Daycations : Leamington Spa

I’ve decided to make more of what’s here at home and get out there and visit a few places. We’ve got a great country and so this year I want to visit some nice places and do things here on the doorstep. First up Leamington Spa. It felt good to hit the road and get moving again for pleasure purposes. The Laura Veirs gig, which was the reason for going was brill, if a bit on the cold side and the Italian meal was lovely. I had been wanting to go back and see things I didn’t get time to see on my visit last year, so made a day of it!

Some quotes I found amusing from the historical displays in the Royal Pump Rooms, that’ll perk up this post:

“We note with interest that yet another ‘motor car’ has arrived in Leamington. We are inclined to disregard the rumor-mongers who predict motor vehicles will become commonplace in the future.”

Arriving in Leamington just before midday by the commonplace motor vehicle, I headed into the tea room at the towns art gallery, located in the Pump Rooms, a converted swimming and hydrotherapy pool, recently having celebrated 10 years of renewal as a visitor attraction. Actually I spent a good two and a half hours in there, if you’re ever around Leamington it’s well worth a visit for the information and history conatined there. The swimming pool there was converted into an art gallery and around it is a museum charting the towns history including the decor of the original Turkish bath. Various displays talk of the towns history of medical uses for and health benefits of the spa water, something I found interesting as swimming is a part of my own recovery. As well as that the displays talk of the types wealthy visitors from London and how it became a great tourist destination, offering concerts, walks in the park and shopping, something the town is once again begining to pick up. That’s the reason why I spend time there, it’s just so lovely.

Stunning Trees in Jephson Gardens

From there I headed to Jephson Gardens and again spent a good hour maybe two walking around snapping the various wildlife and general niceness there. The Squirrels again proving how much they like having their photograph taken with these wonderful picture box things.

The wildlife in Jephson Gardens

“Cameras were still new at this time [1789], mystifed by having his picture taken, Boffin said ‘How quickly they draw me’”

The Italian meal that I had booked was at 5, so before that I wanted to do a spot of shopping, failing to buy a shirt I instead found a rare gem staring at me in the musical retail outlet “Head”. The Air France CD, that’s just so rare on the high street! It had started raining the shops were shutting and so after a cup of tea I went to Strada for a slap up Italian, oh my how posh this was! I was seated at a table, the service was excellent and the pizza I had was superb. Looking around I noticed some Lemons, instantly chuckling to myself as Sherri had told me life was just giving me Lemons at the moment. Sure enough!

Lemons and Pizza!

As usual from 3pm-5pm I was in severe need of sleep and after the heavy meal I just had to go back to the car for a snooze after being out and doing all that it really took its toll. On the way to the car I looked at rents, £525 being the very cheapest. What with having the Air France CD I whacked that on and had a soothing hour or so with the music before heading out to The Assembly to see Laura Veirs.

“The Upper Assembly Rooms were situated on the Parade and first opened in 1813. Residents and Visitors would go there for concerts and other social events and entertainment.”

Laura Veirs

Awwwh, she was lovely, being 6 months pregnant too but you couldn’t tell. The seated gig was so cold, the heating hadn’t come on and not even “The Hall of Flames” could warm up the crowd. I love the Assembly, the decor is just so ornate! Soothing gig, most of the new album got a run out, only “Cast A Hook In Me” was played from a previous album. I spotted Dan Whitehouse in the crowd! An early finish allowed me to get back on the Motorway in good time and I was in bed by 23:30 which I was thankful for considering it’s a near 90 mile round trip, I really shouldn’t try those kind of drives too often though at the moment.

“In it’s Heyday, Leamington was considered to be ‘too choice and costly’ to admit anybody but the rich and famous, cheap train travel and changing tastes began to attract visitors away from the spa towns to the seaside and the delights of foreign holidays.”

We have a great country, it’s such a shame people feel they always have to go abroad to have a good time when they can find some of that at home, just takes some imagination, but we do have great places to visit that do not require stressful journeys. I’m determined to make more days out like that for myself and anyone else who wants to tag along!

Posted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010