The Hot Spring at Bath, UK by Alun Salt

Here are seven of the top reasons why a holiday in Bath may be right for you.

1) Two millennia of spa history

Bath contains the only natural hot springs in the UK and that has made it one of the world’s most famous spa destinations for over 2000 years. What’s more, the spa tradition is still going strong today. You can still bathe in the hot springs, a plethora of other spas and spa hotels offer options to suit every taste and budget.

2) Indulge your inner Elizabeth Bennett or Mr Darcy

Jane Austen lived in Bath for five years and set two of her best known novels there: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. If regency elegance appeals to you, then there is no better time to visit Bath than September, when it hosts an annual Jane Austen festival. There are Austen-related entertainments all year round too: you can go on an audio tour, visit the Jane Austen Centre or simply walk round and enjoy the Regency buildings, which have been the setting for many a television adaptation of Miss Austen’s works.

3) Shop ’til you drop!

Bath is well known for its wide range of independent shops and boutiques, so you will be sure to find treasures that are unavailable elsewhere.

4) Taking refreshment

Visit the famous Pump Rooms to take afternoon tea in true regency style while enjoying the music of the excellent Pump Room Trio and the architecture of the neo-classical salon. Alternatively, try the Jane Austen Tea Rooms, Sally Lunn’s Refreshment House (where you can sample one of the famous Sally Lunn buns) or one of the other cafes and tearooms in the city centre. Many hotels in Bath also do excellent afternoon teas.

5) Boat trip

There is a delightful one hour boat trip that will take you round some of the best sights in Bath. For special occasions, you can even charter your own boat and party on the river.

Boat trip in Bath, UK by Andrea DG

6) Museums and art galleries

There are twenty or more museums and art galleries in and around Bath, so there should be something to suit everyone from fashion addicts (the Bath Fashion Museum) to high art aficionadi (the Victoria Art Gallery) to steam fanatics (the Somerset and Dorset Railway). Bath itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you can even think of the whole city as one big museum or art attraction.

7) Theatre

Visiting the theatre was one of Jane Austen’s favourite pastimes and it’s a tradition that still continues to this day. For families, there is the delightful Egg Theatre, and the prestigious Theatre Royal offers something for everyone. Alternatively, the Ustinov Theatre offers a more modern, cutting-edge range of works.

For more seasonal events, visiting Bath in August & September brings its own delights in the form of the many festivals, such as the Ilford Art Festival and the Bath Folk Festival. Stay at one of the numerous Hotels in Bath & take your time enjoying the city’s beautiful and diverse attractions.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Simon Pielow

The Definition of Luxury

The operates from March to November, offering service between many major European cities. The line’s western terminus is London; passengers may also embark in Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Cracow, Dresden, Istanbul, Bucharest and Budapest. Passengers travel in peerless luxury and enjoy five-star dining; the service and appointments on board the Orient Express are so legendary that for many passengers a journey aboard it is a significant part of their holiday.

Great Britain and Mainland Europe

The Orient Express is owned and operated by Orient-Express-Hotels Ltd., which uses one carriage for travel within the United Kingdom and another to reach destinations in mainland Europe. Passengers who board in London must disembark when the train reaches the English Channel; they arrive in France via the Eurotunnel Shuttle and board the Orient Express once more. The rail cars used for the British service are only used for day trips because they have no sleeping accommodations. Passengers enjoy lunch and afternoon tea; for some, this is the purpose of the journey, while others are traveling to historic castles in the British countryside. The Orient Express that operates on the mainland features sumptuous sleeping quarters. Both iterations of the Orient Express use vintage rail cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

Tour Packages

Travel aboard the Orient Express is a luxury, and priced accordingly. Some passengers plan their own route, while others take advantage of complete holiday packages offered by the railroad. One of the most popular packages offers service from London to Venice; the trip lasts five days and includes lodging at the London Ritz and three nights in Venice’s Hotel Cipriani, whose rooms overlook the adjacent lagoon. Travellers also spend one night on the Orient Express, where they enjoy private cabins with room service and a private hot and cold water supply. During the day, passengers sit on their in-cabin couch and enjoy the passing scenery. At night, the stewards unfold the couch into a roomy double bed and dress it in fine linen. Two types of cabins are available: the Double Cabin is a single room with a folding bed, and the Cabin Suites have two adjoining cabins. There are washrooms in each car.

The Pinnacle of Excellence

The Orient Express offers the finest rail travel in the world, complete with service and amenities that rival any hotel. The food is prepared by esteemed French chefs and served in the dining car, where most passengers dress formally. After their meals, many head to the nearby bar car for a nightcap; by the time they return to their cabins, the stewards have prepared the beds for a night of sweet dreams.

Martin writes for Medwelcome a Holiday Rental Property website

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