Hot Air Balloons & Spa Days: 36 Hours in Bath

Oh, for the love of an August bank holiday weekend! With a long weekend stretching ahead of us, and the satisfaction of meeting a major deadline on Wednesday, Stephen and I couldn’t resist the allure of a short escape. On Thursday morning, we set off bright and early for two nights in Bath. It was the type of perfect timing with enough of a getaway to recharge, yet two extra days to rewind when we returned home.

Two days in Bath is never quite enough, but this was not our first visit, and we made sure to make the most of every moment. So, come along with me as I recount how we spent 36 hours in this beautiful city.

An Afternoon Walk Through Bath

Arriving in the late afternoon, we freshened up quickly before taking a leisurely walk into Bath. Our walk took us past Sydney Gardens and onto Great Pulteney Street, before turning towards St Michael's Church and on to Broad Street.

In the photo above, to the left of St Michael's Church, you can see the Old Post Office, which will be the new home of the Fashion Museum Bath. Don’t plan your trip just yet though, construction only begins in 2027 with opening planned in 2030.

Dinner at the Coconut Tree

We were spoilt for choice when it came to dinner options but chose the Coconut Tree as neither of us had sampled Sri Lankan food before. We had the most superb meal with fantastic service, and are now wholeheartedly converted to Sri Lankan food. (Excellent timing too as two Sri Lankan restaurants have opened in my hometown of Dartford).

My favourite items were the Negombo Fish Curry (a delicate white fish wrapped in a coconut leaf), Devilled Prawns, Cheesy Colombo, and Egg Hopper. Described as a ‘must-have for first timers’, this last dish is a bowl-shaped coconut-milk pancake served with an egg and Sri Lankan condiments.

A Twilight Walk Through Parade Gardens

The light was beautiful when we emerged from the restaurant and we decided to take a nice, long walk back to our hotel through Parade Gardens. I was quite taken by Newbury Abbot Trent's Angel of Peace memorial to King Edward VII.

Bath was celebrating 250 years of Jane Austen last year with events throughout the year, leading up a Yuletide Jane Austen Birthday Ball in December. Fear not if you missed out, there is an annual Jane Austen festival that runs every year throughout September.

Looking down the river Avon towards North Parade Bridge. I'd love to stay on one of those houseboats.

I wondered why there is a statue of Mozart as a young boy in Bath's Parade Gardens. Mozart never visited the city, but the statue was commissioned following the deathbed wishes of one Mrs Purnell. The statue was created in bronze and Bath stone by David Backhouse to honour her music-loving son Mark Purnell who passed away in 1985. These days, an annual Mozartfest is held in Bath each November.

Finally, the crowds dispersed a little and we were able to get a glimpse of our reason for visiting the gardens: the famous Pulteney Bridge. Very few bridges with buildings on them remain in England, or indeed anywhere in the world. The bridge itself doesn't look like much when you're on it (hence the lack of photos), but seeing it from a distance gives an idea of its charm.

As we emerged from the gardens, we looked up to see hot air balloons in the sky around Bath Abbey.

We took one last look up the river Avon towards Pulteney Bridge, again admiring the river boats, before making our way across North Parade Bridge.

As we continued past the cricket and rugby grounds towards the hotel, we spotted the hot air balloons high in the sky above Bath.

A Spa Day at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel

After a leisurely lie-in the next morning followed by breakfast, we made our way to the spa for a Signature Spa Day. We were delighted to discover an outdoor area where we could lounge beneath giant parasols, a first for me on the British Isles where it usually wouldn't be warm enough for such a treat. From time to time we relaxed in the al fresco hydrotherapy pool, enjoying gentle massages from the heated water jets.

At noon, we made our way to the treatment rooms where we each enjoyed a one hour massage and a half hour facial. The treatments were superb and Stephen really enjoyed his first facial experience. The relaxation area in the spa also notably calm and soothing.

Afternoon Tea at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel

Our afternoon tea was scheduled for 3pm and we stepped into an elegant space with high ceilings, classic furnishings, and soft, natural light filtering through tall sash windows.

We ordered our teas from the large selection, Birchall's red berry loose leaf tea for me to cleanse my pallet ahead of the sweet treats to come.

I'm usually a fan of the savoury part of an afternoon tea, but on this occasion, the warm, fluffy scones stole the show as did the top tier of sweet treats. All the desserts were beautifully balanced in sweetness. The Victoria sponge was light and fluffy, the chocolate fudge cake was rich and deeply chocolatey, and the cherry tart was simply divine.

Following our afternoon tea, we returned to the spa to enjoy the last few hours of sunshine and warmth. I managed to finish an entire book that day, and so it felt just like we'd been on holiday!

Staying at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel

I don’t often dwell on hotel interiors or experiences on this blog, but the aesthetic at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel was too charming to ignore. Elegant spaces with classic English furnishings, polished wood, ornate vases and a curated collection of paintings give the place a refined yet welcoming feel. We began planning our next visit to a spa hotel in the MacDonald group that very evening. Blissfully relaxed and revitalised after our lovely day, we returned to our room for an afternoon nap. What a perfect couple of days!