An Alternative Valentine’s Day in Bath

Just the words ‘Valentine’s day’ can cause mass panic buying of tacky, unwanted gifts during February. It does not have to be this way, with Bath offering a simple alternative with minimal risk of leaving you penniless at the end of the day.

Bath is one of those laid back cities, where you can forget the rest of the world, even if it is just for an hour or two. Wrap up warm and walk along the weir. The sound of the water crashing by Pulteney Bridge before continuing a relaxed flow down the river is mesmerising, and an almost perfect setting for a whisper of loving words before walking over to the Circus.

Standing under the trees in the centre, it is the perfect opportunity to point out that the houses were built around this middle point. Georgian architects made this place to last hundreds of years. It is such a romantic idea that some things can last longer than anyone can imagine, without the need to buy expensive teddy bears or chocolates with ‘I heart you’ written on them.

On the way back to the car park, bus station or train station, Little Southgate is home to Tea Monkey. In this new but already popular cafe, you can sit back, rest your feet and enjoy free refills of the interesting pots of tea available. It is then nearly impossible to resist the cakes on display.

Instead of spending money on an overpriced restaurant in the evening, pop into Sainsbury’s and pick up your favourite sweets and treats before heading home for a carpet picnic. On your living room floor, there are no waiters attempting to hurry you along, expecting a tip, and no worry of ‘public displays of affection.’ Pick out a romantic DVD you both forgot you owned, turn the lights off, and snuggle up on the sofa in your very own, private cinema, bringing to an end a perfect, stress-free Valentine’s day.

Our thanks to Ruby Holness for this piece.