My husband and I are planning a 4 week trip through the British Isles Sept 12 - Oct 6, 2019. We were thinking of spending our first 3 days in Bath, as Rick Steves suggests, but looks like the Jane Austen Festival starts in Bath on Sept 13 and runs through the 22. Is that a good thing or bad thing? Our 45th anniversary is on Sept 14. Anyone have experience attending the Festival and/or suggestions for starting our itinerary elsewhere? Thanks!
Posted by
KS, USA
677 posts
Are you a Jane Austen fan - meaning, does the festival interest you? I'm a fan so I think I would enjoy a day during the festival. We're going to England for the first time this April and we decided to start our adventure in Winchester as it was more appealing to me than Bath. Salisbury comes highly recommended as well from what I can tell. Stonehenge was a high priority for me so I wanted to be within proximity to it. I wanted to visit Bradford on Avon (very close to Bath) as I thought it looked lovely but we don't have time for it. Wish I had an experienced opinion to give you but I can only give suggestions based off research.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14822 posts
I've been there during the Festival and it was a lot of fun...but I love novels set in the Regency era and it was hilarious to see people in costume all over Bath. Georgian architecture, Regency costumes, what could be better, lol? I also attended several of the workshops/presentations/specialty walking tours as well as watched the Grand Parade thru town (people in costume walking from the Assembly Rooms to the Royal Crescent back down Milsom St ending at the Roman Baths). There is a link to the Festival website but I see it doesn't have the events listed yet.
http://www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk/festival-programme/
Crowdwise it did not seem any more crowded than other times I've visited so I wouldn't skip it because of that. There are more Festival events on the weekends than during the week.
Bath hotel prices are also higher on any weekend and they generally have a 2-night minimum stay.
I also love Bath and have stayed there a number of times for 3-5 nights. I always find a lot of things to do there and really enjoy it. I know others on this board do it in a day trip but I love to stay there. After multiple trips I still have things on my "To-do" list!
I also agree Salisbury is an excellent place to start. I love the Cathedral View B&B - very small, really nice hosts and delicious breakfasts. However Salisbury may be a bit harder to get to from Heathrow than Bath. I'm not sure if there is a National Express bus or not. I've always taken the train but have started in London. If you have an interest in Stonehenge, the local bus company runs a loop route out to the stones from the Salisbury City Center that is very easy to do. Leaves from either the station or city center.
I also am not really sold on Rick's recommendation of going directly to Bath. I am tired after the overnight trip from the US and I usually stay in London for a few days to get adjusted, then head out to Bath or Salisbury. I'd not take his advice on this as gospel just do what seems interesting to you all.