Rail Europe

When you think of England’s novelists, it’s hard not to think of the way that destinations in the countryside have historically been portrayed as bucolic respites from crowded, dirty city living in London. Filmmakers have immortalized the scenery with adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility by one of England’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen. Georgian England was known for its hospitality, entertainment, and relaxation, but for young people of marrying age, it was also about seeing and being seen.

Morning

You may notice that city’s pavement is wide and raised, and you may wonder why. To better understand Bath, head to the Building of Bath Museum, which will shed insight into how this city was built and how it became the hub of Georgian society. Young women, dressed to the nines, had ample opportunity to show off their fine dresses walking down these wide streets, hoping to attract suitors and attend elaborate balls. Bath even had its own marriage consultant, Beau Nash.

Afternoon

Devotees of Jane Austen’s novels of manners and romance are in luck. The Jane Austen Centre, near Queen Square and the Circus, explores her relationship to the city and vice versa, as seen through her life and her novels; Austen was a resident of Bath from 1801-1806. Stop and rest your feet with one of its Regency-themed tea rooms.

Evening

Before the sun sets, don’t miss the National Trust Skyline, a six-mile circuit comprised of trails and Prior Park Landscape Garden that take you through a piece of the countryside in the city. There are entrances located near the University of Bath and therefore the skyline is accessible by public transportation, with stops along Claverton Down Road.

Overnight

One of the city’s many Georgian houses was converted into the Bath Priory in 1968, and the property contains 27 units with antique furnishings and is surrounded by award-winning gardens.

Details:

Building of Bath Museum
-The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel
-The Vineyards
-The Paragon
-Phone: 01225/333895
-Admission: Adults £4 ; seniors, students, £3.50; children 5-12, £2.50; children under 5, free
-Hours: Tuesday-Sunday and on Bank Holiday Mondays from mid-Febraury to end of the November, 10:30am-5pm.

Jane Austen Centre
-40 Gay Street, Queen Square
-Phone: 01225/443000
-Admission: Adult; £6.50; Seniors/Students, from £4.95; children 6-15 from £3.50; children under 6 admitted free. Prices may change on a daily basis
-Hours: Vary extensively depending on the season; visit web site or call for details.

National Trust Skyline
-Bath University
-Entrances are located on Ralph Allen Drive; you can download a PDF map from the web site. There is no public parking and buses leave about every 20 minutes from the city centre to the University, the best option for stops along the skyline. Travel hotline 08706-082608.

Bath Priory
-Weston Rd.
-Phone: 01225/331922
-Rates start £245-300 standard double and include English breakfast
-Free parking

Journey Time: 1hr45
Frequency: 21
Departure Station: London Paddington
Arrival Station: Bath Spa
Prices From: 126 (Economy) to 201 (Premier / Comfort Flexi)
(prices subject to change)

Uselful Links:

• http://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk
• http://www.janeausten.co.uk
• http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
• http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk

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