after lots of great advice on here, my husband and i have decided to make our day trip out of london a train trip to bath with a few hours in town before a half day mad max tour to stonehenge from bath, with a few hours after to have dinner in bath before returning to london that evening. but of course after attempting to book the train tickets, i have additional questions...first and most importantly, we have two possible days to do this. one is a thursday and one is a sunday. is there a better day of those two? will it be crazy crowded on one of the days or will everything be closed on sunday? second question--what time should be get the train back to london? i was looking at trains at around 7:00, but if there are things to do in bath later in the evening (tip--do not EVER put the term 'bath late in the evening' into a google search!!!!) then we can stay later. our only plan upon returning to london is 'sleep'--and we can do most of that when we're dead!
Posted by
Reston, VA, USA
810 posts
Tracy, I don't have much advice on your question but wanted to thank you for the Google search tip! I too have been quite surprised by the results of what I thought was an innocent, straightforward search... As for your choice of days, I just took a look at my RS England book; there are a number of suggestions of evening activities in Bath so you may want to read through that and see what interests you most. Just remember that if you want to visit any churches in Bath they may be closed to tourists [though open to worshippers] on Sunday. The same is true in London. If you want to attend an evensong or other service at St Paul's or Westminster you may want to do your Bath trip on Thurs and be in London on Sunday. Whatever you decide, it sounds like a great trip!
Posted by
Orlando, Florida
676 posts
Some stores will be closed on Sundays, but a lot will be open because those are "touristy" places. However, most people are off on Sundays, so more locals will do these places on Sundays. I always opt for a weekday for places like this.
Posted by
NC, United States
970 posts
Check to make sure the places you want to visit are open on Sunday. Sometimes, too, places are open but close earlier. The Sunday evening trains might have more passengers -- people going home to London from the weekend -- but who's to know? A surprising number of people commute from places like Bath to jobs in London. If you have seat reservations, though, that's all that counts.
If you are planning on having dinner in Bath, I doubt that there's much that would entice you to linger into the wee hours. Catching a train to London at 7 or so makes sense to me.
BTW, I'm an advocate of using taxis at strategic moments, like at the end of the day when you are tired and your feet hurt and you are full of good food and drink and need to get somewhere to catch a train.
Posted by
Meridian MS
248 posts
Tracy, My daughter & I just did this very thing, going on a Friday leaving London at 8:30am and returning to London 9:14pm (I think). Very good schedule. I orderd the tix on line before leaving the states and I requested (when prompted) seats facing each other. I'm not really sure how I did it, but we were assigned seats in Car A which turned out to be the Quiet Car. It was very nice, uncrowded and non-threatening. I assume the Friday night "rowdies" wouldn't be asking for the Quiet Car?! Check into the Mayor's Honorary Guide Walks in Bath - it was 10:30am on our day. Free and very good... Between tour and MM, we got a sandwich at the Waitrose and picknicked in a lovely park nearby. After MM, dinner and wandering Bath some more. We really enjoyed it. (Did I mention Stonehenge was incredible?)
Posted by
OP
Macungie, PA, USA
463 posts
@Susan--wow, thanks for that. we actually ended up booking it for friday (NOT thursday or sunday--loooong story!) and your story makes me feel a lot better! we're leaving at 8am from paddington and returning at 10pm. glad to hear there will be enough to keep us entertained later in the evening. again--thank you!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Tracy, Glad I read your last post before responding. We visted Bath on a Sunday and enjoyed it, but did not go out to Stonehenge. However, since you are booked on a Friday.... If you have time, be sure to take a short river cruise. It is really nice and you get to see alot of Bath's lovely Georgian buildings from a different point of view. The captain/guide did a great job of sharing information and entertaining us. What time of year are you going? I love Bath's Christmas market- on of the best in the UK, in my opinion.