The It's darling! guide to Bath

We know that there are many of you coming to Bath for the day on Saturday and we are really looking forward to seeing you. But we also thought you might like a bit of a potted travel guide to Bath, "It's darling!" style - where to find us, how to get there, where to have lunch. We'll be adding to it over the next couple of days, so keep checking!

Where to find us
 
The Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW, Tel: 01225 39 40 41
The fair opens at 9am and last admittance is 5.30pm. And it's free to get in.

Click here for a streetmap

Where to park

Cricket Pavillion Carpark - long stay

Charlotte Street Carpark - long stay

Waitrose Carpark - short stay 4 hours at a time but very near The Guildhall

Public Transport

By rail: Bath is well-served by trains. There are hourly direct trains from Southampton and Portsmouth and half-hourly trains from London, Reading, Didcot and Chippenham. You can also reach Bath from Wales via Bristol Parkway and from the North via Bristol Temple Meads. There are also local routes from Bristol, Weymouth, Westbury, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Frome - and probably more besides.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/ for more details

By bus: There are plenty of great bus routes -check the First Group Website for comprehensive details and maps. If you are planning to travel by bus should note that the area around Bath might be busy that day because of different events in the area like an air tatoo in Fairford - so leave early or with plenty of time.

Park and Ride: Services operate every 12-15 minutes making it a great option for visitors.

Where to eat and drink 

The Garrick's Head
Gastropub near the Theatre Royal. Stylish pub, good grub (although a bit hidden by the scaffolding over the theatre at the mo).

The Riverside
Near the, ahem, the river - and The Guildhall (round the back of it). Veggie burgers, salads, pizzas. Some outside seating but it does get busy - as does everywhere at lunchtime.

Jamie's Italian in Milsom Place
Well worth the queue to get in and in a very swanky part of Bath too

The Metropolitan Cafe
Stylish vegetarian cafe above a gift shop in the centre of town

Tea Time - opposite Bath Spa station
Cute tea party vibe - sandwiches, smoothies and of course cakes (though there will be plenty of those courtesy of Country Cupcakes at the fair). The perfect place to stop on the way back to the station.

There is also a big new bar-restaurant at the back of Jolly's House of Fraser store on Milsom Place. We can't remember at all what it's called but it is huge so there will always be enough room for everyone and it looks very swanky too. 

Other things to do

Get there early and visit the Farmer's Market at Green Park Station, near the big Sainsbury's where you can park for an hour. There are artisan stalls there all day (we love them all, especially Wiltshire Tea and lovely Becky Sage the florist) but the food producers leave by lunchtime. Our favourites include: Homewood Cheeses.

Visit the "Diana's dresses" exhibition at the Fashion museum. Starts 17th July - 10 of Princess Diana's most famous dresses.

After you've done the royal dresses, check out her ex Prince Charles' Highgrove Shop on Milsom Street - his second store. It even sells Highgrove champagne don'cha know. 

Take in a bit of high culture at the Victoria Art Gallery, opposite the river behind the Guildhall.

Sit in the square near the Abbey, watch the coach parties watch the street magicians and artists and sing along with Bath's one reggae busker (yep, there's only one doing Bob Marley, so he's Bath Main Celebrity. Think he's considered "alternative")

Talking of celebrities, try and spot actor Anthony Head about town. He's been spotted in Waitrose and Starbucks recently, both of which are near the Guildhall. He's obviously "between jobs." Happens to the best of us, Ant.

Go for a walk in the Botanical Gardens in Victoria Park

Bring your cossie and spend a couple of hours in the Thermae Spa - Bath's natural spring. You've got to try the heated rooftop pool with views of the Abbey. Beautiful (but if you're on your own, give it a miss at dusk. Tends to get a bit "romantic" then).

For more ideas check the Visit Bath website - we're on there too