The Circus, Bath

Roman Baths & Abbey, Bath

Abbey Angels, Bath

Hot Air Ballooning - a popular attraction in Bath & Bristol

So Much To See and Do in Bath and Beyond!

Bath and district has a wealth of places of interest waiting for you to visit and explore. When you arrive at the Old Malt House Hotel, you will find a variety of brochures and information about visiting the area. To help with your sightseeing plans, here is a selection from the many and varied attractions that are all within driving distance of the hotel. With so much to choose from...Bath, Wells, Bristol, Longleat, The Cotswolds and Wiltshire to name just a few of the beautiful places to visit during your stay with us. 

A Few Minutes Away...

Only a short drive from the hotel, you will find the market towns of Midsomer Norton & Radstock. The quaint name Midsomer Norton derives from the dedication of it's Church to the festival of St John the Baptist on Midsummer's Day. Radstock is a former mining and railway town located on the Roman Fosse Way. At both you will find a small collection of local shops, post offices, banks and building societies. At Radstock, the Radstock Museum displays fascinating artefacts and photographs which tell the story of the local mines, railways, agriculture and education. It is well worth a visit - please check their opening hours. You may also call in to the Museum to collect local walking and cycling pamphlets.

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We are just a 15 minutes drive away from the beautiful Chew Valley & Lake with its visitor centre, picnic area, riverside trails and bird life and also the mysterious Standing Stones at Stanton Drew.

Chew Valley Lake

Standing Stone at Stanton Drew

City of Bath, World Heritage Site

We are also just 15 minutes drive from Bath city centre, however, on the A367 at Odd Down, also on the A4 at Newbridge, you can use the Park & Ride, it’s free to park, you pay £2.20 return fare on the bus and buses are every 15 minutes from 6.45am until 8.30pm. You get back on the bus where you got off.

Newbridge Park & Ride

Another popular way of seeing Bath is to take an open top bus tour, which depart from the Abbey and several other stops throughout the city. May we suggest the tour operated by City Sightseeing/Guide Friday. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and give you various discounts throughout the city. Your ticket is for 2 tour bus routes - one in the town and the other, a panoramic route around some of the hills that surround Bath - Particularly useful if you wish to visit Prior Park Landscaped Garden. 

Bath Tourism Plus (Tourist Information Centre) is situated in York Street, behind the Roman Baths and Pump Room. They are able to help with information for places of interest and stock a selection of books and maps for sale. www.visitbath.co.uk 

Wells, England's Smallest City

The City of Wells is about 20 minutes drive through Mendips country and has an excellent long established market on Wednesdays and Saturdays close to the Cathedral and shops. There is a museum about the history of Wells. You will find plenty of places here to relax and enjoy a spot of afternoon tea! There is a Tourist Information Centre at the Town Hall in Wells where you can get information on things to see and do.

The Mendip Hills

From Wells, Cheddar Caves and Gorge, a spectacular gorge which you may drive through and for those with lots of energy climb Jacobs Ladder for magnificent views. Next stop Wookey Hole Caves; a spectacular visitor attraction, caves, paper mill, hall of mirrors and old penny slot machines! Then on to Glastonbury Abbey & Tor, shrouded in mystery and King Arthur Legend. Then Street with Clark’s Shopping Village where you can pick up many a bargain at the retail outlet centre.

Spectacular Cheddar Gorge

Glastonbury Tor

Retail Outlet, Clarks Village at Street

Bristol Historical Maritime City

The City of Bristol is about 30 minutes drive. If you go via Keynsham, you may use the Park & Ride at Brislington. Bristol has a rich maritime history and boasts lots of visitor attractions including the @Bristol modern science and technology museum, Bristol Zoo, Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain and regenerated harbourside with it’s cafes & bars and from where boat trips may be taken.

Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge

SS Great Britain

You can spend an hour watching the famous Bristol Blue Glass being made in the city at their factory.

The Tourist Information Centre for Bristol is based in the @Bristol complex.  www.visitbristol.co.uk 

Colourful Bristol City Centre at Night

Full Steam Ahead

For steam railway enthusiasts, there is plenty to keep you occupied in the area. We are within an hours drive of the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton, The East Somerset Railway at Cranmore and the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard. All 3 offer a seasonal timetable, please check their individual websites for more information. 

East Somerset Railway

Radford itself was on the now redundant Hallatrow to Limpley Stoke Branch Line of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway (part of the Great Western Railway) - which ran alongside the Somersetshire Coal Canal. Obvious traces of this heritage can be seen locally.

Weston-Super-Mare

Just an hour's drive from the hotel, you can find Weston-Super-Mare on the Somerset Coast. Promenade, beach and a pier with amusements - coupled with a reasonable high street shopping area.

The Cotswolds

Continuing from Bristol it is possible to drive north/east into the County of Gloucestershire to the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Popular places to visit include Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden. For just a taste of the Cotswolds, try Castle Combe, slightly north of Bath in the direction of Chippenham. This most picturesque village is typical of many throughout the Cotswolds.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Chipping Campden Cottage

Castle Combe

For more information on the Cotswolds, please contact the Cotswold Visitor Centre at Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX  

Tel: 01285 657280

Wiltshire

You may travel East, through Bath to the County of Wiltshire, where you will find the picturesque village of Lacock, often used as the dramatic backdrop to period dramas, most recently used in part for Harry Potter. The mystical stone circled village of Avebury, the ancient Saxon town of Bradford on Avon with it’s river and canal walks, old churches and country farm. Closer to the Bath & North East Somerset border is the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley, which follows the Kennet & Avon Canal. From there, you could travel South East to the World famous stone circle at Stonehenge and nearby the City of Salisbury with it's tall Cathedral spire. There are many other places of interest in this area, look out for the white horses carved into hillsides and fields with mysterious crop circles predominant in this area.

World Famous Stonehenge

Standing Stones at Avebury

Typical Cottage at Lacock

Saxon Bridge at Bradford on Avon

Longleat

We are about 30/40 minutes drive from Longleat House and it's attractions including the Safari Park. The House is open all year - other attractions being seasonal - please check their opening hours on their website.

Monkey Business at Longleat

This was just a selection of what there is to do and see in the region, more information can be sought on the Visit South West Website.

If you need further information on any of the places mentioned, or indeed on other places of interest, please ask and we will do our best to help. We can also help with driving directions if required. We hope you enjoy visiting and exploring this delightfully picturesque area.

 

Location	Approx. miles from Hotel
Bath	6
Frome	9
Wells	10
Cheddar	12
Longleat	14
Bristol	14
Chew Valley	7
Weston-S-Mare	30
Stonehenge	30
Bradford on Avon	8
Glastonbury	15
Wookey Hole	10
Salisbury	40