Travel & Stay
Information on the wedding location
Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, UK
Coombe Lodge is nestled into the English countryside in the county of Somerset, about 120 miles West of London.
Somerset is known for several interesting things:
It’s home to many apple orchards and cider producers. Visitors have been known to howl at the moon after a night drinking Somerset cider.
Cheddar Cheese originates from Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. Nobody knows why Cheddar didn’t do what the bloody French did with Champagne, and mandate that Cheddar can only be named Cheddar if it’s produced in Cheddar.
The oldest human skeleton was discovered in Cheddar Gorge - Cheddar Man was excavated in 1903. He’s around 9000 years old and is thought to be a distant relative of Chris who died gorging himself on Cheddar Cheese (that last part is a lie).
A visit to Bath will present you with ancient Roman Baths and Georgian architecture.
Bristol is the main big city in Somerset. It’s where Banksy is from. There’s not much else to say about Bristol.
The world-famous Glastonbury Festival takes place in Somerset. Chris went there once and doesn’t remember a great deal about it.
And the Somerset landscapes will offer quintessential English scenery of rolling hills, natural landscapes and country pubs.
So, pack your walking shoes. Build up a thirst for pints of cider.
And break out the crackers and Branston pickle.
We recommend that people stay in Bath a couple of days prior
to the wedding day.
Should you decide to come to Somerset or Bath a few days before the
ceremony, below are suggestions for things to do nearby during your stay.
More details can be found on the events page.
CHEDDAR GORGE
THINGS TO DO:
VISIT CHEDDAR GORGE & TASTE SOME CIDERS
Cheddar Gorge Valley, UK
Cheddar Cheese. It’s from Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar Cheese is still aged in the caves today. Apparently, the caves at Cheddar Gorge inspired JRR Tolkein’s ‘Lord of the Rings’. So before we celebrate a ring to unite us both, let’s go and taste some proper Cheddar in its birthplace.
STONEHENGE
THINGS TO DO:
BOOK A TOUR TO SEE STONEHENGE
Salisbury, UK
Stonehenge. It’s a bunch of big rocks all piled up on each other. Nobody knows why or how. The stone circles are aligned with sunrise on summer solstice and sunset at winter solstice.
ROMAN BATHS
THINGS TO DO:
TOUR THE ROMAN BATHS OR HAVE A SPA DAY
Bath, UK
The city of Bath is named after the famous Roman Baths housed within the city. The baths were used for their healing and relaxing qualities. However, the water in the baths is served by lead pipes, so not ideal for bathing today. It’s one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world.
When in Rome!
Lodging Recommendations
We’ve arranged blocks at two hotels within walking distance of each other. You are not required to book either of these; there are some amazing boutique hotels in the city center of Bath. However, please keep in mind that on the day of the ceremony, the shuttle to take guests to the venue will only be picking up at The Francis Hotel.
hotel
Apex City of Bath Hotel
James Street West
Bath, United Kingdom
BA1 2DA
TEL: +44 01225 418 500
EMAIL: bath.reservations@apexhotels.co.uk
Promo Code JCWED2026
for a discount on standard room rates and bed & breakfast packages.
Subject to availability at time of booking. The discount can be used for stays between July 25th and July 29th, 2026, but cannot be used in conjunction with any other deals/reduced rates on offer at the time of booking.
hotel
The Francis Hotel
Queens Square
Bath, United Kingdom
BA1 2HH
TEL: +44 1225 424105
EMAIL: groupreservations@suttonhotelcollection.com
Reference number 5499612
To book a room at this hotel, guests are required to call and provide the reference number. You will be asked to provide your credit card details to secure the reservation but your card will not be charged until check-in. This hotel does not accept reservations via email, but please feel free to email them if you have any questions. They’re open every day except Sundays, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (UK time).
Cosy Room £230/night | Comfy Family Room £250/night |
Generous Room £270/night
*Double Occupancy plus £20/night
Getting There
We know your’re coming a long way, and we can’t thank you enough!
Travel from the USA:
There are no direct flights from the USA to Bristol. However, there are some flights which connect in Dublin with Aer Lingus, Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Other flight options will take you to London Heathrow or Gatwick.
Travel from London to Bath:
Train: There is a train from London Paddington to Bath Spa. It takes about 1 hour, 20 minutes and costs between $50 and $140 – depending on the schedule.
Driving: The drive from London to Bath is about 115 Miles and takes about 2 hours, 30 minutes. The most direct route is via the M4. This will take you towards Bristol and you’ll drop down into Bath via the A46 and A4.
If any Americans drive – the steering wheel is on the right, and you need to keep to the left side of the road. You can’t turn on red lights and sounding your horn is both aggressive and rude. Just saying.
Getting to and From The Wedding Venue:
Organized Coach
We’ll be providing a coach to take guests to and from the venue. The coach will depart from The Francis Hotel at 12:30 pm sharp, so please arrive a little early to ensure a timely departure.
DETAILS:
Pick-up time: 12:30 pm, Tuesday 28th July
Pick-up location: The Francis Hotel, 6–11 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HH
*Volunteer contact on the day will be our guest and Shuttle Captain, John Oliveira, if you need any assistance.
Return coaches will run back to Bath at two points in the evening
First departure: around 10 pm
Final departure: at the end of the night (around midnight)
Add it to your calendar now!
Making your own way
If you’re travelling to or from the venue independently, the ceremony will begin at approximately 2:30 pm (weather permitting). We recommend arriving between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to enjoy a drink and mingle before the ceremony.
VENUE DETAILS:
Location: Coombe Lodge
Address: Bourne Lane, Blagdon, North Somerset, BS40 7R
Parking: Available on site
Coombe Lodge is approximately 12 miles south of Bristol and around 20 miles from Bath.