Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taking Tea in Bath
Bath is the ideal place to indulge in
that quintessentially English tradition
of afternoon tea, served with jam,
clotted cream, and scones. Try the
Pump Room
at the
Roman Baths
(p. 339), which serves “Bath buns”
(sweet buns sprinkled with sugar), or
Sally Lunn's
(p. 339). For £6.18 to
£12, you can get a range of fabulous
Sally Lunn cream teas, which include
toasted and buttered Sally Lunn buns
served with strawberry jam and clotted
cream, along with your choice of tea or
coffee. The
Regency Tea Rooms
, at
the Jane Austen Centre (p. 340), even
offers “Tea with Mr. Darcy” sets for £12
to £21 for two, and basic cream tea sets
from £5.50.
8
Victoria Art Gallery
GALLERY This relatively unknown gallery showcases a fine
collection of British and European art, including paintings by artists who lived and
worked in the Bath area such as Gainsborough. Singled out for special attention is
the art of Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942), now that he has been named as the
“real” Jack the Ripper in Patricia Cornwell's 2002 bestseller,
Portrait of a Killer: Jack
the Ripper—Case Closed.
Special exhibitions are shown in the two large modern gal-
leries downstairs; these change every 6 to 8 weeks and are likely to feature anything
from cartoons to boat sculpture.
Bridge St.
&
01225/477233.
www.victoriagal.org.uk. Free admission. Tues-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 1:30-5pm.
Where to Eat
VERY EXPENSIVE
Dower House
ENGLISH This is one of the West Country's finest dining
choices, and the best place to splurge on a classic high-class English eating experi-
ence. The setting is romantic, with hand-painted wall coverings and alfresco dining
on the sunny terrace in the summer. The contemporary British menu is seasonal,
featuring everything from Wiltshire Downlands lamb with vegetable gratin, goats
curd, and caramelized sweetbread, to a summery wild sea bass with a smoked eel
tortellini. You might finish with one of the lush desserts, such as a hazelnut chocolate
teardrop autumn truffle ice cream with Marsala syrup.
Royal Crescent Hotel (see below), 16 Royal Crescent.
&
01225/823333.
www.royalcrescent.co.uk.
Reservations required. Fixed-price lunch £23 for 2 courses, £28 for 3 courses; fixed-price dinner £55 for
2 courses, £65 for 3 courses. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-2pm and 7-9:30pm (until 10:30pm Sat).
Olive Tree
MODERN ENGLISH/MEDITERRANEAN A highly rated
alternative to the Dower House (above), the Olive Tree offers a posh English din-
ing experience. It's also another restaurant that emphasizes fresh, local produce
and a seasonal menu, though the dishes have a more playful, creative quality here;
think pressing of Somerset game and roasted duck foie gras to start, and tempting
main courses such as hay roast roe venison with potato rosti, Savoy cabbage, and
roasted roots, or filet of Stokes Marsh beef with horseradish mashed potato and
crisp onion bhaji.
Queensberry hotel (see below), Russell St.
&
01225/447928.
www.thequeensberry.co.uk. Reserva-
tions highly recommended. Main courses £17-£29. AE, MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-2pm and 7-10pm; Sun
noon-2pm and 7-9:30pm.
