Highlights of the South West – Part 2 – Ancient Ruins and Roman Baths

Stunning Salisbury, historic Stonehenge and Avebury and beautiful Bath – perfect places to spend a few days

Travelling through South West England, we made one of our first stops at Salisbury Cathedral which dominates the skyline and the town centre. This amazing cathedral has a decorative facade and the inside holds a copy of the Magna Carta which you can see for yourself. The town has many beautiful buildings and squares with pavement cafes and boutique shops.

We found Stonehenge to be filled with mystery and intrigue – the stones sit majestically in the middle of the landscape, guarding their secrets. We enjoyed the excellent museum and visitor centre. You can take one of the regular shuttle buses that run to and from the stones. Alternatively, you can make the short walk through the countryside. There are very good audioguides, or you download an app to take you around the stones. We highly recommend a visit, if only to imagine your own theory as to why the stones were arranged just so. 

We also visited Avebury , the only place in the world which can claim standing stones which surround not only a church, but also a pub. The walk around the stones is very interesting, and, unlike at Stonehenge, you can actually touch the stones. You can also walk through the village and feel the atmosphere. 

We really enjoyed Bath city centre which is packed with history, from its Roman roots to Georgian facade. See amazing Bath Abbey, which towers over the city centre and explore the Roman Baths . We took a walk through the heart of the city, stopping at the interesting museum to discover the history of the city before exploring the main baths and the caldarium. You should look out for the ‘curse tablets’ which have been found at the site. If you would like some time in the baths yourself, unfortunately, these are off-limits, but there is a purpose-built spa complex just across the square. Finally, walk out to the Royal Crescent to see some stunning properties and explore the quirky little shops along Pulteney Bridge, itself a great photo opportunity. 

Alexandra Fletcher, Business and Operations Executive, October 2019