London Side-trips

About 1½ hours from London, Bath (pronounced "Bawth") is an elegant city with a golden complexion made by the creamy colored limestone from which most of its buildings are built. You could easily spend the better part of a day here. Features that must not be missed include: The Royal Crescent, the Bath Abbey, and of course, the Roman Baths.

Every day millions of gallons of naturally hot water bubble up from deep underground, bringing health and vitality to the Roman spa, which is the centerpiece of this beautiful city. Once inside, there is a certain special aura about everything, which almost brings a feeling of health by simply breathing it in. (The popularity of Bath was greatly increased by the belief that the water enabled Queen Mary to conceive her first son.) In addition to the bath itself, there are ancient Roman artifacts, including carvings, mosaics, and inscriptions, which enhance the whole experience. Tea or a light meal may be enjoyed in the Georgian Pump Room upstairs. I realize that it may have been our imagination, but my sister and I told each other that we actually felt invigorated after sharing a glass of the curative water, which was available for 50p. And it didn’t taste as awful as we had been told!

I know, it’s only a mysterious collection of stones, but nevertheless I recommend seeing this enigma if you can possibly fit it into your schedule. The best way is to stop by on your way to Bath, Avebury, or the Cotswolds. This would make a nice full day of sightseeing.

Stonehenge itself doesn’t take long to take in; I’d give it maybe an hour. But it must be seen to be believed. It boggles the mind to figure out how this ancient group of people ever transported the 30 blue stones, each weighing 25-45 tons, from a place at least 19 miles away. The sheer magnitude of this task comes into focus when you see a human being in relation to one of these massive stones. It is conjectured that it took 1500 years to complete this complex monument, which apparently served as a temple and calendar for generations.

In the adjoining gift shop, for a few dollars we each bought a tiny book which did a nice job of telling the Stonehenge story in concise, easy-to-understand language.
My son really enjoyed the t-shirt I bought for him--a picture of Stonehenge with the words below it: STONEHENGE ROCKS!

Windsor Castle is only 20 miles outside of London, not far from Heathrow Airport. It can be reached by train, bus, or car, or you could join a tour. As the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the primary residence of the current queen, it is definitely worth a visit.

The castle is very visitor friendly; there is a good historical overview in the first building you enter. You may purchase an official souvenir guidebook or rent an audio guide at the start of your visit for a self-guided tour. In addition, there are 30-minute guided tours available for free.

Things to see in the castle include the lavish staterooms, the gallery featuring the royal art collection, and Queen Mary’s Dollhouse (which I didn’t see). Downhill from the castle is St. George’s Chapel and the Albert Memorial Chapel. We got to see the changing of the guard as well. Outside the castle walls, the city of Windsor abounds in shops and restaurants, etc., which visitor might enjoy.