The Magic That Is Bath At Christmas Time

With Christmas just a few short, short weeks away no doubt there are many of you out there getting into the festive spirit and really looking forward to this wonderful time of year, spending as much time as possible with friends and family, and enjoying all the fun Christmassy events that are put on around the UK this season.

All over the country, Christmas markets have just opened their wooden chalet doors, with all sorts of delicious food and drink on offer, amazing present-buying opportunities and lots of fun to be had each and every day, from now right through until the end of December.

If you’re looking to visit one of the UK’s best market experiences, however, you will certainly thank yourselves if you book coach trips to the Bath Christmas markets, home to more than 150 stalls filled with nothing but Christmas cheer… absolutely perfect for getting you into the spirit of things, if you aren’t feeling festive already.

The markets are open from November 28th until December 15th so you have plenty of time to explore and do all your Christmas shopping. Whether you want to pick up a few extra decorations for your tree or find the perfect jewellery for someone special in your life, or even just to take some interesting and unique homeware items back with you for your own house, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for and more at the markets this year.

You could really make it very special for yourself in 2019, however, as the organisers are also running a Bath Christmas Market Experience to really make your trip to the historic spa town even more memorable.

You could give some crafts a go, make a festive wreath with the help of a local florist, enjoy a two-course champagne lunch at The Ivy Bath Brasserie and catch your breath at the Thermae Bath Spa… what a wonderful way to spend a day!

But the markets aren’t all that Bath has to offer discerning Christmas aficionados and you’ll find you’ve come to the right place if you really want to get into the festive spirit.

Make your way to Royal Victoria Park and you’ll discover a delightful winter wonderland, where you’ll find Bath on Ice, one of the city’s biggest attractions at this time of year. The ice rink itself is huge at 1,000 sq/m so there’s more than enough space for you to show your skating skills off with aplomb.

But you might also want to give the glow-in-the-dark mini golf course a go as well, with fluorescent golf balls used on the 18-hole course that has been colourfully lit up – a really fun way to spend an evening.

And once you’ve finished putting merrily away, head off to the Moguls Alpine Bar, which really will make you feel like you’re on holiday in a ski lodge, where you’ll find pizzas, hot dogs and loaded fries to fill up on, washing them down with Christmassy drinks like mulled wine, hot chocolate and more.

While you’re in the local area, you and the family might want to make your way to Longleat safari park for this year’s Festival of Light. The event for 2019 has a Myths and Legends theme, with stunning lanterns depicting the gods and magical beings of ancient Greece, as well as telling tales of British folklore. There’s also a kraken to look out for when you get to the Half Mile lake – something to really look forward to.

The kids are sure to want to hop on board the Santa Train for a trip to the North Pole, as well. The journey takes you past the Half Mile lake before reaching the North Pole Halt, a snow-covered winter wonderland. From there, you can head off to find Father Christmas in his grotto where you can all make a few Christmas wishes.

Ornithologists, meanwhile, are catered for with A Flight Before Christmas, a seasonal show that sees some of our feathered friends take up residence in the Longhouse to help tell a festive tale. You can also meet some of the birds after the show in new aviaries outside the Longhouse, including tawny and barn owls.

Make sure you spare enough time to have a wander around Longleat House itself, however, as it has been given a delightful seasonal makeover for 2019. Guests will apparently be whisked back in time to see what festive celebrations of the 1920s were like, with the house decorated as if for a Christmas party.

There’s also the Longleat House 2019 Christmas exhibition – King Arthur Hereabouts – which celebrates the Once and Future King. You’ll be able to see some major medieval manuscripts and find out all about the Arthurian associations of Glastonbury Abbey, as well as the transportation of the stones for Stonehenge from Ireland, which has been attributed to Merlin!

Another period property certainly worth a wander around is No 1 Royal Crescent, a stunning Georgian townhouse that was built between 1767 and 1774. A visit will show you want life was like for wealthy landowners in Bath during the 18th century and Christmas really is a magical time to visit, with all sorts of seasonal events going on.

Between November 30th and January 5th, you’ll be able to discover Christmas through the ages and find out how the various traditions we still follow today came about, from Georgian history right through to the Victorians, onto the wartime Christmasses and how we celebrate today.

You will also be able to visit the house in the evenings on several dates in December, with the doors staying open until 19:00 on three separate days over the course of the month so you can explore after dark and listen to the room guides telling all sorts of interesting Christmas tales.

Those of you feeling particularly energetic, meanwhile, might want to sign yourselves up for a festive run around the city. You can dress up as much as you want and get to know the area in an entirely new and exciting day, making friends as you go – and finishing the run off with a well-earned mug of hot mulled wine.

The run itself will be no longer than a 5k and it will be set at a chatty pace, apparently, with the opportunity to stop for photos along the way – so don’t worry if you’re not at your fittest at the moment.

And for anyone who would rather eat their way through Christmas than exercise, you’re more than catered for as well. What about heading off to The Bath Priory for a festive tasting dinner menu? These events are ongoing between November 28th and December 23rd, so you have plenty of time to arrange a visit.

Dishes on the menu include smoked salmon and crab terrine, game consomme, pan-fried halibut, coconut sorbet and chocolate vacherin – so you know you’ll be going home very well fed indeed.

As ever, if you need to arrange luxury coach travel to various destinations around the UK, Bath included, get in touch with us here at A Class Coach Hire to find out how we can help you get from A to B in serious style.