Swindon ... Slightly better than Slough

Spent the long weekend staying in the De'vere hotel in Swindon, nice place and really good service, the "outlet shopping" in Swindon was pretty good as well ... but I definitely wouldn't choose to live there, in fact I'd rather gnaw my own feet off.



Visited Stonehenge (or: the hen-ge as Simon calls it), The Roman Baths (in Bath ...) and the Bath Abbey. Spent a lot of time eating, drinking and shopping.


I'd recommend Bath as a place to go and see, just try and avoid the long weekends if you're going to see something like the Roman baths ... Tour groups make it nigh on impossible to actually see anything, and the constant jostling is enough to make you understand why American postal workers are the way they are ...

Nataleigh and Simon were along with us for this trip, it always good to travel with another couple when you're not away for a romantic weekend. We travelled by car from Waterloo station on Saturday the 27th, breezed through the traffic (thanks for the maps google!) and headed off to the mighty metropolis of Swindon. Arrived not long after 3:30 in the afternoon, checked in, dropped off our gear and headed off to find the hen-ge. Got to the Hen-ge, looked about, listened to the overdone audio tour, took some photos and returned to the hotel (via Salisbury of course). Once back at the hotel, we did what we do best ... drank.



The champagne flowed, as did the scotch, the red wine and a couple of cigars ... obviously this was going to mean a few problems in the morning, but male bravado kept us going.

Sunday morning arrived, as did a slight hangover. I woke our travelling companions up (being called at 9.30 in the morning is probably not a favourite way to be woken) and we met (minus Rowan who decided she'd rather be in bed than eat) in the lobby. The half hour wait for a breakfast table was just enough time for us to lose Simon to the ravages of the night before ... Nataleigh and I dined on such fine culinary delights as masses of Bacon, Sausages, hashbrowns and mini cheeses interspersed with pastries and fruit (and the odd chocolate croissant).

After taking food up to our rooms for those who couldn't make it, we journeyed off to Bath. Once there we found a carpark (usually not the easiest of things) and sauntered down to the Bath Abbey. The abbey is fantastic, for a meagre £2.50 donation you can casually wander through this beautiful building. A tip, read the plaques, they are fascinating, also, the first governor of New South Wales is interred there.



The Roman baths, they are magnificent however I'd try to go very early or very late in the day, otherwise "Tourist Rage" is likely to result. The Audio tour is also slightly annoying, I'd definitely recommend going for the abbreviated audio option. It is impressive however, and well worth a visit.



We shopped for the rest of the day (purely because its fun to come home with new stuff), the girls got shoes, the boys some DVD's and some presents for the girls - that night we were back so late we didn't have time for dinner, the girls had a spa while the gents retired to the bar and had a couple of cold ones. After yet another bottle of champagne and a couple of drams ... we retired again.

The following day we all made it down for a hearty breakfast. We then checked out of the hotel and then it was off to the "Outlet Mall" for a spot of shopping, a couple of hours there and some successful last minute purchases, then it was time to return to London.

The M4 was pretty light for a bank holiday, we left Swindon at about 2:15, and arrived back at Waterloo at 4:00 ... returned the car and parted company , Nataleigh and Simon via the tube, and Rowan and I via the overland.