Janet and Dawn, two of our team, enjoyed a tour along the Great West Way in south west England, visiting Bath, Bristol, Ascot, Reading and Newbury. Here is their blog about the fabulous visit!

Enjoying a traditional afternoon tea on England's Great West Way

The Great West Way is a popular touring route which follows 500 miles of navigable routes through idyllic countryside, quaint villages and ancient towns between London and Bristol.

Janet and Dawn both began their familiarisation visit at a networking event organised by Great West Way at Ascot Racecourse – one of the world’s best loved racecourses, which has been popular with royalty for over 300 years. Janet then headed off to Bath to explore the western end of the route, while Dawn explored the central section in Berkshire.

Bath and Bristol

Janet’s first destination in Bath was the incredible Roman Baths, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bath was founded on natural hot springs and here you can see the source of the city’s steaming water. The baths were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex and are some of the best-preserved Roman remains anywhere in the world. Such a privilege to be able to walk in the footsteps of the Romans on the ancient, original stone pavements around the turquoise pool!

Bath Roman Baths

Next stop was a fascinating visit to the Jane Austen Centre, which celebrates Bath’s most famous resident and offers a snapshot of life during Regency times. A must for all those interested in the life and times of one of the world’s greatest novelists.

Jane Austen Centre in Bath

Mary Shelley wrote much of her classic novel Frankenstein while living in Bath and the House of Frankenstein is part museum part visitor experience. Well worth seeing! The whole building is dedicated to the origins of the classic story and Mary’s personal tragedies which shaped her determination to create the remarkable tale of Frankenstein and his monster – recognised as the world’s first science fiction novel.

House of Frankenstein

Moving on to Bristol for the next leg of our trip, we enjoyed a walking tour of the city, where we were delighted to spot a Banksy! One of Bristol’s most famous artists, Banksy has left quite a few pieces of his art around the city and, beyond the harbour area, you can spot his “Well Hung Lover” - the very first legal street art in England. The picture depicts a cheating couple hiding from a rather angry partner!

Banksy’s “Well Hung Lover” in Bristol

After a relaxing boat trip around the harbour – a great way to see the city from a different perspective – we arrived at Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this was once the largest passenger ship in the world. Now a museum, the steam powered vessel was incredibly advanced for her time and is noted for her transatlantic service between Bristol and New York City.

Brunel and the SS Great Britain in Bristol

We finished our tour at Aerospace Bristol, which tells the incredible story of Bristol’s amazing aviation achievements and gives visitors the chance to step aboard Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last of the supersonic jets ever to fly. A must-see on any visit to this part England!

Bristol is a great place to visit at any time, but 2023 sees the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming an official city and county, and to celebrate there will be events and attractions taking place throughout the year, including an intriguing Unicornfest - a unicorn themed art trail. This mythical beast has a long association with Bristol as it features on the city’s ancient seal. Worth visiting the city just to find out more!

Reading and Newbury

Dawn started her part of the tour at the Museum of Rural Life in Reading, where the history of food, farming and the countryside is brought to life. A real nostalgia trip, as well as an insight into the future of the countryside, the museum is home to the world-famous Ladybird Books collection.

This was followed by a walking tour of Reading’s pretty Abbey Quarter, where we explored the 900-year-old Reading Abbey ruins and learnt its history – for example, it is the burial place of King Henry I of England. Other attractions in the Abbey Quarter include Jane Austen’s schoolroom, a former civil war battleground and the site of Oscar Wilde’s incarceration at Reading Gaol.

The collections at Reading Museum

Next stop was Reading Museum, which boasts an extensive and varied archaeology collection gathered from sites in the Thames Valley and around the world. Highlights include finds from nearby Silchester, a village which lies on the site of the Roman town of Calleva. Most of the items in this collection were excavated between 1890 and 1909 and iconic objects include the Silchester Eagle, the inspiration for Rosemary Sutcliff's books The Eagle of the Ninth and The Silver Branch.

A boat trip on the Thames is not to be missed in Reading, as the river meanders out of the town into the beautiful Berkshire countryside – even better while enjoying lunch on board!

Sightseeing certainly makes you hungry, so it was a pleasure to enjoy afternoon tea with a glass of Champagne at the delightful Roseate Reading hotel.

Afternoon tea at Roseate Reading Hotel

Making our way to Newbury for an overnight stay, we were up bright and early for a visit to Donnington Castle on a glorious sunny day. The castle has a long history dating back to the 14th century but was seriously damaged in an 18-month siege during the civil war, and ultimately demolished by Oliver Cromwell, leaving only the majestic gatehouse in its distinctive setting.

Donnington Castle

Back in Newbury, we enjoyed a visit to the West Berkshire Museum, a real little gem of a museum which is housed in two of the town’s best loved historic buildings – the 17th century Cloth Hall and the old Granary / Corn Stores, at the wharf on the banks of the River Kennet.

We finished our tour with a trip to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, just a short hop by road from Newbury. Bombay Sapphire is one of the most popular gin brands in Britain, so it was really interesting to discover its history and to see the botanicals used in the glasshouses and the Botanical Dry Room. A perfect way to end our tour!

Bombay Sapphire Distillery

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of the Great West Way from London to Bristol, experiencing beautiful countryside, fabulous attractions, first class hotels and delicious food and drink, please do contact our friendly team today. Janet Redler Travel is proud to be a Great West Way Official Tour Operator.