Where to spend 2 extra nights after Bath and before Richmond

I think that if you are asking whether it's worth returning to Stonehenge then it isn't. If you really loved it you would already be planning to go back. there are so many more places to see I would only go back if it is really important to you.

Maybe you could consider Avebury? Another stone circle but very, very different to Stonehenge.

I would also consider some time in Bristol rather than extending a trip to Bath. For me it's a more interesting city.

Another thought. If you prefer a smaller place what about a couple of nights in a nice hotel in Somerset? It's these days full of nice places to stay with really good food. Both Frome and Bruton are small, have places to stay and are close to Stourhead.

Andrea, we were just in Richmond for three nights and really enjoyed it, perhaps add a night there. Hopefully Kew Gardens is in your plans and Hampton Court Palace may appeal. We also liked walking on the Thames River Path and you can walk for hours in Richmond Park. Quite fabulous.

Thanks for those ideas. Never been to Bristol so will take a look. We are coming from Chester, so Bristol probably an easier train connection than Bath. Any highlights in Bristol?

Laurel, thank you. We’ve recently spent time in Richmond which is why we’re basing there before getting to Heathrow. Charming town!

We did the Christmas light show at Kew this past December. Unbelievable! Way, way above and beyond our expectations.

In Bristol, Brunel’s Clifton suspension bridge is amazing, perhaps to look at rather than to walk across, and the ship SS Great Britain, which is preserved in dock as a museum and is very interesting. It was also designed by Brunel (the great Victorian engineer) and was, I think, one of the first steamships, combining steam and sail. If you’re interested in ships, it’s an amazing visit.

Is this Richmond in south-west London, or Richmond in Yorkshire?

If you want a quiet few days what about staying a few nights in one of the small Cotswold towns? Painswick might be a good fit - but there a lot of them - just find a hotel or airbnb that you like a take a day or two slow. If you like walking, there is plenty of that. Or find a historic home or two? Courts Guardian is down that way I think. Sometimes it is nice to just rest in a beautiful place. Depending on what time of year you are there, father up (but wishing an hour or two drive) is Hidecote Garden, Sudbury Castle, Burton House Guardian, Snowshill Mannor, and Klemscott. You could also probably just stay in Bath if that sounds easier and hire a car to take you on a day trip or two if that is more appealing. Remember: there are no bad answers.

If you are gong by train from Chester to Bath, you will probably be using the Marches line that goes down to Newport where you will change for a train to Bath. Newport is only 15 minutes from Cardiff = the Welsh capital and that would be the next stop if you were to stay on the same train from Chester. So, you may like to consider Cardiff for a couple of nights? Direct trains go from Cardiff to Bath hourly & the journey takes just over 1 hour.

Did you know that 4 castles can be found in & around the city?
https://www.cardiffcastle.com/the-castle/ is found in the centre and dates from Roman times. In the middle is a Norman keep (1087) but much of the castle dates from the 1800’s when it was owned by the Marquess of Bute.

CAERPHILLY CASTLE is a massive medieval fortress just a 20 minute local train ride north from Cardiff. The town of Caerphilly is a dump in an ex mining area but the castle is everything that you would expect of an 1100’s fortress complete with moat. If you are visiting Caerphilly, you might like to break the journey at Lisvane station and walk for 5 minutes across the car park and into CEFN-ONN-PARK (free & good pub/restaurant next to entrance). In spring it is very colourful with azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and bluebells all under the canopy of a temperate rain forest. https://www.outdoorcardiff.com/parks/parc-cefn-onn/
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caerphilly-castle

CASTELL COCH stands on a hillside in north Cardiff. If you have a car - it is M4 junction 32 and you could easily visit this castle and Caerphilly Castle in one go - or taxi between the 2. If visiting by bus from Cardiff - you need Stagecoach 132 and alight at Tongwynlais (about 25 minutes out). The walk from the bus stop to castle is about 17 minutes uphill.
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/castell-coch

ST.FAGANS CASTLE & MUSEUM OF WELSH LIFE is just to the west of the city. The site is vast and needs at least half a day. You have grounds with buildings of significance brought from all over Wales and re-erected. The Castle is really a 1500’s Manor House. You will also find gardens near the castle. You will also find indoor galleries explaining about life in Wales through the ages - handy if it starts to rain. https://museum.wales/stfagans/about/ (Cardiff Bus route 32 - no bus on Sundays ).

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL is about 2 miles NW of Cardiff Castle.https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk

https://cardiffmuseum.com is a small museum about Cardiff in the centre of the city. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WALES is found just N of the shopping area next to the City Hall. It has extensive art galleries.

The waterfront (known as CARDIFF BAY) is 1 mile south of the city centre.https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/south-wales/cardiff/top-things-see-and-do-cardiff-bay

Thank you for all the ideas! Can’t wait to look into them more. Keep them coming.

Richmond in SW London.

Sounds like a great trip! We were just there in May.

I think it depends on if you like hopping around more and experiencing a lot, or if especially at the end of the trip, you are looking to slow it down. My first thought was to get a driver for the day and experience a little of the Cotswolds. Or have you been to Oxford? You could spend 2 nights there and also, visit Bleinham Palace, Churchill's birthplace and visit his nearby grave.

But my recommendation would be to add a day to Bath and a day to Richmond. We loved Bath and from there the train to Salisbury would be an easy side trip. We did that and continued onto Stonehenge because it was on my husband's bucket list. It was fine, but once is plenty. But Salisbury Cathedral was gorgeous. From Bath, I would get a driver one day and visit Castle Combe and continue on to Highgrove and visit the gardens and maybe have tea there.

We LOVED Richmond and thought if we head to London again, we would definitely stay there 2 nights. We were sorry to not have time for Hampton Court or Isabella Plantation. I think you could fill up your time easily there. Enjoy!

Lacock is charming and has been used many times as a filming site. Lacock Abbey is interesting. The town is just 14 miles from Bath.

We spent the good part of a day at Stourhead a couple of weeks ago. Our daughter got engaged at the Temple of Apollo. We then spent several hours walking around, having a snack, and visiting the giftshop. We could've spent more time. It would've been nice to just sit on a bench to read.

We also did a day trip to St. Fagan's. If you like gardens, you'll enjoy the gardens around the Castle at St. Fagan's. We could've spent more time there, too, as my husband and I enjoy photographing flowers.

Salisbury and Wells are nice to visit from Bath, as well.

But adding a day to Richmond could give you more time to relax at the end of the trip. Two nights really only provides one full day. We only had three nights in Kew/Richmond area in May and that was too short. I would love to see Kew Gardens in June. If you get a membership to Kew, you can enter the garden a couple of hours early.

Stourhead ( mentioned above) is really difficult to reach - unless you have car. I once visited in the last week of May and it was wonderful. I understand that it is also wonderful right now in the last weeks of October with autumn colour but rather less interesting at other times of the year - despite the classical temples.

St.Fagans Castle & Museum - just west of Cardiff has also been mentioned above and as well as the gardens also has buildings of interest that have been re-located from different parts of Wales. It also has extensive indoor galleries plus the 1500’s St.Fagans Castle but only ground floor rooms are open at present.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dyffryn-gardens is also just west of Cardiff but if you don’t have a car, use First Cymru bus X2 to St. Nicholas and then walk one mile S down a country lane. These gardens are at their best in June and especially July & August. Not sure I would bother at other times of the year.