We are enjoying continued lovely weather here in southern England. Admittedly we have had some rainy days, but seriously, November in England and we are still wearing shorts and a light jumper. I think we have hit the jackpot as far as weather goes. As well, to go with the great weather, we have been fortunate to see some pretty incredible sights.
From one of our house sits we were able to pop into London and simply enjoy a stroll along the Thames. The view across the Millennium Bridge of St. Paul’s is always pleasing.As you wander through the side streets just off the the river the juxtaposition of old and new keeps your head looking in all directions.After we finished looking after these three beauties we headed off to Bath for a little tourist time. One cannot work non-stop after all.
First off I am just going to categorically say, Bath is awesome. We started with a walking tour that is put on by the Bath council. The gentleman, Peter, who guided us was incredible. There is something enthralling about listening to tales and history of a place from someone who has grown up there and truly loves the place.
We did a couple of walks along the River Avon and were amazed by the system of locks that allow for easy movement of narrow boats up and down the river.It was neat to be able to watch the crews on the boats operate the locks. The conversations between the people on the shore and the boaters spoke to a larger sense of community.To say Karen and I were inspired by the canals and the narrow boats is an understatement. Time spent exploring on one of these boats will definitely be part of future travels here.As mentioned earlier we did occasionally get a bit of rain. But in fairness it did just add to the experience. The idea that Bath was a city basically built for pleasure and relaxation is evident everywhere. The architecture is incredible. The Royal Crescent is a great example. Everything about it is inspiring and the fact that 50ish years ago it was significantly run down with a questionable future makes its current status all the more impressive. Relaxing on the public lawns is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.The Circus is a must see in Bath. If you are an architecture geek or a fan of the Masons you could easily spend a day in the area. From the fixation with 3’s to the classic example of Georgian architecture it is impressive. Then you learn it was one of the first places to have running water to all the residences and the fact it originally was all open in the centre with just cobble stones it is quite awe inspiring. Though the centre trees are impressive, they do rather ruin the intended affect of the design.It is also a lovely city to do a bit of wandering in after dark. You never really know what you will encounter around each corner.For those fans of the Bridgerton series you can also take in some filming locations. Modiste’s Dress Shop, The Featherington’s exterior, Lady Danbury’s house exterior, The gambling rooms and some ball scenes, as well as a variety of street scenes that are supposed to depict London.As we head out of Bath to visit relatives in Southampton we look forward to settling our heads for a while back near London and taking in what the next area has to offer.
Looks amazing!
Another great post. We agree, Bath is wonderful!