Side trips from Bath England

Could you tell us where the tour goes? Also, will you have a car? And what do you enjoy doing? With a car, you could go to Glastonbury and Wells. You could also go to Stonehenge and Avebury. Both make easy and enjoyable day trips. If you don't have a car, there are companies that do day tours, but I have not tried them.

Castle Combe is a pretty little village nearby. Lacock Abbey is also worth a visit. If you are interested in stone circles, you've got Stonehenge and Avebury. There's certainly more than a day's worth to see in Bath itself, too. (And my memory is that there is a steam railway museum somewhere in the region, if you are a train fan.) I'm not sure how much time you will have in the Cotswolds, but there are such lovely villages there to while away some time. One 'back door' village is Naunton--stop in for a pint of Donnington's and a lunch at the Black Horse if you go. Off the tourist beaten track in any area richly supplied with tourists...

Merine, Click on the "Pre Tour" tab on the Best of England in 14 Days tour page for a list of the sites that will not be covered as a group on the tour. That should give you a few ideas on places to visit before the tour begins. If you intend on visiting Stonehenge or perhaps taking a day trip to the Cotswolds, you might have a look at Mad Max Tours, as they offer both full day and half day tours (IMHO, they're very reasonably priced). Bath is a wonderful city to just wander about and explore. There are some great restaurants there too! I had an excellent meal at Martini. Jamie Oliver also has a restaurant in Bath (as you've probably guessed, I have a preference for Italian food!). Happy travels!

If you have more than a few days free, why dont you considewr a day or two in other towns on your way to Bath, such as salisbury, winchester, Oxford. (I dont know what towns are not covered by RS tour)

In Bath there are several minor museums probably not included in the tour. Just outside Bath, on the bus route to the University, is the American Museum. It's an interesting presentation of American memorabilia and history, including rooms (furnished) transported from America at the time of the Revolution. I enjoyed a day-trip south to Wells and Glastonbury a few years ago. There are a couple of private tour companies that run tours out of Bath. Also, within Bath, is the path along the canal. You walk uphill to find the canal and can walk along the canal for a few miles to the next town. I've been in Bath many times and enjoy just browsing thru town. The Cornish pasties are great picnic food.

Agree with previous post/ don't miss Wells/lovely and great cathedral/I think it was on one of Rick's shows. In Bath you can take a free guided tour of town which starts by the Cathedral, very interesting.

If you want something really different, consider going to Cardiff Wales. It is a rather short train trip from Bath. You could go for just the day, or spend a night or two.

Salisbury Cathedral is one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe. It and its Close are well worth a visit. Not far from Salisbury is Stonehenge. Also not far from Bath, located in Wales, is the lovely ruin of Tintern Abbey which inspired Wordsworth to compose a poem.

I agree - lots to see in Bath. If you are a spa person, spend a 1/2 day at the Thermae Spa. The Fashion Museum is fun for an hour or so. The shopping is too good here in Bath! You could easily spend a day wandering the shops. There are beautiful parks to picnic in - the Royal Victoria, Prior Park and the Parade Grounds. The Mayor's Tour is a great way to spend 2 hrs. I'm assuming your RS tour will cover the Roman Baths, The Abbey and the Crescent. You don't want to drive in Bath - it's a pain to have a car, so I might be tempted to just hang in town. Very navigable on foot. But if you are going to cover a lot of Bath on the RS tour, there are many things to do nearby. We loved our Mad Max Tour of Stonehenge, which also included a visit to Avebury, Laycock and Castle Combe - all worth visiting. We just love Glastonbury- spent a whole day there this fall. Bristol is nearby and has some interesting things to see, such as the SS Great Britain, and is easily accessible by train. Have fun!

Thanks, all, great suggestions

I recommend seeing the Museum of Bath at Work on your own time. It's a short, uphill walk to the north from the other main attractions in town so it probably isn't the best choice for your free afternoon after the tour of the Roman Baths.

Not knowing what you'll see with Rick Steves tour so this may double up, we liked MadMax tours. We've done the Stonehenge, Avesbury, Lalock, & Castle Coombs one year and the Cotswolds the next. We enjoyed the first one better, maybe because of the diversity of what you see. This tour company is one of the best we have ever used. Small buses and very personable guides that are entertaining even on the bus travel time.