Skip to Content

Bath Travel Guide (with Practical Tips, Itinerary + Map)

Our Bath Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for one of the most beautiful of England’s cities. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Bath!

Plan your trip to Bath

The beautiful city of Bath England is located on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South West of England is a popular destination for visitors from all over the world.

The city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is famous for its beautiful Georgian architecture, literary connections and ancient Roman legacy.

Perfect for a weekend stay Bath can also be visited easily by train from London making it a popular day trip from London.

If Bath is somewhere you wish to visit in the UK this article contains everything you need to plan your trip including things to do in Bath, places to visit in Bath, where to stay, where to eat and top tips to help you make the most of your time in this compact but stunning English city.

🏆 Quick Picks

Tours & TicketsBest forBook here
Jane Austen CentreJane Austen fans Book here
1.5 hour guided walking tourFirst-time visitors to BathBook here
Boat trip & walking tourFamilies & first-time visitorsBook here
Bridgerton film locations walking tourBridgerton fansBook here
Hop on Hop off bus tourFirst-time visitors to BathBook here

Attractions and things to do in Bath

There are lots of things to do and see in Bath – enough to keep you busy for a couple of days. If you can we recommend staying for at least one night and giving yourself some time to really explore this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city.

Some of the most popular places to visit in Bath include

  • Pulteney Bridge
  • Bath Abbey
  • The Royal Crescent
  • The Pump Rooms
  • Sally Lunns

🏨 Accommodation in Bath

Bath is a wonderful destination in which to spend a couple of days to really explore the city. There is a wide range of accommodation options available in Bath to suit a variety of travel styles and budgets.

If you are driving we recommend booking accommodation with parking provided.

Best for couples – Grays Boutique B&B or the Black Fox Inn

Best hotel for a relaxing breakGainsborough Bath Spa

Most budget-friendly hotelZ Hotel Bath

Need parking?The Roseate Villa Bath & Grays Boutique B&B or The Kennard

Best for groups – Hill House

Pet-friendly Bath accommodationGrosvenor Villa

🚗 How to get to Bath from London

Bath is within easy travel distance of London and if you are based in the capital there are a number of options to get to the city.

Read more – How to visit Bath from London

Option 1 – By car

Bath is located 115 miles to the west of London. Plan at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours to drive between the 2 cities (this will vary depending on traffic but this can be a busy route). Directions can be found here.

Option 2: By train

This is my preferred way to travel to Bath and is one of our favourite train journeys to take in the UK (London to Penzance with a stopover in Bath)

Bath Spa train station is a short 10-minute walk from the centre of Bath.

The trip only takes 90 minutes from London Paddington. Click here for train times and ticket prices to Bath from London.

Option 3: By bus

It is possible to take a bus from Victoria Coach Station to Bath. The journey takes 3 to 4 hours as there are stops along the way (Heathrow Airport)

This is the cheapest way to travel to Bath from London though so if you are on a budget this may be your best option. Click here for coach times and prices from National Express.

Read more Complete transportation guide to the UK

The city of Bath in England can be discovered reading a Bath travel Guide to the city
Explore Bath England with our Bath Travel Guide

Option 4 – By tour (Best tours to Bath from London)

If you prefer to combine a visit to Bath with other popular destinations in the south of England such as the Cotswolds, Oxford or Windsor there are a number of tours from London that will enable you to do so.

These are the perfect option if you are trying to see as much as possible within a short time frame. Below I have selected the best tours available to Bath:

Skip the long lines at Stonehenge, and tour the Georgian city of Bath at leisure on a guided full-day tour from London. Travel by coach to the standing stones of Stonehenge and learn the theories of their mystery, before heading to Bath in time for lunch.

Explore the stately Windsor Castle. Marvel at the ancient mystery that is Stonehenge. Discover the wonderful city of Bath, England’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ride in comfort on an air-conditioned coach/bus with Wi-Fi on this 11-hour tour.

Enjoy a day out from London exploring some of England’s most beautiful sites. Experience the Georgian splendour of Bath and the mystery of Stonehenge, as well as the picturesque village of Lacock, seen in Pride and Prejudice and the Harry Potter movies.

This 2-day excursion to the scenic Cotswolds, with a stop at the ancient stones of Avebury and the majesty of Bath and Oxford, will show you an England that you may have only seen in your history books.

Read – 7 Best Day trips to Bath from London

Roman Baths in Bath are the most popular attraction mentioned in any Bath travel guide

Experiences, tickets and tours in Bath

With so many things to do and places to visit in Bath, I recommend planning your itinerary and purchasing tours, tickets and experiences as soon as you can to avoid disappointment, especially during the busy summer months.

Cruise down the River Avon on a traditional vessel and enjoy all the canal-side highlights of this ancient city.

Hop-on to a City Sightseeing Bath bus tour and enjoy unlimited hop on hop off for 24 hours. Discover sights such as the River Avon and Great Putney Bridge, as you travel on an open-top, double-decker bus with panoramic views of the city.

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath with a fully qualified and professional tour guide. Visit the city’s major landmarks and hear about its history along the way.

Celebrate Bath’s most famous resident and get a snapshot of what it would have been like to live in Regency times at the Jane Austen Center. Find out about everything that would have inspired Austen’s timeless novels, such as fashion, food, and society.

This 2-hour cycle tour of Bath takes you through the City’s oldest street. See beautiful Georgian architecture, Victorian public gardens, the Medieval city walls and the legacy of Britain’s Roman occupation before enjoying views over the city from the Kennet and Avon canal.

Have your photographs taken against the backdrop of Bath by a professional photographer. Perfect to share Instagram or Facebook or for the family album.

> Click here for more tickets and tours in Bath

Bath Abbey in the background with hanging baskets a must see in any Bath travel guide

Best day trips from Bath

Bath is the perfect base to explore the surrounding countryside and cities. The Cotswolds, Bristol, Salisbury, Corsham Court and village (as seen in Poldark), Lacock, Avebury and Stonehenge are all within easy reach.

This is my selection of day tours to take from Bath. Many places can be travelled to by bus or car too.

Follow in the footsteps of Britain’s ancient ancestors and explore fascinating historic sites which continue to amaze and baffle people today. Sites include Avebury, the world’s largest stone circle, and Stonehenge, one of Britain’s most famous icons.

Enjoy a private guided tour around one of Britain’s most famous icons, Stonehenge. This is a half-day tour giving you the flexibility to do other things on the day.

Visit the beautiful cathedral city of Wells, England’s smallest city, and enjoy a tasty insight into the area’s most famous creation – Cheddar Cheese! The tour ends with a visit to the spectacular Cheddar Gorge, England’s largest gorge.

Read more – Best day trips and tours from Bath

Cheddar Gorge in England.

UK Travel Planning Itinerary Planners

UK Travel planning itinerary planners.

Where to eat in Bath

There are many wonderful teahouses, cafes, gastropubs and restaurants in Bath. Don’t miss a visit to Sally Lunn’s tearooms to try one of the famous buns!

Pump Rooms

The tearooms in the Pump Rooms at the Roman Baths were the social heart of Bath for more than two centuries. Enjoy a meal or afternoon tea in the beautiful neo-classical salon.

Where – Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ

Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House

One of the oldest houses in Bath is also the location of the bakery which serves one of the most famous local delicacies. The Sally Lunn bun is a brioche type creation that you really must try when in Bath.

Where – 4 North Parade Passage, Bath, BA1 1NX

Bath Buns a must in any Bath travel guide.

Tips for visiting Bath

  • Bath is a fantastic destination in itself and a wonderful place to base yourself to explore the surrounding countryside too. If possible and time allows plan a few days in the city – you won’t regret it!
  • Look out for the famous blue plaques on some of the houses which tell of the famous people who once lived there. There are over 100 in the city.
  • Go to the Roman Baths early in the day as they are very popular. Avoid the weekend if possible. If you are visiting in the summer there are late-night openings available too.
  • There are lots of festivals held in Bath throughout the year including the Bath Festival and the Children’s Literature Festival. Find out more on the Bath Festival website here.
  • Visit the Thermae Bath Spa and enjoy bathing in the naturally warm waters in the rooftop pool (whatever the season!)
  • If you enjoy books we recommend popping into Mr B’s Emporium. The staff are fantastically knowledgeable and the beautiful bookstore is filled with quirky furniture and a labyrinth of rooms to explore.
  • Bath is a hilly city – make sure to wear comfortable shoes!

Books to read about Bath

Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has loads of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.

Complete Guide to Bath England.