Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
historic hotels, but the wood and rattan furniture is tasteful nonetheless, and the
breakfast and free Internet make this good value.
10 Upper Oldfield Park, Bath, Somerset BA2 3JZ. www.badmintonvilla.co.uk.
&
01225/426347.
Fax
01225/420393. 4 units. £75-£80 double; £100 family room. No children 7 and under. Rates include
English breakfast. MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 14.
In room:
TV, DVD, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Pratt's Hotel
Another historic choice, Pratt's is a relatively cheap way to get the
classic Bath experience. Several elegant terraced Georgian townhouses—some of
which have been taking guests since 1791 (Sir Walter Scott was a boarder)—were
joined together to form this complex. Pratt's successfully milks this heritage with
period decor, spacious rooms, and genteel afternoon tea in the hotel lounge. The
bedrooms are nothing special, furnished in a comfortable though utilitarian style.
South Parade, Bath, Somerset BA2 4AB. www.prattshotel.com.
&
01225/460441.
Fax 01225/448807.
46 units. £57-£67 double. Children 13 and under stay free if sharing a room with 2 adults. Rates include
English breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking £12.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; room service; Wi-Fi (£6 per
90 min., £10 per day).
In room:
TV, hair dryer.
Side Trips from Bath
LACOCK
Tiny Lacock is one of the best-preserved villages in England. Turned over to the
National Trust in 1944, it's crammed with enchanting medieval and 16th-century
homes, gardens, and churches.
Lacock Abbey,
High Street (
&
01249/730459;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
lacock), is actually a whimsical country house, built upon the foundations of a
nunnery dating from 1232. The first-floor rooms and the Great Hall are open to
visitors. While on the grounds, stop by the medieval barn, home to the
Fox Talbot
Museum
(
&
01249/730459
). This is where William Henry Fox Talbot carried
out his early experiments with photography, making the first known photographic
prints in 1833. The galleries here tell the story of the pioneer and display tempo-
rary photography exhibitions.
The abbey grounds, cloisters, and museum are open November to February daily
11am to 4pm, and March to October daily 10:30am to 5:30pm. The abbey rooms are
open November to February Saturday and Sunday noon to 4pm, and March to Octo-
ber Wednesday to Monday 11am to 5pm. Admission is £10 for adults and £5.10 for
children 5 to 13; a family ticket costs £27. Admission to the grounds and museum
only is £7.70 for adults, £3.80 for children, and £20 for a family ticket.
Housed in a building that has been used as a pub since 1361, the
George Inn,
4
West St. (
&
01249/730263
), is the most atmospheric place to eat. Daily specials
include classics like faggots (meatballs usually made with pork offal) with chips and
peas, and steak and Wadworth Ale pie (main courses £8.95-£9.95). It's open Monday
to Thursday 9am to 2:30pm and 5 to 11pm; Friday and Saturday 9am to 11pm; and
Sunday 9am to 10:30pm.
From Bath, take the A4 for about 12 miles to the A350, and then head south to
Lacock.
CASTLE COMBE
The village of Castle Combe is another gorgeous old village, comprising one street
lined with aging stone cottages and easily explored during a morning or afternoon. It's
especially popular with filmmakers: The financially disastrous
Dr. Doolittle
was
8
