Bath: Sidetrips
Get out of town and explore the nearby sights
Ride a hot air balloon above Bath at sunrise or sunset with Champagne after
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Come ballooning over Bath and see the city from above!
The flight will last about an hour but you will be with us for 3-4 hours and includes Champagne and a flight certificate.
On arrival at Royal Victoria Park, you will be greeted by the pilot and crew and you can be involved on setting up the balloon or just watch. After a briefing from your pilot, you will take to the air and you will drift over villages and countryside.
On landing the crew will have followed us with vehicles and trailers and they will meet us and pack the balloon away - most people like to be involved in this as well! You will then be served chilled Champagne, beers & soft drinks before returning you to the launch site. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
You will fly at dusk or dawn when the winds are usually at their calmest. For a morning flight you meet at 6-6.30am am and in the evening, usually 2-3 hours before sunset.
It's recommended that you dress for a walk for the time of year. You may also choose to bring a hat to protect your head from the heat of the burners! Please note ballooning is weather dependent.
If you’ve ever fancied seeing Bath from a different angle, then a hot air balloon ride offers a fantastic opportunity to view the city from above. Bailey Balloons offers magical flight experiences taking off from Royal Victoria Park, next to the impressive Royal Crescent – a must see from the air. Enjoy drifting over the beautiful Somerset countryside, and views of many of Bath’s famous attractions such as Pulteney Bridge, Bath Abbey and The Circus.
You will travel on the river Avon from Bath, first up stream to see the historic sights including Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey before heading downstream through the historic industrial area and to the outskirts of the countryside with the opportunity to see the riverside wildlife on this relaxing cruise.
Your destination, The Locksbrook Inn, which first opened in 1738 to provide refreshments to the men pulling the barges. It is a friendly and relaxed riverside pub offering the ideal place to relax, eat, drink and chat, out of the buzzing town centre. We will make a reservation inside for you but on arrival you can choose to sit outside. The menu has a great selection of food to choose from, beers and wines. Please note: the lunch is not included in the price.
You will leave the departure point at 11am, arriving at the Locksbrook Inn at 12 midday. You will return to the boat at 1.30pm when tea, coffee or soft drink is available on-board free of charge. You will arrive back in central Bath at 2pm.
The 1960's traditional cruiser has a cozy capacity of 10 passengers and you can relax in the saloon or join the skipper in the cockpit, where the roof will be open on sunny days and on cooler days you will be kept warm and cozy with a real stove fire in the saloon. Your skipper will be pleased to tell you more about the history and the river as you cruise.
Home to picture perfect honey-colored stone villages set among rolling limestone hills, the Cotswolds is the largest designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' in England and Wales making it a 'must-see' destination for visitors to the South West England and a great day out of Bath. This private full-day excursion from Bath exclusive to your family or party, your driver-guide will show you the best of the Cotswold villages and countryside. Sit back and relax in an air-conditioned vehicle and you'll see the beautiful countryside pass by as you make short hops between picturesque villages such as Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and Upper and Lower Slaughter.
At the start of your tour, you will be collected from your Bath hotel or accommodation address for a full-day tour of the Cotswolds villages and countryside, typically visiting villages and towns such as Castle Combe, Bibury, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold before returning back to Bath at approx. 5pm-5.30pm. Reasonable adjustments to the itinerary to meet your requests and interests can be made on the day with your driver.
Transportation will provided in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle seating up to four passengers and is exclusive to your family/party (not a shared bus service). The vehicle will be driven by a friendly and experienced driver who will provide general information and conversation whilst driving. Drivers do not normally enter attractions with clients.
Hop over the River Severn and cross the border from England into Wales with a full-day tour from Bath that takes in several of South Wales's top attractions. You will be picked up from your Bath hotel or accommodation address to begin your journey to South Wales, a day that includes stops at historic attractions such Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey and Caerphilly Castle. Your drivers will provide conversation as they take you on a scenic circuit route through South Wales in one of our modern, air-conditioned vehicles that is exclusive to your family or party.
Your driver will collect you from your Bath hotel or accommodation address at around 8:30am, setting off to South Wales via the Seven Bridge crossings with your first stop at the historic Chepstow Castle, before proceeding on to the stunning ruins of Tintern Abbey. After your visit here you can choose to visit the impressive Raglan Castle or head up the Wye Valley to the pretty market town to Monmouth before moving on in a circuitous route to the next stop, the largest castle in Wales, Caerphilly.
After Caerphilly you will begin the return route to Bath, with an estimated return time of around 5.30pm-6pm.
A visit time of around one hour per stop applies. To make the most of your visit time to the attractions it's recommended you arrange a picnic lunch that can be eaten in the vehicle (cold foods only) or opt to visit Monmouth (as above) for a lunch break.
Entrance charges to attractions visited are not included. Your driver will provide general information and conversation whilst driving only and do not normally enter attractions with clients: most attractions will have their own guides on hand to provide specific information.
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and prettiest hidden treasures. This tour offers you more than just sightseeing: the stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and conversations make each tour unique. Travelling in a small group of eight guests or fewer, , get beneath the surface and discover real, authentic, quintessential England. This full-day Stonehenge and Secret Somerset tour combines a visit to one of the most iconic ancient structures in the world with a journey into 'secret Somerset', where you'll discover fascinating places and hear amazing stories that you simply will not see on the usual tourist trail or with any other tour.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee at a unique and stunning location on the way to Stonehenge.
Once you arrive at Stonehenge, you get to skip the ticket queues and the audio-guides that most visitors to Stonehenge encounter, and enjoy a personal, interactive tour of the stones.
Departing Stonegenge, you escape the crowds and delve deep into 'Secret Somerset', a land of stunning countryside, hidden villages and quaint cottages. You enjoy lunch at a carefully selected award-winning traditional English Inn that oozes character and serves superb locally-sourced fare. You can also sample local beverages such as locally made and world renowned Somerset cider.
After lunch you will explore some stunning villages - places few other tourists will ever see or even hear about. You will admire archetypal English cottages and hear some of the unique stories that make these places special, enjoying countryside that has inspired writers such as Hardy and Austen and artists such as Turner and Constable.
You will finish the afternoon (if there's time) with the opportunity to enjoy a hidden walled garden and the chance to enjoy (optional) tea and cake in very special location before returning to Bath.
This tour is not like the most. Your guide's passion is sharing with visitors to the Bath & Cotswolds area a taste of real England, not just the usual well-trodden tourist sights. Therefore, your guides run small, personable tours for discerning travellers wishing to explore authentic England and seeking to experience the land that inspired greats such as Austen, Hardy and Constable.
The route is one that takes you into the real Cotswolds, down tiny country lanes and through sleepy villages so you can see the best of the Cotswolds.
Every tour is different. You may be interested in browsing shops or getting your wellies on and going for a walk through the fields. You may want to try some local artisanal cheese at a local cheese makers or try some beer at a small scale brewery. Whatever your interests are, this tour can be planned to suit your preferences.
Your guide is unique. He is a local who was formerly a History and Politics graduate/teacher and has been described in one publication as a 'tour guide extraordinaire' who is both entertaining and informative.
In the morning you will be picked up to be taken to the world famous Stonehenge to learn everything you ever wanted to know about this unique and stunning structure. Afterwards, as this is a private and bespoke tour, what happens next is up to you.
You can visit medieval Salisbury and its breathtaking Cathedral; continue the prehistoric theme by exploring nearby Avesbury, another prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage site; explore a grand Elizabethan House; or see a little bit of real England by visiting some stunning hidden villages and a ruined castle.
Whilst you will follow a carefully planned route that will give you the chance to see the best of the Cotswolds, every private tour is different. Whatever your interests are, this tour can be planned to suit your preferences.
Your guide is unique. He is a local who was formerly a History and Politics graduate/teacher and has been described in one publication as a 'tour guide extraordinaire' who is both entertaining and informative.
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and most interesting hidden treasures. This tour of the southern Cotswolds and Malmesbury offers you more than just sightseeing: stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and unique experiences. Travelling in a small group (up to eight passengers), led by an engaging, knowledgeable and local guide, discover real, authentic, quintessential England. Your Cotswolds, Saxons and Victuals tour combines a visit to one of the most historic towns in England, with the opportunity to see some of the finest local crafts people demonstrate their skills. Learn how to make sausages with a traditional butcher, discover the traditional art of cask beer brewing and visit a jaw dropping Gothic Victorian Stately home, off limits to the general public. Enjoy stunning Cotswolds scenery and encounter the resting place of a great King. Hear beguiling stories and see intriguing places that are simply not on the usual tourist trail.
This tour will provide you with a taste of real England, not just the usual well, trodden tourist sights. All the tours are small and personable and aimed for discerning travellers wishing to explore authentic England and seeking to experience the land that inspired greats such as Austen, Hardy and Constable.
For your guide, it's not just about sightseeing; it's about the culinary experiences, the history and the characters, the visits to the small, hidden places only the locals know, and the stories and conversations that make every visit unique.
Your guide want you to be surprised and delighted by the places you visit together, so you won't always be told exactly where you'll be going - the surprise is part of the magic - but you are guaranteed that experience of quintessential England you've always wanted.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing from Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee in an old coaching inn in a stunning hilltop town in the Cotswolds.
Once you arrive in Malmesbury, you'll meet a traditional butcher and learn how to make his national award-winning sausages followed by a taster afterwards.
You'll then be taken on a personal, guided tour of Malmesbury, the oldest borough in England (chartered in 880AD) with a history dating back over 2500 years and one of the most important towns in England in the Medieval era, home to the tomb of the first King of England.
You'll then enjoy lunch (included in the tour price) at an award-winning country pub popular with members of the Royal Family.
After lunch, depending on availability, you'll meet a world-renowned swordsmith in his workshop who makes historic swords using the methods that were used at the time.
Finally, you'll visit a local brewery that makes traditional, cask beer and be taken on a tour by the chief brewer before finishing with a taster before heading back to Bath just after 5.30pm.
Experience authentic, quintessential England. Â We create experiences: Journeys into the English countryside to uncover the history, culture, stories and experiences that make England unique.
Our 'Medieval Marvels & Movie Scenes' experience takes you on a tour of several of the most stunning local towns and villages in England to discover picture perfect scenes, intriguing history and some of the locations used in some of the most famous films made in England: Harry Potter, the BBC's Pride & Prejudice series, War Horse, Downton Abbey and more. Â Discover the stories, history, and characters that make these places more than just filming locations. Â Enter an 800 year old stately home, see the birthplace of photography and uncover the stories of those who came before us.
Travelling in a small group of eight or fewer guests in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle you will...
- Visit Castle Combe, one of the most beautiful villages in England.
- Enjoy a morning coffee in a stately country house.
- Explore Lacock, a gorgeous medieval village and a film location for many features and TV series.
- Visit Lacock Abbey, a stately home and the birthplace of modern photography.
- Enjoy lunch at a charming, country pub that serves superb locally-sourced fare, with a drink included.
- Wander through a Saxon town that features a canal, river and a church that dates back over 1000 years.
- Browse local boutiques and peruse the local crafts.
- Finish the afternoon with a drink in a fine English country pub
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