Just two hours away from London, Bath is waiting for you. Famous for Jane Austen, Roman hot springs, Bath buns and surprisingly... pigs.
This is a complete guide to plan your trip to Bath, one day is enough and you're going to be amazed and surprised✨
🚂 TRAIN: Bath has a well-connected railway station, Bath Spa, which is centrally located and easily accessible. Direct trains run from major cities such as London (from London Paddington), Bristol, Cardiff, and more. The train journey offers scenic views of the countryside and is a convenient option for travelers.
🚌 BUS: National Express and other coach services operate routes to Bath from various cities and towns across the UK. The journey by bus may take longer compared to the train, but it can be a more budget-friendly option.
🚗 CAR: If you prefer the flexibility of driving, you can rent a car and take the M4 motorway from London to Bath or from Bristol, you can take the A4 or A36 roads to reach the city. Most of the parking lots have an offer: 💷 17.10 for 24 hours.
🛬 PLANE: The nearest major airports to Bath are Bristol Airport and London Heathrow Airport. From Bristol Airport, you can take a bus, taxi, or train to Bath. From Heathrow, you can take a train from London Paddington to Bath.
How to go around Bath
Getting around Bath, UK, I preferred to walk around the town. Bath's city center is compact and pedestrian-friendly. Many of the major sites are within walking distance of each other.
If walking is not for you, you have other options to choose from:
🚌 BUS: they connect various parts of the city, making it convenient to travel to areas that might be farther from the city center. I suggest to download the First Bus app (where you can buy tickets, check schedules and more).
🚲 BICYCLE: Bath is cycle-friendly, with dedicated bike lanes and paths in many areas. You can rent bikes from Bath Bike Hire (💷 20 bike/day). Exploring the city by bike can be a fun and efficient way to see the sights, with several scenic cycle routes.
🚎 TOURIST BUS: offer an informative and often entertaining way to explore Bath and its surroundings. Hop-on-hop-off buses provide a convenient way to visit key attractions, while guided walking tours offer insights into the city's history and culture.
Bath is renowned for its well-preserved Roman Baths, which were built around natural hot springs. These ancient baths were used for bathing and socializing, and they provide a fascinating glimpse into Roman life and architecture.
What's cool is that they have these audio guides that you can pick up and the explain in details all about the Roman Bath. There is also an interactive area where you can actually dip your fingers into the thermal water!
The Bath Abbey, formally known as the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a masterpiece Gothic cathedral and dominates the city's skyline.
Experience more by climbing the tower for panoramic views that extend over the rooftops. ‼️Beware: the stairs to get to the top are very narrow. But once you get to the top the view is breathtaking: you can overlook River Avon, the countryside and Bath's Georgian buildings.
💷 6,50 per person.
Outside the Abbey there's a vibrant plaza, where people meet up, children run around and musicians put themselves out there. I loved spending time there, eating some chocolate fudge and people watching.
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💷 6,50 per person.
Outside the Abbey there's a vibrant plaza, where people meet up, children run around and musicians put themselves out there. I loved spending time there, eating some chocolate fudge and people watching.
Pulteney Bridge seems like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. It's lined with shops (they range from boutique stores to cafes and even an art gallery) on both sides.
Pulteney Bridge was designed by Robert Adam and completed back in the 18th century. It's named after Frances Pulteney, the wife of William Johnstone, who was the bridge's original developer.
From the bridge, you also get a lovely view of the Pulteney Weir, a small waterfall and cascade that adds to the scenic beauty of the river. Its primary purpose is to control the water level of the river and create a picturesque waterfall effect.
📷 Instagram spot: the play of light on the water, combined with the historic backdrop of the bridge and buildings, makes it an ideal spot for capturing memorable images.
The Royal Crescent is an iconic row of 30 Georgian townhouses, all beautifully lined up in a crescent shape. It's like something out of a period drama or a Jane Austen novel. The Royal Crescent was designed by the architect John Wood, the Younger, it's a perfect example of Georgian architecture and symmetry.
📷 Instagram spot: there's a small park area in front of the Royal Crescent. I must have taken a hundred photos from different angles, trying to capture its elegance, but I still couldn't frame all of it.
The No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum, which is actually a fully restored Georgian townhouse, gives you a glimpse into how people lived during that era. The rooms are meticulously furnished with period-appropriate furniture, decorations, and even clothing. 💷 15 per person.
Linked to the "half moon" Royal Crescent, you can find the "sun" Circus. A circular arrangement of townhouses that form a perfect ring, built with Bath Stone. Each house is adorned with ornate windows, decorative carvings, and elegant doorways.
The most fascinating thing about The Circus is its design. The three segments of townhouses create a circular space, and at the center, there's a small green area with a few trees and benches.
📷 The best way to frame the whole ring of houses? Start a video and hope not to get dizzy after you do a 360' to capture them all.
Thermae Bath Spa provides the opportunity to bathe in Bath's naturally warm, mineral-rich waters as the Celts and Romans did over 2,000 years ago.
You can enjoy a two-hour spa session which includes full access to the 35.5˚ centigrade waters and flowing curves of the Minerva Bath, a multi-sensory Wellness Suite, and the open-air Rooftop Pool with spectacular views across the skyline of Bath.
💷 40-45 per person (it includes a towel), it's a good idea to book your visit in advance.
Also, they have certain time slots for adults only, which can be perfect if you're looking for a serene and tranquil environment.
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💷 40-45 per person (it includes a towel), it's a good idea to book your visit in advance.
‼️As in 2023, the Fashion Museum is closed and it is going to have a new home in the centre of Bath (it was located in the Assembly Rooms) in several years-time.‼️
It showcases clothing and accessories spanning several centuries, from the elegant Victorian dresses with their corsets and bustles to the iconic flapper dresses of the 1920s.
Jane Austen spent several years living and writing in Bath, in fact two of her novels are set in the city - 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion'.
The Jane Austen Centre is situated right in the heart of Bath and is very characteristic: the staff members are dressed in Regency costumes and they're incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about all things Austen.
You'll learn about her time in Bath, read and analyze her novels and how they affected today's literature.
💷 15 per person
📆 There is also the Jane Austen Festival, the largest and longest running Festival dedicated to Jane in the world, ten days celebrating Jane Austen!
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💷 15 per person
📆 There is also the Jane Austen Festival, the largest and longest running Festival dedicated to Jane in the world, ten days celebrating Jane Austen!
What to eat in Bath
In Bath you'll find traditional British foods, such as: Sunday Roasts, Afternoon teas, Fish and Chips, Pies and English Breakfasts.
But even more, you're going to find foods that are uniques to Bath, like Bath Oliver Biscuits (crisp, thin, savory biscuits), Bath Soft Cheese (creamy, surface-ripened cheese) and Bath Buns (sweet bread roll with currants, topped with sugar).
Some suggestions for you:
Bath Bun
The story goes that Dr William Oliver, born in 1695, created the sweet-flavoured Bath Bun for his patients.
📍It's a classic treat you can find in many bakeries and tearooms around the city.💷 2 for a bun.
📍4 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX
Sally Lunn's is located in an historic building, one of the oldest houses in Bath (1482).
They don't accept reservations, except for dinner.
The Sally Lunn's Bunn is a larger, lighter, and more indulgent version. Often served toasted and topped with sweet or savory toppings.
Bunn etiquette: they serve half a bun – they tend to use tops for sweet buns and bottoms for the savoury, although there is no rule. The bun is generally eaten with a knife and fork but there are no fixed rules.
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📍4 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX
💷 3,20 for a plain bunn to go, 💷 5-15 for a sweet/savory bunn.
It is an elegant dining room, in a historic setting, where you can find a small fountain in the room, that dispenses warm, mineral-rich spring water. It contains 43 minerals and has a rather unusual taste!
The Pump Room is renowned for its traditional afternoon tea service. You can indulge in a selection of teas, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam and an array of pastries.
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📍Located next to the Roman Baths.
💷 37,50 per person, booking required and to be fully paid in advance.
Where to sleep in Bath
I personally didn't stay the night when I visited Bath, but I can recommend some hotels for different budgets, in the city center.
📍 100m from The Roman Baths
💷 600 queen room deluxe
Only Hotel in the UK with access to naturally heated thermal waters within its Spa Village.
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For more detailed info, history, advices and interesting facts (do you remember I mentioned pigs? 🤪), you can visit my travel blog and check out my extensive guide about Bath and download a Bath Bucketlist for free!
Born in Italy, raised in the world (I know, cliché right?). Currently in Orlando, FL.
I travel the world so my curiosity is sated and I can bring home magnets for my grandma.
I travel local and I'm an expert about exchange programs (from au pair to DCP, from language exchange to study abroad) and moving around the world.
I lived in Italy, England, Malta and in the USA. Because of work I like to plan short trips, so I can escape monotony and I love to discover new places and recommend them.
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📆 Short itineraries to fill up your weekends
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