Since 2014, vlogging couple Bilal and Mima have been sharing their lives on YouTube with their 56K followers. They’ve been married since 2017 – aww, we love a good wedding – so, for their three-year anniversary we treated them to a trip to Bath Spa. But, we didn’t just hand over the tickets – where’s the fun in that? Instead, we whipped up an anniversary treasure hunt for them. Why not try it yourself with someone special?
Bilal and Mima hopped on a direct train from London Paddington to Bath Spa. Bath is within easy reach of a number of UK stations including Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central and Reading, so it’s a top choice for days out and weekend breaks. And, luckily for you, these stations are all Mobile Ticket and eticket-enabled, meaning you can use your phone to whizz straight through the barriers!
First stop on the itinerary was a dip in the mineral-rich warm waters at Thermae Bath Spa. This modern wellness centre offers hot-stone massages, facials and exfoliation treatments – to name a few – and even has a rooftop pool, where you can look out over the Georgian rooftops of the city below. For the budget-conscious, the basic entry fee of £35 may feel a bit steep. But, remember you can save money on your train ticket to Bath by using a Two Together Railcard, or just by booking in advance where you could save 61% on average*. Also, if you’re visiting Bath on a weekday, you can enjoy a special discount – Buy a weekday ticket to the Roman Baths and get a three-hour weekday session for the price of two hours at Thermae Bath Spa.
*Average savings on all fares booked at least one week before day of travel on UK Advanced Fares vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.
Dry off, then pop over to the neighbouring Bath Abbey for a Tower Tour and have a backstage snoop at the ringing room, the bell chamber and even sit behind the clock face. Bear in mind though, the Abbey’s still a working place of worship, so there’ll be no tours on Sundays.
Immersing yourself in history is easy here, as top of the list of things to do in Bath are the traditional Roman Baths. It’s more than just some warm pools of water you’ll find here – a full audio tour will give you insider snippets of knowledge. And for something different, why not join T’ai Chi on the Terrace, or enrol in the day school for Beginner’s Latin?
From midday onwards, you’ll find us in the Pump Room Restaurant snacking on bite-sized cakes and finger sandwiches. Afternoon Tea here is an elegant affair and, whether you opt for a cup of Darjeeling or a glass of Searcys Champagne, their homemade buttermilk scones are served with a generous serving of Dorset clotted cream!
If you’re lucky to live close to Bath, use our Live Tracker tool to get live departure times for the next train home. However, if you’re coming from further afield, then you’ll probably want to bed down in a hotel and make a night of it. We put Bilal and Mima up in the four-star Apex City of Bath hotel, right in the heart of the city centre, but if that’s not for you, there are plenty of hotel options to choose from. Find a hotel in Bath.