Front Entrance Blenheim Palace, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Leaving Stow we headed to our second from the last stop ...Bath. Along the way we stopped at Blenheim Palace. There's more about it below, but there aren't many pictures (you're not allowed to take them inside the palace). We did, however, take some time for our our group photo. Click Here for More Below
Many of our group touring the stones Avebury Stone Circle (Click to Enlarge)
Moving further south, we stopped at one of the most fascinating sites on the entire trip, the Avebury Stone Circle. While most people visit Stone Hedge, Rick believes Avebury is a better example of stone circles. He is absolutely correct! The site is MUCH larger, encircling an entire town. Click Here for More Below
Our group on a intro tour of Bath (Click to Enlarge)
So on to Bath. Putting our luggage in our rooms we headed out for a quick tour of the town (across the Pulteney Bridge, down along the Parade Gardens and finally stopping outside the Roman Baths and the Bath Abbey...(Click Here for More Below) and then a group dinner at the Wife of Bath Restaurant (Info Below).
Our group coming onto the balcony Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Our second day in Bath was very busy. We started out at the amazing Roman Baths. It's astounding how well they are preserved (more below). Immediately next store was the Bath Abbey. Before our tour we went around back to see the Bishop's Palace. (Info Below)
Gillian filling us in on the details Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Next we boarded our bus and headed to Glastonbury to visit the town and the Abbey. The Abbey must have been magnificent! What a tragedy that Henry the Eight couldn't have felt the same. It's a great lesson on how determined he must have been to crush the Catholic Church and make off with their money (more below). Oh! Can't forget King Arthur's grave or the Abbot's conical kitchen. (Info Below)
On our own for lunch, we found a great little sandwich shop (SBazil) in town. Super sandwich and soup. Highly recommended. After lunch we spent some time taking in the rest of the town and it's shops. Worth the visit. (Info Below)
Our group under the supporting arches Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
Back on the bus we headed to our final stop of the day...Wells Cathedral. A beautiful building and an memorable tour (they split our group in two to insure we'd see and hear everything). (Info Below)
We finished the day by having dinner with the Jack and Jan at the Wagamama. It's a chain, but good food. Their menu centers around noodle dishes. Unfortunately, it's also the place that I left one of my favorite sweaters. There's more info below.
Blenheim Palace
Preparing for our 'Group' photo Blenheim Palace, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Court yard Blenheim Palace, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Blenheim Palace is the ancestral home of the Churchill-Spencer family. Winston Churchill's older brother inherited the estate (so much for younger siblings). Winston did, however, manage to be born there.
You'll note the pictures we have are all of the outside. Picture taking isn't allowed inside...postcards are, of course.
Looking up on the front steps Blenheim Palace, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Getting our tickets Blenheim Palace, Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Blenheim Palace Woodstock Oxfordshire OX20 1PX
Avebury Stone Circle
The biggest stone we saw Avebury Stone Circle (Click to Enlarge)
Sheila (by the stone) and Jenny Avebury Stone Circle (Click to Enlarge)
Ninety miles west of London and twenty miles north of Stonehenge stands Avebury, the largest known stone ring in the world. Older than the more famous Stonehenge, and for many visitors far more spectacular, the multiple rings of Avebury are cloaked with mysteries which archaeologists have only begun to unravel.
The outer part of the circle is a 20+ feet ditch dug into the chalk soil. While much of it is now covered in grass, we could only imagine what it must have looked like when freshly dug. When we first heard we were going to Avebury instead of Stonehenge we were disappointed. After our visit to Avebury there were no regrets.
John amongst the stones Avebury Stone Circle (Click to Enlarge)
Kim, Sheryl and Lauren coming through the pasture gate Avebury Stone Circle (Click to Enlarge)
Silbury Hill, from the Avebury parking lot Avebury Stone Circle (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Avebury Stone Circle near Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 1RF Tel: 01672 539250
City of Bath
Front of the Roman Baths Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click to Enlarge)
River Avon and Pulteney Bridge (Click to Enlarge)
We both thought (don't know why) that Bath was going to be a much smaller town then it is. Bath is a good size city. As we drove into Bath we took a quick tour of the town, specifically passing by the Royal Crescent and the Circus. From there we dropped our bags at our hotel and headed out from a walking tour of the Abbey and Baths before we stopped for dinner.
Passing over the Pulteney Bridge (with shops along both sides) we first passed by the city park with along the River Avon. Like parks across England, this one was beautifully covered with flowers, park benches and places for picnics.
A short distance beyond the park are the Roman Baths (thus the city's name) and the Bath Abbey. We toured the Baths and the Abbey on our second day in Bath. Our group stayed together for dinner (always a lot of fun) in the cellar of the Wife of Bath Restaurant.
Pulteney Bridge (Can hardly tell it's a bridge) (Click to Enlarge)
Picture of Pulteney Brdige from 1779 (not really changed much) (Click to Enlarge)
A park along the Avon River (Click Picture to Enlarge)
City of Bath
Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are by far the best example of Roman life in England. The size and complexity of the facility clearly show how important the bath houses were. We think of modern spas we've been to and they certainly don't have anything on what we saw. Not only was the facility extensive, it was clever in its design. Hot rooms, steam rooms. Wow!
The displays that have been developed to illustrate the baths as they actually existed were outstanding. We'd both definitely recommend the visit.
Christin listening to a narration aobut the model of the baths Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Linda overlooking the intake Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Jack and Linda looking at an artifact display Bath Abbey, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Jac, Sheila and Jenny on the far side of the main pool Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Our group coming onto the balcony Roman Baths (Bath), Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Glastonbury Abbey is primarily a ruin. But what a ruin!
Built over 800 years ago, it was destroyed by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Rumored to be Avalon and the burial site of King Arthur and his Queen, Glastonbury stands today as a fine example of how wealthy the Catholic church was before Henry decided to take it all away.
There is a great introduction to the ruins in the Abbey museum that you walk through. A terrific model of the Abbey is accompanied by a host of artifacts. You get a sense of how magnificent the abbey must have been before it was destroyed. If fact, seeing only the ruins gives it a mystical feel.
The final stop on the tour was the Abbots Kitchen. Here a "Monk" told us of life at the Abbey and how the kitchen fit into the total picture.
You're NOT going to see an Abbey. But you have a clear understanding of how magnificent it was at its high point. Finally, the Abbots Kitchen was nteresting and the Monk did a terrific job of bringing the Abbey alive.
Our group waiting to start our Glastonbury Abbey tour Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Warren, Christin, Kim, Jack & Jan looking at the Glastonbury Abbey model Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Janet, wendy, Sheryl, Lauren & Linda looking at the Glastonbury Abbey model Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Looking toward the main alter Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Getting info from Gillian Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Site of King Arthur's Tomb Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Waiting for the 'Brothers' presentation Glastonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
A 'Monk' explaining what life was like Abbots Kitchen, Galstonbury Abbey (Click to Enlarge)
Glastonbury Abbey Magdalene Street Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9EL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1458 832267 FAX: +44 (0)1458 836117
Wells Cathedral
A very interesting cathedral. There are a number of architectural oddities.
A ceiling beautifully painted like it never was in the past.
Wells’ west front is unique in retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues.
Interior walls, originally covered with colorful pictures were then painted white. But some of the original painting have been found behind one of the alters.
Scissor arches added to insure that the structure remained standing.
A collection of stained glass windows that is second to none...most telling a story.
Our group gathers to start our tour Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
Moat at the Bishop's Palace Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
Inside the cathedral Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
Our group under the supporting arches Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
A standing seat (Looks like you're standing when you're not) Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
The other half of our group with their guide Wells Cathedral (Click to Enlarge)
Front View Wells Cathedral (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Wells Cathedral Cathedral Green Wells, BA5, UK Tel: +44 1749 674483 FAX: +44 1749 832209
Wife of Bath Restaurant
Dinner at The Wife of Bath Restaurant The Wife of Bath Restaurant, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Dinner at The Wife of Bath Restaurant The Wife of Bath Restaurant, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Dinner at The Wife of Bath Restaurant The Wife of Bath Restaurant, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Dinner at The Wife of Bath Restaurant The Wife of Bath Restaurant, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Great food, great friends what more could you ask for?
The Wife of Bath Restaurant The Wife of Bath Restaurant, Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Wife of Bath Restaurant 12 Pierrepont Street Bath. BA1 1LA Tel: 01225 461 745
SBazil Restaurant
Bazils (Lunch Restaurant) S Bazil Restaurant, Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
SBazil Restaurant
Wagamama Restaurant
Noodles, noodles & noodles. A bunch of dishes that have noodles as a base. The tables are large and there may be more than your party sitting at each one. Not to worry, it's a fun time.
The food and service are both good, the restaurant was very nice and the price was reasonable. Definitely a place to try.
Breakfast at the hotel Carfax Hotel, Bath (Click to Enlarge)
Breakfast at the hotel Carfax Hotel, Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Breakfast at the Carfax Hotel Pulteney St Bath BA2 4BS 01225-462089 Tel: +44 1225 462 089 FAX: 0044 (0)1225 443257
Carfax Hotel
This was a very nice hotel. It was located VERY near the downtown, making everything we wanted to see and do within walking distance. Definitely recommended.
Linda, Jan, Norm and Susan leaving our Hotel Carfax Hotel, Bath (Click Picture to Enlarge)
Carfax Hotel Pulteney St Bath BA2 4BS 01225-462089 Tel: +44 1225 462 089 FAX: 0044 (0)1225 443257
...Bath. Along the way we stopped at Blenheim Palace. There's more about it below, but there aren't many pictures (you're not allowed to take them inside the palace). We did, however, take some time for our our group photo. Click Here for More Below
