Against my better judgment, I just booked a tour from London to Stonehedge, Windsor, and Bath for next week. The good news is I can cancel up to 24 hours in advance if the weather looks bad. This is what my 10 and 11 year old boys really want to do on our trip. We only have 3 full days in London, so we are going to have to give something else up.
Any tips on what to do in Bath with the boys? I figure the Roman Baths aren't meant for kids?
TIA
Oh no...the Roman Baths are perfect for kids! They even have special kids audio guides and special exhibits for the kids.
It will be a long day. I'd make sure you have some snacks for the kids in case they get hungry on the bus ride which will be long. At least they can sleep on the way back to London.
Yes! Roman baths are perfect for kids!
We still remember the "Bizzare Bath" comedy tour very fondly years later. It's a delightful light-hearted comedy walking tour. Very "Monty Python" type British humor. There were no kids the evening that we went but I think boys your sons' ages would enjoy it. Here's the link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186370-d260860-Reviews-Bizarre_Bath-Bath_Somerset_England.html. And I, too, agree that the Baths are interesting to all ages. If my memory serves (and it may not, lol), Stonehenge is much closer to Bath than it is to London.
Well good to know! All the baths I've been to have been "no kids".
The Roman Baths in Bath are an archeological site. The audio guide takes you through the layers of time and explains the Roman era of the town.
https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/visiting-with-children
There are modern spa type baths nearby at the Thermae Spa.
"All the baths I've been to have been "no kids". "
As said above, the Roman Baths are not open for current day bathers! They are an historical site, open to all who pay the admission charge. Looking at their website https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/tickets-prices, the only restriction is that children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
I can't speak to the children's audioguide, but the one for adults is excellent - the best explanation of the whole Roman bathing process I've ever had, anywhere.
The audio guides give you a choice of narrations. I chose Bill Bryson who has written several nonfiction books and has a quirky sense of humor. I really enjoyed that narration and also the holograms. I think your kids will love it.
@Harold - next time you visit the Roman Baths, the kids audio guide is accessible from the regular audio set. You just have to punch in the numbers which are given at each location. Last visit I had plenty of time so I listened to the regular narration, the kids narration and the one by Bill Bryson, lol! So interesting! I suspect since OP is on a coach tour they will just have time to do one of their choosing.
I had time this morning to look around the website for the Roman Baths. I see they now have a separate children's app can be downloaded as well. I'd download what you can before you travel and make sure everyone has their earphones with them. It doesn't look like the regular adult audioguide is available on an app yet. What I thought was a link was just a link to a googletranslate app.
https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/childrens-app
Checked the official Stonehenge site and yes, it now offers an app for it's audio guide.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/stonehenge-audio-guides/
Last visit (2018) the only place that had a downloadable app for their free audioguide was Westminster Abbey and that worked so well. First, your phone is way lighter than the heavy duty audio guides. Second, who wants to put that thing up to your face when thousands of others have too? Yes, they clean them but still...yuck.
So...check for the locations you are visiting to see if you can download an app ahead of your travel!
Thanks for those apps! Going to see what apps I can download for other attractions we will be at.
I don't recommend trying to do Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath in one day,
You can do Windsor Castle and Stonehenge in one day, but doing two will run you ragged.
Stonehenge will take the shortest time, we probably only spent 1.5 to 2 hours there, including parking, the small museum and gift shop and the site, but just getting there with the traffic can be an issue. Windsor Castle wasn't opened early when we tried to go there, not sure what time it was, but I think we had to wait until the Castle opened to the public. Doing the Castle will take you 2-3 hours.
Bath, we spent the entire day on a walking tour and then going back to go inside places like the cathedral or abbey (not sure which it was called) and the Roman Bath Museum. We pretty much spend a full 8 hours there.
It's a tour, so we go where the group goes. Ideally, we would have more time in England and rent a car to explore. We are only in London for 4 nights.
