Bath & Beyond

Your stay in Bath begins with an introductory Big Bus tour, taking in all of the key sights and historic landmarks. We’ll then visit the Roman Baths, a “must see” location that has been drawing tourists to its waters for centuries. Afterwards, we’ll gather for Afternoon Tea in the adjacent Pump Room, where society has enjoyed a tea break for over two centuries. The afternoon will find us boarding a cruiser for a leisurely hour long trip on the River Avon and into the beautiful Avon Valley. This evening, you’re free to explore Bath and to dine on your own at one of the City’s many restaurants.

Venturing beyond Bath, today we’ll travel by coach on an exploration of the Cotswolds, visiting Castle Combe, Burton on the Water and Stow-in-the-Wold. We’ll see many filming locations from favourite movies and television shows, explore a wide array of Cotswolds architecture, stroll some of the most picturesque streets in England and still have time for lunch and shopping in the many independently owned stores on offer. Our route will follow the backroads and offer spectacular views of the unspoiled countryside, romantic rivers and quintessentially English village scenes. Arriving back in Bath in the early evening, you’ll be free to dine on your own at one of the City’s many restaurants.

Today finds us staying in Bath for a leisurely itinerary that begins with visits to two of Bath’s renowned art galleries, the Victoria Art Gallery and the Holburne Museum, housing an extensive collection of fine and decorative arts including paintings, miniatures, porcelain, sculptures, furniture and more. A stroll through Bath brings us to the Number One Royal Crescent Museum, where fashionable Georgian life is faithfully recreated in a series of rooms within the restored townhouse. Afterwards, we’ll stroll just a few doors down in order to partake of an indulgent Afternoon Tea at the five-star Royal Crescent Hotel.

Please Note: The Fashion Museum has left its long-time home in the Assembly Rooms and will be relocating to the Old Post Office in the centre of town. The collection is presently in storage and a re-opening date has not been announced. We are monitoring the situation and will schedule a visit to the Museum on this day, if at all possible.

Two stately homes are on the agenda today. We’ll travel by coach to Stourhead, one of the first grand Palladian-style villas to be built in England, along with a world famous landscape garden complete with classical temples.  Completed in the 1740’s by Henry Hoare, of the famous banking family, Stourhead boasts a Regency library, picture gallery and an impressive art collection.

This afternoon, we’ll travel to Dyrham Park, a 17th century house with ancient parkland. Completed in 1704, Dyrham was built for King William III’s Secretary of State, William Blathwayt and contains one of the best surviving Baroque interiors in the country. If Dyrham Park looks familiar, it may be because it’s been featured in many films, including Remains of the Day and Sandition.

Our final day begins with a private, guided walking tour of Bridgerton locations around Bath. Although set in London, many of the scenes in Bridgerton were filmed around Georgian Bath. We’ll see the residences of Lady Danbury and the Featheringtons, the modiste shop, Gunter’s tea rooms and many other locations. Our guide, a Bath native, will share the fascinating history behind many of the sites, and the real life people who lived in them, making for scandals enough to satisfy even Lady Whistledown.

This afternoon, you’ll have the chance to explore Bath on your own. You may want to explore the many shops Bath has to offer, visit the American Museum, the Assembly Rooms, the Jane Austen Centre or Bath Abbey, stroll through one of several public parks and gardens or take the waters and book a treatment at the Thermae Bath Spa. Swim in the mineral infused rooftop pool, relax in the steam room, the ice chamber or the infrared room before indulging in a relaxing facial or massage. Not part of the Tour, you’ll be responsible for making your own treatment selections, bookings and payment. Please make your own arrangements directly with the spa in advance if desired. This evening we’ll gather for a farewell dinner at one of Bath’s atmospheric restaurants.