How to visit Bath from London – Taking a Car, Public Transport or a Tour

For so many visitors, Bath is a must-do while in the UK. If you want to see the best Roman Baths near London, there is no better place to do this than in Bath. 

Add to that the city’s stunning honey-toned Georgian architecture, many centuries of history and the charming cobbled streets, and it’s easy to see why taking a day trip to Bath from London is such an essential part of the whole British experience. 

If you’re wondering whether to take a train from London to Bath Spa and where this would depart from, are considering a trip from London to Bath by car or are considering taking the National Express from London to Bath, then this guide is for you.

These aren’t the only options open to you. Sometimes the easiest way to visit an unfamiliar city is to take an organised tour where everything is taken care of for you. As well as visiting Bath near London in England, these trips may also whisk you to key sites like Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Salisbury, Windsor or the Cotswolds. 

Whether you fancy touring the finest Thermal Baths near London, adore Georgian architecture, want to visit a Christmas market or would love to delve into Jane Austen’s world, this guide will take you from London to Bath and back. Let’s dive in!

READ ALSO – Best day trips from London by train

How to get from London to Bath

By train

• At-a-glance: Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa train station (1 hour & 20 min); 2 trains per hour

Getting from London to Bath – and of course back from Bath Spa to London Paddington – involves a journey time of approximately one hour and 20 minutes each way. So you’re looking at two hours and 40 minutes of travel to get there and back to the capital. 

Don’t forget that you’ll probably need to take a tube from wherever you’re staying to Paddington as well – and the same when you return. Paddington tube station is on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines and lies some way north of Hyde Park.

Trains from London to Bath and Bath to London call at several places en route – these are Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham. None of these are of particular interest to tourists – unless of course, you happen to have family or friends living there.

The good news for those travelling by train is that Bath Spa station is centrally located in the city, fairly close to key sites like Pulteney bridge, the Thermae Bath Spa and the Roman Baths. The Jane Austen Centre, Royal Crescent and Fashion Museum are a little further away, but can be reached on foot if you don’t mind an uphill walk.  

By coach

• At-a-glance: Bus from London Victoria to Bath Spa bus station (2 hours & 35 min+); up to 9 coaches per day

Another option is the coaches to Bath from London Victoria. It’s a fairly convenient way to travel, but it is also very time-consuming. The fastest coaches take almost twice as long as the train, and some take much longer if they make a lot of stops or there’s more traffic on the roads. 

On the plus side, tickets are cheap and the bus station is also located in central Bath; in fact it’s near the train station. National Express says the average journey time each way is 2 hours and 50 minutes, however, so it’s not the best choice for those in a hurry.

You’ll also need to factor in the time it will take to get to and from Victoria coach station. The underground station is on the District, Victoria and Circle lines, and the coach station is about 300 metres from here. 

By car

• At-a-glance: Use postcode BA1 1TP for Southgate Shopping Centre Car Park (110 miles, paid parking)

If you want to drive rather than taking a coach or train from London Victoria or London Paddington to Bath Spa, then expect your journey each way to take around two to two-and-a-half hours. 

You’ll also need to consider parking in Bath. There are sufficient car parks, but due to narrow streets it’s not the easiest city to negotiate behind the wheel. Parking fees vary but will have to be added to your budget on top of any gas and car rental costs.

For experienced drivers, taking the car is certainly an option but it’s not the quickest or cheapest way to get to Bath from London (nor the best way to get to Bath from London in our opinion). It’s not really practical to drive around the city once you’re there, so it will mean paying to leave your vehicle in a car park all day. 

By organised tour

• At-a-glance: Organised day tours from London include return travel. 

You can also visit other locations as well on day trips to Bath from London – see below for details.

READ ALSO – One day in Bath (Complete itinerary)

The top 10 London to Bath tours

Private tour to Bath and Stonehenge with My Tailored Tours

• Duration: 10 hours
• Destinations: Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Bath including panoramic tour
• Departure time: 07.30 
• Departure point: Hotel pick-up and drop-off included 
• What’s included: Transport, experienced driver guide, private Stonehenge and Bath tours
• What’s not included: Entry fees, lunch and snacks

This private Stonehenge and Bath day trip from London means having an expert driver guide at your service all day long. After being collected from your London hotel, you’ll visit the famous site of Stonehenge for a private tour.

Close to Stonehenge is Woodhenge, another site that’s equally shrouded in mystery. Woodhenge is also linked to the summer and winter solstice rituals that take place at Stonehenge. Your private guide will explain the history and theories behind both sites.

Beautiful, historic Bath is next on the itinerary. The Roman Baths here are a must, and as this is a private tour you can also include other sites of interest as you wish. The ten hour tour ends with a panoramic tour of Bath before being driven back to London. 

Click here to book this private tour to Stonehenge and Bath

Private trip to Bath and Windsor Castle with My Tailored Tours

• Duration: 10 hours
• Destinations: Bath including panoramic tour, Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel
• Departure time: 07.30 (summer) or 09.00 (winter) 
• Departure point: Hotel pick-up and drop-off included 
• What’s included: Transport, experienced driver guide, panoramic Windsor and Bath tours
• What’s not included: Entry fees, lunch and snacks

Also operated by Tailored Tours is this Windsor and Bath tour from London. It’s a good alternative to a Stonehenge and Bath tour from London. Windsor Castle is a must on many a list of sights to see while in the UK. Not least St George’s Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth II and other Royals are buried. 

Your time in Bath includes a panoramic city tour, the Roman Baths and a lunch break. In the afternoon, you’ll head to Windsor to explore the castle and chapel for a couple of hours before heading back to London. 

During this tour, your day includes a panoramic tour of Bath. Plus a private tour of Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel, which is led by an expert guide. 

Click here to book this private tour to Windsor and Bath

Private trip to Bath, the Cotswolds and Avebury with My Tailored Tours

• Duration: 10 hours
• Destinations: Avebury, Lacock, Bath and Castle Combe
• Departure time: 07.30 
• Departure point: Hotel pick-up and drop-off included 
• What’s included: Transport, experienced driver guide, Avebury, Lacock and Bath tours
• What’s not included: Entry fees, lunch and snacks

Taking a Bath and Cotswolds tour from London is another option. Again this one is a private tour, and it begins at Europe’s largest stone circle in Avebury. Next up is the pretty Cotswolds village of Lacock, which was used as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies. 

Lacock is only around half an hour’s drive from Bath, your next stop. Time to visit the Roman Baths is then included, before you’re taken on a panoramic tour of key Bath sites. These include the magnificent Georgian architecture of The Circus and Royal Crescent. 

Castle Combe is also around 30 minutes’ drive from Bath. Here you can see terraced 17th century cottages and the five star Old Manor House hotel before settling down for the journey back to London. 

Click here to book this private tour to Avebury, Bath and the Cotswolds

Bath, Stonehenge & Windsor trip from London

• Duration: 10-11 hours

• Destination: Bath, Stonehenge & Windsor

• Departure time: Varies

• Departure point: Bulleid Way, London (near Victoria tube)

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, entry fees selected

• What’s not included: Lunch, other entry fees, headphones, extras

This day tour to the Roman spa from London also takes in Windsor, home of the Royal castle, and ancient Stonehenge. It’s ideal for those who want to get a taste of Britain’s varied and far-reaching history in just one day.

Depending on the options you choose to book, you can visit Windsor Castle, explore the site of Stonehenge that’s shrouded in mystery (no one truly knows how the stones got there) and discover the astonishingly well-preserved Roman Baths in this UNESCO World Heritage Site city. During the day you can also see Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey. 

Windsor, Stonehenge & Bath tour from London

• Duration: 11.5 hours

• Destination: Bath, Stonehenge & Windsor

• Departure time: Varies

• Departure point: Varies

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, headset, Stonehenge entry fee

• What’s not included: Lunch, other entry fees, extras

An alternative is to purchase tickets to Bath from London on this 11.5-hour tour. Again you’ll visit Stonehenge and Windsor as well as Bath. Entry to Stonehenge is included and you can also opt for entry to Windsor Castle and the Roman Baths if you wish to.

If you explore Windsor Castle, you can see the State Apartments, the grounds and a mediaeval church dating from the 1300s. Once you arrive in Bath, you’ll also discover Bath Abbey, the Circus, the Assembly Rooms, Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge in addition to the famous Roman Baths. 

Stonehenge & Bath day trip from London

• Duration: 11 hours

• Destination: Bath & Stonehenge

• Departure time: Varies

• Departure point: Victoria Coach Station, London

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, Stonehenge entry fee

• What’s not included: Lunch, Roman Baths entry fee, extras

If you’d like to take things at a more relaxed pace, this Stonehenge and Bath day trip from London takes in two rather than three locations in 11 hours, giving you more time to explore the charming and historic city. You will, however, get to see Stonehenge as well, which is tricky to access by public transport.

A key bonus of this tour is that you have time to enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in Bath, at an iconic location like the Pump Rooms or Sally Lunn’s tea rooms. (Pre-booking is advisable and at your own expense.) There is also time to spend in the city as you wish, whether you want to shop on the cobbled lanes, visit the Assembly Rooms or wander up to the picturesque Royal Crescent.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, Cotswolds, Stonehenge & Bath day tour

• Duration: 11 hours

• Destination: Bath, Stonehenge, Stratford & the Cotswolds

• Departure time: 07:45

• Departure point: Victoria Coach Station, London

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, Stonehenge entry fee, Shakespeare tour

• What’s not included: Lunch, other entry fees, extras

The tour beats even Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath from London, as it takes in an impressive four destinations rather than three. It does include the mysterious stone circle, but instead of Windsor you’ll see the Cotswolds and Stratford-Upon-Avon – the pretty town Shakespeare came from. 

The first stop of the day is at Stonehenge, where you can see the ancient and mysterious stone circle before heading to Bath. You can then spend time in Bath at your leisure before going for a scenic drive through the Cotswolds. There’s a stop in Stratford before the day ends, where you may see Shakespeare’s schoolroom according to season. 

Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor and Roman Baths day trip

• Duration: 11 hours

• Destination: Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor & Roman Baths

• Departure time: 08:00

• Departure point: Bulleid Way, London (near Victoria tube)

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, Stonehenge, Windsor & Roman Baths entry fees

• What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up

This all-inclusive day trip is great for anyone who wants to cover most of their costs in advance, as admission to Windsor Castle, the Roman Baths and Stonehenge is thrown in as part of the tour cost. Food and drinks plus any purchases made are the only costs you’ll really need to cover in addition. 

You’ll stop at Windsor Castle and Stonehenge before spending time in Bath, where you can explore the historic Roman Baths as part of your tour. The journey from Bath Spa to London is uninterrupted so you can rest those weary legs after wandering around this fascinating city. 

Small group tour to Bath, Avebury and Lacock village

• Duration: 1 day

• Destination: Bath, Avebury stone circle & Lacock

• Departure time: Varies

• Departure point: Bulleid Way, London (near Victoria tube)

• What’s included: Luxury transport, small group tour guide

• What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up

Travel in style by luxury air-conditioned mini-coach when you book this tour to Avebury stone circle, Lacock village and Bath. These coaches from Bath to London carry only a small group, so you can benefit from a more personal experience.

As well as time to explore Bath, you’ll visit Lacock village. This pretty place has been used as a location when filming for TV and movies, including Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. You’ll also see the world’s biggest megalithic stone circle in Avebury, which makes a pleasant and more peaceful change from Stonehenge. 

Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor & Salisbury day trip from London

• Duration: 12 hours

• Destination: Stonehenge, Salisbury, Windsor & Bath

• Departure time: Varies

• Departure point: Bulleid Way, London (near Victoria tube)

• What’s included: Transport, tour guide, entry to Windsor Castle, Salisbury Cathedral & Stonehenge

• What’s not included: Lunch, Roman Baths entry, extras

You can see so many stunning sights in one day with this London Victoria to Bath day trip which also takes in Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and Windsor Castle. Salisbury is home to one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in all of the British Isles, and is also a city packed with character, lovely shops and appealing eateries.

This tour also includes entry to Windsor Castle, home to Queen Elizabeth II, and the breathtaking stone circle at Stonehenge. In Bath you’re free to spend your time as you wish, so you can stroll the cobbled streets, see Georgian architecture, explore a museum or discover the famous Roman Baths. 

How will you travel to Bath from London? 

As you can see there are lots of ways to visit Bath near London in the UK. You might choose to go from London to Stonehenge to Bath as part of a guided tour that may also take in other destinations, or opt for getting to Bath from London by train. 

Whichever you choose, have a wonderful time. Our top tip is not to miss the Roman Baths while you’re there, as it’s so easy to imagine the people from centuries ago taking a dip in the natural thermal waters. There’s nowhere else quite like it!

Read more about Bath

• Bath Travel Guide

• Bath one-day itinerary

• Places to visit in Bath

• Where to stay in Bath

• Best day trips from Bath

• Things to do in South West England

• Cotswolds Travel Guide

• England Travel Guide

• Guide to the 9 regions of England