Historic city centre and legendary bathhouses

The ideal short trip to Bath is to leave London by car in the morning, visit the thermal springs complex in the evening (open until 8pm) and spend the next day exploring the unique local architecture.

Let's make a stop along the way. In the small village of Avebury there is a stone circle that was built some 4,000 years ago. Once you arrive, it's hard to know where to look for it. That's because the town is built into this massive Stonehenge.
The stone circle at Avebury is part of a system of altar sites. They were used for both magical gatherings and rituals. My favourite and perhaps most notable part of it, the entrance, is called the "Hero's Way". Essentially, it's a corridor of 36 stones that marks a person's magical path: that's how many stages, from a Druid perspective, you had to go through, learn and understand before you were allowed into the world of magic. And to the left of the entrance are two "druidic" trees: on Wiccan festivals, locals come to tie a ribbon on them and make a wish.

Some great hotels in town include The Gainsborough Bath Spa, No.15 Great Pulteney, The Bird, The Bath Priory and The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa.
🔋 We chose the latter as it had a charging station for Tesla.
🔌 To use the charging, you need to notify the hotel in advance. The contacts are on official website.
⚡ Other charging stations can be found at this link.

The hot springs after which the town is named deliver over a million litres of mineral-rich water every day. Scientists believe that this water fell as rainfall about 10 000 years ago and then descended to a depth of about 2 km below the surface. There it still heats to about 69 ºC and then rises again through one of the three springs in the city centre: the Cross, Hetling or Royal, which supplies the Roman Baths.
Incidentally, the local water contains one third of the Mendeleev Table - 42 minerals and trace elements. Among them: sulphate, calcium, chloride, sodium, magnesium and iron. It is not for nothing that the ancient word "spa" is associated with the Latin expression "Salus Per Aquam" - "Health through water".
This probably explains why the most popular museum in Bath is the Ancient Roman Baths (£23 for an admission fee). The original building that once stood on the site has fallen into ruin (although you can view the surviving Roman ruins on the inside - they are sunken below street level). It is interesting to note that the Romans did not bathe in the very healing spring - they only threw offerings to the gods there. Earlier inside the complex there was a sanctuary in the courtyard, but only separate elements have been preserved. There are also many other rarities preserved in the baths: Roman mosaics, medieval statues and Renaissance sculptures. Nowadays it is forbidden to bathe in the Roman baths. But you can still sample the thermal water for just 50p in the nearby Grand Pump Room (temporarily closed due to coronavirus restrictions). There's also The Pump Room Restaurant, which serves a Gregorian afternoon tea for £34.50.

Right in front of the Roman Baths complex stands the fascinating Gothic abbey. Admission is free, but you have to wait in a long line to get in.

If you're freezing outside, head to the Mrs Potts Chocolate House, which serves some of the best hot chocolate in town, from white chocolate to milk chocolate to dark chocolate.

While we're on the subject of food, another must-try in Bath is the local yeast dough rolls with a bit of sugar baked inside. They're said to have been adored by Jane Austen - a recommendation hard to resist.
For Bath buns head to Sally Lunns (since 1680), which sits inside the oldest house in Bath - dating back to 1472. And in the basement of the bakery, you can visit a small museum for free and buy scones packed in beautiful boxes. Another place (in case there's a long queue) is The Bath Buns, which is literally just around the corner. You can find sweet buns and tea there too.

If you're in the mood for a serious swim, it's best to head to the state-of-the-art Thermae Bath Spa complex. It opened in 2006 and has also become a 'must-see' destination, primarily because of its rooftop pool with spectacular views over Bath. A visit to the spa costs £35 on weekdays and £40 at the weekend for a two-hour session, including towel, bathrobe and slippers rental.

At the heart of The Bath Priory is the restaurant of the same name, which also has a wonderful view of the hotel's gardens, which cover over four acres and include a farmer's orchard. I recommend (wholeheartedly!) booking a table here - gastronomic pleasure is guaranteed. The menu features dishes from seasonal produce, done in the best Michelin tradition. We were served local pigeons, Cornish crab, amazing goat cheese, fish turbot, tender beef and a phenomenal apple soufflé for dessert. After such a meal, Bath was even more beautiful and the sad tale of the pigs and the banished prince was transformed into a good fairy tale with a happy ending.