Bath Abbey has a little touch of Australia
The Australian flag hanging from the thick, cold Bath Abbey wall looks a little bit out of place.
A 90-minute train ride south-west from London’s Paddington railway station, Bath is a living British museum.
It is the only city in the United Kingdom to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
So why is the Australian flag flying in pride of place in Bath Abbey _ one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions?
Admiral Arthur Philip is the reason.
Philip was the first governor of NSW. He is regarded as one of the founding fathers of Australia for the work he did in establishing the colony.
Philip moved to Bath for the last decade of his life to take in the city’s miraculous healing waters. Despite being in a wheelchair, he has left a lasting legacy and now the city is recognising him with several new monuments, including this one in Bath Abbey.
How exactly did Philip die?
My guide Andrew Butterworth informs the Bath Abbey staff that he intends to show us the plaque dedicated to Philip. The lady behind the counter is quick to point out that Philip is not buried here.
“That’s a controversial story,’’ Butterworth says.
“There’s a deal of conjecture as to exactly how Philip died.”
Philip plunged to his death from the window of his Bennett St home. That part is not in dispute. The conjecture is about whether he fell, was pushed, or actually jumped.
The hint of suicide, although never proven, meant he could not be buried at the Bath Abbey. But the city is again warming to him and unveiled a monument near his Bennett St home in the grounds of the Fashion Museum.
Philip would not recognise what Bath has become today. It is a city that has a sense of style and the high street is an eclectic mix of fashion brands.
The main reason people still come to Bath is to take in the waters. And in one day it is possible to sign up for a spa package that spans 2000 years of history.
You can start your spa journey at the Roman Baths which date back to AD 43. Follow that with lunch in the historic Pump Room before finishing the day with a two-hour spa session at the Thermae Bath Spa.
Take in the waters in Bath
The Thermae Bath Spa is an stunning combination of three 18th century spa buildings with a state-of-the-art new one. Spa tourism is big business and this retreat, with strong Asian and British spa influences, is destined to become the UK’s hippest hotel.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa will be the only hotel in the UK to exclusively offer a natural thermal spa within a hotel.
It will offer something completely different. It will be a new level of luxury for Bath. This will be the place to bring people to impress them.
Set behind the Georgian façade the hotel will have 99 guest rooms and suites and while it was still under construction when I visited you can see the makings of a world-class retreat.
The Thermae Bath Spa’s thermal waters contain 42 different minerals and are heated to 33.5 degrees. And from the rooftop pool you get 360 degree views across the city.
It’s a rugby town
Mr Butterworth, an avid rugby fan, tells me this is where he suspects South Sydney forward Burgess will spend a lot of his time recovering from torrid matches when he joins the Bath rugby club later this year. The other place I suggest Sam visit is The Circus Cafe & Restaurant in Brock St. The Times newspaper well deservedly voted it into their list of the “top 10 hidden secrets” in the UK. The food is fresh and local and the serving sizes are big enough to satisfy even a footballer’s appetite.
Rugby is a big deal in Bath and when locals hear my Australian accent they immediately ask about Big Sammy Burgess.
But if the switch of codes doesn’t work out for Sam he can emulate the efforts of Russell Crowe. The owner of South Sydney leapt into the Avon River in the final scene of Les Miserable. Crowe’s character jumps into the Seine _ although its not really the Seine as this part was filmed in Bath.
Do
The Shard
A short walk from the London Bridge tube station you will find one of the city’s newest attractions, The Shard. This 480 million pound sparkling glass structure was completed in 2010. It has 72 floors that incase a hotel, office space and three magnificent viewing platforms on level 68, 69 and 72. While the view of the structure from the ground is heading-spinningly high, you will find the view from the platforms entrancing. I felt like Gulliver in the land of Lilliput. I watched as Londoners below scurried around like ants. The ever-recognisable red double decker buses looked the size of tiny toy cars weaving in and out of the miniature lego-like buildings. It’s the first time I have ever thought of London as a small city.
The entry fee is 29.95 pounds (24.95 pounds if you book at least 24 hours before you visit) for 30 minutes. I stayed for about 20 minutes and although the cost of entry is high, I think it is worth it. The Shard is the tallest building in London and the third tallest structure in Europe.
Stay
The Indigo Hotel, Paddington
Finding good-value accommodation in London is never easy. With more than one million Australians visiting the UK each year, it is a constant source of concern. You can fork out a lot of money on a well-known brand hotel to arrive and find it looking a bit shabby or tired. I’ve found the answer.
This time in London I stayed at the Indigo Hotel in the heart of Paddington. I’ll do so again the next time I need a hotel in London. This bright and funky boutique-style hotel has 64 guest rooms that are big for London standards. The decor is modern and fresh with dark timber furniture brightened by colourful cushions. A big plus for me was the mini bar. Although it had no alcohol, it did contain complimentary soft drinks and water and it was restocked each day. There’s free wi-fi.
I stayed for six nights and the breakfast (I do love British sausages on bap rolls) and all-round level of service, from the front desk staff to the night clerk, was great. The hotel is perfectly positioned in London St surrounded by numerous restaurants offering everything from pub grub to Indian, Chinese and Lebanese. Paddington railway station is an easy three-minute walk and it’s about five-minutes on foot to Hyde Park.