My trip to Bath started early that morning.
I left John and Nat's apartment in Hackney at about 7.00am and hopped onto bus number 149 that passes the Monument Station. From Monument Station, I took the train and got down at Victoria Station.
All buses depart from Victoria Coach Station which is located in a separate building behind Victoria Station.
Victoria Coach Station is located in a separate building behind Victoria Station.
When you enter Victoria Coach Station, you'll be greeted with screens indicating the various destinations and which gate you're supposed to wait at. The system works like an airport - systematic and efficient!
Screen indicating destinations and which gate to wait at.
I had bought return bus tickets to Bath a couple of days before, so I headed straight to the correct gate.
Return bus tickets from London to Bath costs GBP26.80.
After leaving Victoria Coach Station at 8.00am, the bus made its way to Heathrow Airport to pick up more passengers.
The bus finally arrived in Bath after approximately 4 hours on the road.
Eventhough Bath is a small city, its bus station can rival that of a big city like Kuala Lumpur.
Look at how clean the Bath bus station is. Love it!
Then I made my way to the Bath Backpackers' Hostel on Pierrepont Street to check-in.
If you're lugging a huge backpack, you would be grateful that the hostel is conveniently located near the bus station and walking distance from the main attractions.
Entrance to Bath Backpackers' Hostel.
I stayed in the mix-dorm that costs me GBP13.00 a night. It was my first time in a mix-dorm and you can read all about my experience here.
I also had an experience in the hostel shower which you can read about here.
This was where I slept for 2 nights.
The hostel had a big kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals for a "more economical option", as how Angelo from Australia told me.
However, don't expect the staff to pick up after you. All guests must wash up and ensure the kitchen is tidy after using any of the utensils.
Fully equipped kitchen at Bath Backpackers' Hostel. Don't cook any petai or pungent food like belacan here. You will not only stink the entire place, but also the toilets ;-)
Breakfast is included. And again, nobody is going to serve you - you serve yourself and you clean up after you're done.
Breakfast was the same menu each morning - cereals, bread, butter, jam, peanut butter, milk and a choice of 2 juices.
I understand from one of the staff that the Bath Backpackers' Hostel is owned by a New Zealander. All the staff there work in return for free lodging at the hostel. I think it's a brilliant idea to maintain a low turnover rate.
It was still early in the day and I could not check-in yet. So I left my luggage with Reception and went to explore the city of Bath.
Stay tuned for Part 2 ...
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