A Charming Bath Escape

Adventure 2025 continued with a trip to one of my favorite cities — Bath.

Yes, you read that right! This was my fourth foray into this charming spot, but only my second time staying for more than two days.

What can I say? I’m practically a Bath expert now … or at least that’s what I tell my friends!

GETTING HERE

Getting to Bath from Brussels was relatively easy, if you take time to plan. It’s like playing Tetris with train schedules and bus routes, but without the catchy music.

And I assure you, planning your trip is not as daunting as it may seem. With a bit of research and foresight, you can navigate your way to Bath with ease.

Here’s the brilliant plan I concocted:

• EuroStar from Brussels to London; Cost – $66
• Round-trip bus from London to Bath; Cost – $39.
• Six-minute walk from the bus station to the Abbey Hotel Bath — assuming I don’t get lost. Spoiler alert, I did, but that’s a story for later.

Yes, the train from London to Bath would’ve been quicker. However, the bus ride was a mini-adventure through the picturesque English countryside.

Plus, I saved some cash for pastries later, and we all know food trumps speed!

ABBEY HOTEL BATH

Overall, my stay at the Abbey Hotel was quite pleasant. The location was superb, within walking distance of all the major attractions. The customer service was exceptional, and the comfort level was satisfactory, although there were some signs of the building’s age.

Now, I booked a “superior room,” but it honestly felt like your cousin’s broom closet.

My room was so small that I’m surprised I didn’t get tangled in my own suitcase while trying to navigate it. I even had to request a luggage rack so I wouldn’t feel like my suitcase was my new roommate laying in bed with me.

The room was very dusty, particularly the wardrobe. The room needs an update in decor, and the carpet needs to be put out to pasture. The desk chair was stained and uncomfortable to sit in. The shower was nice.

Breakfast? Let’s call it “edible.” The hot meal was decent. However, the continental part was about as exciting as a lecture on paint drying.

‘CITY LIFE’ PHOTO SAFARI

I took this adventure as an excuse to decompress and enjoy some me-time after a chaotic first half of 2025. But that wasn’t going to prevent me from doing my traditional ‘City Life’ photo safari.

BATH WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE

I stumbled into the Bath World Heritage Centre like a happy little tourist, and wow, was I in for a treat!

Ryan was a star — he explained why Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage site and managed to make history sound exciting. He handed me a map, then sent me off for a free walking tour that could make even a history-phobe’s heart flutter.

TOPPING & COMPANY BOOKSELLERS OF BATH

This bookstore looked so impressive that I felt underdressed just walking in. I was hunting for a specific book, but of course, it decided to play hide and seek.

Still, I managed to find a few gems to add to my “to-read” pile. Plus, the children’s storytime was adorable! I nearly shed a tear watching tiny bookworms engrossed in tales.

Oh, and the offer of tea or coffee after my purchase? Talk about a classy touch!

THE IVY BATH

Now, let’s talk about The Ivy Bath — where customer service is so good that you might actually feel like royalty! The restaurant was spotless and swanky.

I ordered the Crab and Avocado Tian, which was light and flavorful. For my main dish, I dove into Shepherd’s Pie that was hotter than my expectations! And this time the Shepherd’s Pie was as advertised – beef and lamb.

This was a far cry from the Christmas fiasco at the Ivy Covent Garden, where the lamb, duck and goose pie had neither lamb, duck or goose.

Yet, the crème brûlée wasn’t up to scratch. The sugar was a tad overburnt, which hurt the flavor of the custard.

MORE TO COME

So there you have it — a charming beginning to my fourth adventure in Bath – full of quirky experiences, lovely people, and the occasional dust bunny. Can’t wait for the next escapade!

Until next time —

HAVE PASSPORT, WILL TRAVEL!