The Great West Way in England – Episode 903

Hear about travel the Great West Way from London to Bristol as the Amateur Traveler talks to Penny Sadler, who writes Adventures of a Carry-on,  about her recent trip to Southwest England.

Penny Sadler is a freelance writer covering wine, food, travel, and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in CNBC Travel, Culture Magazine, Matador Network, InsideHook, The Alcohol Professor, Vintner Project, The Cheese Professor, and elsewhere. She’s a Wine, Spirits Education Trust graduate and hosts tastings in her free time.

Why should you go?

Penny says, “The Great West Way is a historic route and basically now a tourist route that goes from London to Bristol. From London to Bristol is about two hours, and along the way, there are charming market towns, old pubs, castle ruins, rolling hills, and lots of farmland, it’s very rural Stonehenge, Avebury, there’s so much to see.”

Penny Sadler’s itinerary for the Great West Way offers a scenic and historically rich journey from east to west. Here is a breakdown of the recommended destinations, sorted from east to west:

1. London
   • Activities:
     • Stay at The Mayfair Townhouse.
     • Join a food tour with Devour Tours, visiting historic pubs and Borough Market.
     • Explore Southwark Cathedral, Hatton Garden, and Daunt Books for Travellers.
2. Stonehenge
   • Activities:
     • Visit the iconic Stonehenge and explore its visitor center.
     • Consider walking the two miles from the visitor center to the stones for a more gradual and scenic approach.
   • Why Go:
     • Experience one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments and ponder its mysterious construction and purpose.
3. Avebury
   • Activities:
     • Visit the Avebury stone circle, a large prehistoric henge.
     • Explore West Kennet Long Barrow (burial mound) and Silbury Hill (the largest artificial prehistoric mound in Europe).
   • Why Go:
     • Experience less crowded ancient sites with free access and the opportunity to walk among the standing stones.
4. Lacock Village
   • Activities:
     • Visit Lacock Abbey, featured in many films and series.
     • Dine at The George Inn and explore the picturesque village.
   • Why Go:
     • See a perfectly preserved medieval village used in many movies.
5. Nunney
   • Activities:
     • Explore Nunney Castle, an atmospheric castle ruin.
     • Attend events and concerts held at the castle.
     • Dine at the nearby Bath Arms.
   • Why Go:
     • Enjoy the charm of a small village with historical significance and a well-preserved castle.
6. Bradford on Avon
   • Activities:
     • Rent a narrowboat from ABC Boat Hire for a day trip.
     • Navigate the Kennet and Avon Canal, experiencing locks and passing through scenic countryside.
     • Visit the Tithe Barn, artists’ studios, and local markets.
   • Why Go:
     • Enjoy a peaceful canal journey with unique shopping and dining experiences.
7. Bath
   • Activities:
     • Visit the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, and Bath Abbey.
     • Dine at Sweet Little Things Cafe and The Fine Cheese Co.
     • Explore historic pubs like the Coeur de Lion.
     • Stay in the Apex City of Bath Hotel
   • Why Go:
     • Experience the well-preserved Roman and Georgian architecture and the vibrant cultural scene.
8. Bristol
   • Activities:
     • Take a street art tour with Where The Wall and see works by Banksy.
     • Visit SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge, and Clifton Observatory.
     • Dine at the Lido and explore the Wapping Wharf area.
     • Visit The Matthew of Bristol and learn about John Cabot’s journey.
   • Why Go:
     • Discover a vibrant, independent city with a rich maritime history and a thriving street art scene.

Summary: Penny’s itinerary offers a mix of historic sites, charming villages, and vibrant cities along the Great West Way. From the ancient stones of Stonehenge and Avebury to the modern street art of Bristol, travelers will experience a diverse and enriching journey through southwest England.

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Show Notes

Adventures of a Carry-on
The Great West Way
The Mayfair Townhouse
Devour Tours
Borough Market
Pitchfork Cheddar – Borough Cheese
Neal’s Yard Dairy (Borough Market)
Southwark Cathedral
Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden: The Heist (2016)
Daunt Books for Travellers
Malmesbury
In and Beyond Bath Tours
Old Bell Hotel (Malmesbury)
West Kennet Long Barrow
Silbury Hill
Edward I of England
Avebury
Lacock, Wiltshire
George Inn (Lacock)
Lacock Abbey
The Salutation Inn
Nunney
Nunney Castle
The Bath Arms
Longleat Safari Park
Bradford on Avon
Kennet and Avon Canal
ABC Boat Hire
Avoncliff
Middle Littleton’s history
Bath, Somerset
Apex City of Bath Hotel
Royal Crescent
Roman Baths (Bath)
Coeur de Lion Pub
Sweet Little Things Cafe
The Fine Cheese Co (Bath)
Bristol
Banksy
Where The Wall (Street Art Tour)
Bristol Street Art Tours
Stokes Croft Neighborhood (Bristol)
The Mild Mild West (Banksy)
SS Great Britain
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton Observatory
Bristol Lido
Wapping Wharf
The Matthew of Bristol
Frome
A Day Out In Beautiful Wiltshire and Somerset
How To Have A Solo Adventure In Enchanting Bath, England
Travel to Bath, England – Amateur Traveler Episode 657

Community

I discovered your podcast a month or so ago. I travel somewhat frequently to Southeast Asia and have enjoyed those podcasts in particular. You have a good style and format. Good guests and very informative. Thank you!

Kein (Patron)

Hi Chris,

I’ve been a long-time listener since around 2007 or so, and really enjoy the show.  Since I’m in the U.S. foreign service, we move around quite a bit to different countries, and it’s nice to listen to the episodes in advance of a possible trip to places.  Listening to the Svalbard episode from about a year ago helped me realize it is possible to visit this unique place in the Arctic Circle so we decided to go on our latest R&R.

 Our family just went to Longyearbyen in Svalbard in early June and really enjoyed it.  The flight up there from Oslo stopped in Tromso for exit emigration protocols from Norway, and on the return flight, we flew straight back to Oslo from Longyearbyen on SAS and went through immigration in Oslo to reenter Norway officially.

At the Longyearbyen airport, there is one bus that picks people up and drops them at various locations around the town, and we paid for the trip with a credit card on the bus. We booked a 2-night stay at the Coal Miner’s Cabins Hotel, which is about a 25-minute walk up from the town center, and you can see the end of the glacier from the Coal Miner’s Cabins Hotel.  The rooms were warm and clean, and the breakfast was good. Since it was June, we got up at midnight to take a picture of the midnight sun over the mountains across the bay. The kids were excited about that.
It’s relatively easy to book last-minute tour options on the official island website (https://en.visitsvalbard.com/), and we booked a driving tour around the island to see some of the key sights, including the husky dog kennels, and drop up to the functioning coal mine. The coal in Svalbard is unique–it feels very lightweight.   The town has a lot of interesting history and places to visit, which was helpful having a guide on our tour to explain things.
There is a nice grocery store in the town (but more expensive than the mainland), and the tourist info center is helpful.  The town is walkable and has nice restaurant options and some interesting arctic museums.  I highly recommend this as a unique place to visit.  Just thought I’d share our family’s experience in Svalbard.

Best,

Nathan

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The photos of the destination are from Penny Sadler and are used with permission.