Planning a spontaneous New Year’s Eve getaway to the historic city of Bath added an extra dash of excitement to our end-of-year celebrations. Having first visited in July 2024, we were keen to return and explore more of its charming streets and nearby attractions.
Arrival in Bath
Our journey to Bath wasn’t without its challenges. The final stretch of the drive was engulfed in thick fog, making visibility almost non-existent. It was scary biscuits at some points, but we arrived safely and quickly settled into our accommodation before heading out to find some food.
The city centre was buzzing with festive cheer. Twinkling Christmas lights adorned the streets, and the atmosphere was lively, with people milling around the many bars and restaurants. The holiday spirit was in full swing, making our impromptu trip feel even more special.
Dinner at Pearl of India
While browsing menus outside a small eatery called Bardacious, a sign for Pearl of India caught our eye. Being fans of Indian cuisine, we couldn’t resist. Unbeknown to us, the restaurant is housed in one of Bath’s historic halls, creating a grand and bustling atmosphere. We walked through these unassuming doors, up the staircase and through a double door that, once opened, released a cacophony of sound from the grand ballroom. When it’s in full swing it is noisy, but sometimes it’s nice to be nestled in the hustle and bustle of life, making it feel like we were part of a vibrant celebration.
We opted for the Veggie Biryani with a Madras sauce and a Veggie Jalfrezi. Both dishes were outstanding—flavourful, satisfying, and a perfect way to warm up on a chilly evening.
Exploring Cheddar Gorge
After a restful night, we checked the weather forecast and decided to venture to Cheddar Gorge for a hike. The drive from Bath to Cheddar was picturesque, with the imposing cliffs of the gorge creating a dramatic backdrop, transporting you into and epic scene that wouldn’t look out of place in The Lord of The Rings.
The trail itself was muddy—the kind of mud that has you slipping and sliding with every step. Thankfully, my trusty walking boots provided some grip, though there were still a few squeals as I navigated particularly tricky patches.
Despite the overcast skies, the views from the gorge were impressive. It’s a place that has a rugged beauty, especially when seen from the top of the cliffs. We tackled Jacob’s Ladder—a steep staircase with 274 steps—on our way back down. I couldn’t help but think how it would make for an excellent workout going up!
A Sweet Ending in Cheddar
Once back into civilisation, we couldn’t resist picking up a souvenir fridge magnet and some super delicious dairy-free vanilla fudge from a local shop. To round off our visit, it seemed only right to pop into the White Hart Inn, a cosy traditional pub, for a well-earned drink.
Relaxing in Bath
Back in Bath, I got to indulge in a hot bath before settling in for a relaxing evening. The next day, with gloomier weather, we decided to stay local and explore the city.
We started with brunch at Cascara, where we enjoyed a delicious spread. Energised, we set off to discover some of Bath’s lesser-known architectural gems, including Lansdown Crescent, Somerset Place, and Cavendish Crescent. These quieter spots offered a peaceful contrast to the busier tourist areas.
Before tackling the uphill walk to these crescents, we stopped for coffee at Chandos Deli. Having spotted it during our summer visit, we were pleased to finally get inside and savour a well-made long black.
Having seen more of Bath’s Crescents, we came back down past it’s most famous, Royal Crescent, and were very tempted to pop into the Royal Hotel to have a look inside this gorgeous Georgian building and perhaps partake in a cheeky glass of something, but we were short on time, so decided to keep that for another visit, perhaps in the summer when we might take advantage of the terrace, which I think would be quite wonderful.
A quick food supply run and then it was back home, put our feet up and enjoy an episode or two of Black Doves and tuck into some of my Christmas chocolates, Bouja Bouja Champagne truffles, which are gorgeous (they were also a firm favourite of my Nanna).
A Visit to Bristol
For New Year’s Eve, we decided to head to Bristol. There’s something about the city’s energy that draws me in, particularly its vibrant coffee scene. We began our day at Society Café on Farr’s Lane, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee was irresistible. There was an entire range of pastries and sweet treats that I could choose from, so much so, I was in a right tizzy as I wanted everything! In the end I had to be a tiny bit sensible and ordered the Almond Croissant and Hazelnut Pain au Chocolat, these were seriously good, so much so, I’d have bought the whole display case.
With caffeine and sugar fuelling us, we made our way to the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge. Clifton itself is a beautiful suburb of Bristol, it’s what I would say is a self-contained hot spot that I would have loved to have lived in back in my 20s, there so much going on with a range of bars, restaurants and coffee shops along with boutique shops and open green spaces, making it a very much sought after place to reside. The bridge, even with maintenance work limiting pedestrian access, remains a marvel to see. We crossed it, took plenty of photos, and visited the observatory for an even better view.
Seeing in 2025
Back home, we had a lovely glass of wine, dinner and sawe in the new year 2025 by watching the fireworks light up the sky. It was a perfect end to a memorable adventure.
Wishing You a Wonderful New Year
As we step into 2025, I want to thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope my travel tales inspire your own adventures. I wish you all health, love and happiness, smiles and lots of good coffee. Happy New Year!
