£100 or less: bed, Bath, and 'the Fonz'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Ancient thermal waters flow into a modern, posh spa. Tight miniskirts and platform heels on Saturday night transform into billowing choir robes and bowed heads on Sunday morning. Pleas to Roman gods are inscribed less than a block from Christian prayers.

And if you wander down the right street on the right weekend, you might even hear words of wisdom from Henry Winkler -- better known as "the Fonz" to American television audiences -- not too far from a house where English novelist Jane Austen lived in the early 1800s.

What is this place of contrast, culture and occasional celebrity appearances?

Founded in the first century by Romans who used the local hot springs as a thermal spa, Bath is the only destination in the United Kingdom to have the whole city designated a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, according to the city's official tourist information website.

Situated about 180 miles southwest of RAF Lakenheath, Bath offers a wide variety of activities for visitors of nearly every age, demographic, and budget.

I visited the city in late September and spent the night at a camping park for £15. While my "bed" was technically an air mattress and comforter, the location did feature several "pods" and "shepherd's huts" with actual beds, electricity, and a few appliances for £50 per night. Other lodging options around Bath range from youth hostels and farm inns to modern hotels.

Or if you're seeking a bit of "Sense and Sensibility" you can even stay at Jane Austen's house. Near the city center is the former home of the Austen family from 1801-1805. The Georgian property is now divided into four luxury apartments, which can be booked for about £100 per night.

During my trip, I didn't visit the house, but was on my way to explore the Roman Baths when I walked past a display advertising the Bath Children's Literature Festival. That morning, one of the guest speakers was Winkler, who rose to television fame as Arthur Fonzarelli -- "the Fonz" -- from the sitcom Happy Days.

I purchased a ticket and soon learned that Winkler is also the author of a series of children's books following Hank Zipzer, a fourth-grade boy with dyslexia. Addressing an audience that ranged from the very young to the young at heart, Winkler spoke about his own challenges to overcome dyslexia , and how he became an actor, director and author.

Next, I visited the Roman Baths, where you can walk among extensive ruins and chambers, and see artifacts from a temple built in honor of the goddess Sulis Minerva. These items include a collection of 130 "curse tablets" - inscriptions on small sheets of lead or pewter, cast into the hot springs.

According to the UNESCO website, these tablets are the earliest known surviving prayers to a deity in Britain, messages in Latin to the Roman goddess from people who had suffered injustices, asking for wrongs to be put right and for revenge. One tablet laments the loss of a pair of sandals while bathing; another seeks revenge for theft of a bronze vessel, asking that it be filled with the blood of the thief.

Instead of curses, a chorus of praise and worship can often be heard from the Bath Abbey, just blocks away and visible from the Roman Baths. The present abbey, founded in the 1499, features impressive architecture of columns, arches and vaulted ceilings, as Biblical scenes play out across stained glass windows.

The abbey features religious artifacts and occasional exhibitions but remains an active church, with worship services open to visitors throughout the week. Each Sunday, a Holy Communion service, using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, begins at 8:00 a.m. while a more relaxed Parish Communion service begins at 9:30 a.m. A complete list of all services each week can be found on the Bath Abbey website.

After spending much of the afternoon walking through ancient history, it was time to rinse off the dust of past centuries. You can't soak in the Roman Baths these days, but the nearby Thermae Bath Spa is sourced from the same hot springs. A basic 90-minute spa session at the spa's Cross Bath is £17 per person, while other options such as a full-day treatment package can cost up to £195 per person.

The Children's Literature Festival wrapped up in October, so you likely won't bump into Winkler on the streets of Bath this month. However, the holiday season is now in full swing, and there remains a great diversity of events and activities around the city.

Like to ice skate? Bath on Ice is an outdoor ice rink open through Jan. 4, 2015, at the city's Royal Victoria Park.

Have kids who want to meet Father Christmas? Elves escort visitors to greet jolly Saint Nicholas at Santa's Grotto, a log cabin conveniently located just outside a department store in SouthGate Bath, the city's largest shopping center.

More interested in a night of vintage razzle-dazzle? Just a few blocks from SouthGate, the Flaming Feathers Christmas Cabaret performance is Dec. 20 at the Chapel Arts Centre.

Regardless of the season, if you visit Bath, it's often a surprise to learn what's right around the next corner.

Location: Bath
Expenses: Lodging: can vary greatly; tent site at Blackberries Camping Park - £15.  Activities: Admission to the Children's Literature Festival - £6. Individual adult admission to the Roman Baths - £13.50; other ticket (family group ticket, single child, etc.) prices vary. Admission to the Bath Abbey - free, but a donation of  £2.50 per adult is suggested. Admission to the Thermae Bath Spa - £17 for a 90-minute spa session; other treatments and packages vary. Parking: Varies from free on-street parking on Sundays to up to £12.50 per day in designated parking lots. Food: Also varies, depending on how much you bring along and where you choose to eat. Transportation: Also varies, depending on vehicle fuel economy and round-trip distance - expect to spend at least £50.
Recommended items to bring: Camera; food/snacks from home if planning to minimize meal expenses.

Editor's note: This is the second article in a series about travel opportunities in and around the United Kingdom on a budget of £100 or less. No federal endorsement is intended or implied for any of the events or places described. If you have a suggestion for an event or destination, or want to share one of your own adventures, email the Public Affairs office at 48FW.PA@us.af.mil