’s home to Lord and Lady Carnarvon, and the property has been in the Carnarvon family for over 300 years.
Back in its heyday, an army of 60 servants catered to the Carnarvons’ every desire. However, it costs around $1 million to maintain such a stately home these days, with just 20 full time staff.
Getting from London to Highclere Castle
It’s an easy day trip − around an hour’s train ride from Paddington to the quaint town of Newbury, then a friendly cab driver will ferry you to Downton… er, I mean, Highclere (but don’t worry if you get it wrong, they’re used to it!).
Good news for those fretting over the end of our favourite show or indeed excited for the new film – you can still make a pilgrimage here and enjoy ever more of England’s charms. Book your tickets here
Are you a Downton Abbely fan too? Drop me a line in the comments!
The impact of social media on youth is highly debated in the media. Does social media expose your child to danger, what do you think?
Possibly, but I believe the risks can be reduced, as long as we’re prepared to be curious about how the younger gen consumes digital media, and understand how they are using social platforms so we can make sure they’re doing so safely and age-appropriately.
Impact of social media on youth
At the end of summer term, my school held a disco to celebrate year six students finishing primary school. To capture this momentous occasion, students were allowed to bring in smart phones/mobile devices (normally banned during school hours).
They embraced this freedom with vigorous enthusiasm. My colleagues and I watched in amazement as the serious selfie-obsession (video and photos) unfolded before our eyes. Sadly, some students preferred to play on their devices, engrossed in games (missing the significance of the event) and chatting with friends online, who were at the disco! We also witnessed some students vent frustration and anger at not being able to upload their images. They were missing out on ‘likes’, you see; the more ‘likes’ achieved, the more popular they perceive themselves to be. Not a totally healthy reflection of real life – thanks Kim K and co.!
Did you know?
The most frequent activity amongst children today is engaging in social media? Any site which allows your child to interact socially, such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Twitter, Youtube and gaming portals are all classed as social media.
I’ll be honest, I love social media and technology. This digital revolution means we benefit from a fantastic flow of information, learning and open communication. But, ‘with great power, comes great responsibility,’ and this applies to adults (parents, teachers, carers) and children, who of course due to age, are more vulnerable to peer pressure and dangers of digital as they experiment in this space.
It’s no great secret that the digital age has a dark side, and there can be collateral damage associated with it. There are many dangers kids will encounter on their journey through adolescence, including as they navigate social media and its boundaries. Remember, this is NOT about your child being naive, immature, untrustworthy or naughty – kids are kids, and there’s only so much they can be expected to navigate safely on their own.
What are the dangers?
cyber bullying,
sexual predators,
criminals,
sharing or consumption of inappropriate photos and video
sharing too much information which can lead to anything from your home being burgled, to a young person sharing photos-not-set-for-public-consumption, tagged with your precise physical location!
As a parent (and teacher, for that matter), if you lack a basic understanding of social media, and find it difficult to communicate with digitally-confident children, you are manifesting a disconnect between you and the youngster in your care.
Here are ways to help you navigate this new socialisation and to bridge that technical gap.
Social media and teens – helpful rules
Talk to your child
…about specific issues they may be dealing with, or what other children may be encountering online.
Become curious and better educated
…about the many technologies children and teenagers are using. There are plenty of ways you can learn more – local courses, YouTube tutorials, personal coaches or simply ask questions on areas that are new to you.
Instigate family discussions concerning online topics
… check privacy settings (including location settings on mobile devices), and keep an eye on online profiles for inappropriate posts. On the point of security, if you’re worried, seek advice and assistance from your local mobile phone store, an IT or digital media consultant, or speak to your mobile / broadband provider.
Discuss the importance of your supervising online activities
…through active participation and communication. If the child in your care is out with friends or socialising and playing somewhere in the ‘real world’, I’d expect you would know where they are, who they are with and that they’re being effectively supervised. The same rules apply to online activity. You should be aware of ‘where’ online they are hanging out, and who it is they’re liaising with. Wonder how kids can get into trouble? Press play on the video linked above – you’ll realise why it’s important to take control.
Keep all devices in a public area
…in the home such as places you can monitor as you’re cooking or wandering through a room e.g. lounge, kitchen, dining. I’d also urge you to seriously consider why any child needs to take a mobile device to bed… (actually, we adults shouldn’t either – it’s a dreadful habit – put them away at night!).
Be prepared
Have a strategy in place for if/when your child may be exposed to inappropriate content.
Set aside quality time with your child
…doing things they are interested in, and vary activities across digital and real-life platforms.
Be available
All adults lead busy hectic lives, but it’s our responsibility to make time, be informed and implement safety strategies
…for online activity, just as we do for anything our kids are involved with.
Child psychologist, Dr Richard Woolfson believes, “Parents need to maintain an open dialogue and encourage children to share both good and bad online experiences, and make sure they keep up with the latest social media crazes, and work with their children rather than trying to control them.”
The world is a different place to when we were children, and things are vastly changed compared with even as recently as ten years ago. As a parent or carer, it’s critically important to remain aware and prepared for how this type of communication and technology truly impacts and works in kids’ lives and in the home. Develop rules that fit best in your household – just because another family does it one way, if a certain rule or process doesn’t sit right with you, use your discretion. Above all, seek information and educate yourself – it’s not good enough to claim that new technology ‘aint your thing! But who knows, by learning something more, you might end up enjoying this new frontier as much as the kids do.
The name ‘Rebecca Campbell’ has been popping up in my sphere for a good few months, and I became intrigued for two key reasons – first, she seems like a very switched on (forgive the pun) ‘light worker’; secondly, she’s Aussie (like me, so obviously that gives her immediate cred!).
In all seriousness though, her divine new book, Light is the New Black (Hay House) literally has me hooked. Synchronicity was at play with regards to the timing of my getting my hands on a copy. Every page I opened on any given morning or evening inevitably answered a question I’d asked that same day. The ‘coincidences’ narrowed even as far as Rebecca talking about one of her mentors, Sonia Choquette, who I read about in this book just a day after an intuitive healer had introduced me to Sonia’s work.
I’ve committed the ultimate sin against crisp new printed pages, and dog-eared about 75 per cent of this book – all reminders of phrases, paragraphs and pages that resonate with me, plus self-development activities I need to go back to complete, and general life-tips pertinent right now (and no doubt, in the imminent future).
Light is the New Black has become my absolute favourite daily go-to guide for inspiration on how to brighten each of life’s moments, and how to really make strides towards individually having the courage to share thoughts, insights, stories, and indeed light, with the world. Colleagues at work have bought the book based on my fanatic raving; I purchased the Kindle version too, and a group of friends and I are already signed up for some of Rebecca’s remaining 2015 London events (she’s on her way to Aus soon too, so take a look at her site for tickets and availability).
I’m a brand new fan, because Rebecca’s book has sparked copious ideas scribbled down at late hours on scraps of paper (whatever was closest to hand), plus voice memos upon which I’ve recorded imaginative and inspired epiphanies. Rebecca’s both wise and relatable, and I can tell by the daily interactions on her Facebook spaces, that by baring her own soul, Rebecca has truly moved others who feel they can do more to enlighten the world.
Light is the New Black is a well-written yet accessible guide on how to get started answering your soul’s callings. Rebecca includes engaging stories and heartfelt anecdotes, and her words of wisdom are crafted in a truly helpful, actionable way.
In a nutshell, this book is beautifully written, makes loads of sense, is soul-stirring and surprising.
If you’re looking for something to motivate you to take a step – whether large or small – towards a bigger, light-filled life for you, your loved ones and the world at large, then start right here.
About the book:
Light Is the New Black is a guidebook for a new breed of women who are here to be bright lights in the world – modern-day lightworkers, who agreed to be here at this time in history. In order to thrive in this new age, everything we do must be an authentic expression of who we truly are. Light Is the New Black will guide you back home to the callings of your soul, so you can light up the world with your presence. –Amazon description, find it here.
Part of the reason that travel can be such a fantastic experience is that it involves getting away from your regular day-to-day routine and embracing somewhere new. But travelling also means letting go of the safety nets you have at home, including friends, family and knowing where and how you can get help in emergencies. Going travelling is an adventure that involves some risks, but there are a few ways you can prepare for the unexpected emergencies that can occur.
Safe travel toolkit
Travel Insurance
Unfortunately there are still a great number of people that don’t get travel insurance. According to Fast Cover, out of more than 1000 Australian travellers, 30.8% of people chose not to get travel insurance. Are you one of the people who don’t get travel insurance? Consider this, being evacuated from the Caribbean can cost $20,000. Getting an air ambulance can cost around $100,000 or more. A single night’s stay in a US hospital can be over a thousand dollars. And then there’s the cost of lost or stolen luggage or the deposits lost when your travel plans are cancelled. Such emergencies can leave you hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Travel insurance can provide cover for these emergency situations. Some travel insurance companies also provide immediate assistance during an emergency. Fast Cover, for example, enables you to contact and get advice from a professional Global Assistance team wherever you are in the world at any time.
Compare travel insurance policies to see what you can be covered for. Some insurers cover pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy and high blood pressure, while others do not. Different activities such as snorkelling, skiing, elephant riding and skydiving can also be covered by insurance.
The address of your embassy and the best hospital
Prepare for the worst case scenario by researching how you can get help quickly. This means locating your nearest embassy wherever you are travelling and keeping the address with you at all times. It can also be extremely helpful to have the address and name of the nearest hospital (hopefully one where staff are bilingual if you are not fluent in the local language). There is nothing worse than trying to figure out where the hospital is during an emergency.
A portable locker
A portable locker or a portable safe is a small, slash-proof bag you can put your valuables in and lock to something unmovable in your accommodation if you don’t think your room is secure (such as rooms with no lockers, safe or a sturdy, lockable door). This bag can hold your valuable documents, some money and electronics while you explore your destination. Always try to get TSA approved locks for your luggage.
Multiple sources of back-up cash
Having no money in a foreign country can be a nightmare. Prepare for the worst when you travel by having a few back up stashes of cash. That means enough money for a taxi ride or perhaps a night’s accommodation in your main bag, your daily travel bag or wallet and perhaps a spare in a secure jacket pocket. Having back up cash will provide you with support if your wallet and money cards are lost or stolen. You will also have some spare cash if you can’t find an ATM but want to do an activity such as a tour or want to change your accommodation because it didn’t live up to your expectations.
Multiple copies of your documents
If you passport is stolen you will need to go to the embassy and get another. To make this far easier, make multiple copies of your identity documents including your passport, birth certificate, driver’s license and/or age card. Savvy travellers will also make an electronic copy of their documents by scanning them and emailing them to themselves or creating a Google Docs file. That way the documents can be accessed almost anywhere.
A dummy wallet
Fill an old wallet with old and useless credit cards, ID’s and maybe a few coins. That way if someone does mug you, you can hand over the dummy wallet. In most situations the mugger will run off once they think they have something that might be valuable.
Social apps
Let family and friends know where you are and where you are going next by a certain date. Besides email you can use Skype, WeChat or WhatsApp. Attempt to confirm a time you will send them a message at your destination. That way they can know you have arrived safely or if they should be concerned and get assistance for you.
Blend in
Research your destination and travel with a wardrobe that matches the locals as much as possible. Wearing clothes that stand out can increase your chances of being targeted by thieves. On that note, try to memorise where you are going so you won’t have to stand in the street looking confused at a map. Wearing flashy jewellery is also a bad idea as it can draw the attention of thieves.
Do you have other safety advice for fellow travellers? Let us know in the comments.
Tips and advice supplied to TravelLiveLearn by FastCover
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The name ‘Rebecca Campbell’ has been popping up in my sphere for a good few months, and I became intrigued for two key reasons – first, she seems like a very switched on (forgive the pun) ‘light worker’; secondly, she’s Aussie (like me, so obviously that gives her immediate cred!).
