Bath
Travel Guide
Welcome to our Bath travel guide, where we explore this quintessentially English city. Bath boasts great architecture, tons of history, close proximity to the English countryside and plenty to see, do and eat.
It’s hard to find an English city that screams England, or at least the image of England that most people have, more so than Bath. Pretty city centre streets sit against the backdrop of rolling green hills while traditional pubs, old shops and street markets fill the small pathways. Despite being a popular travel and tourist destination in England and the UK, Bath has retained its old-world charm but continues to allow the new and modern to flourish beautifully alongside this.
Travel Guide Contents
Check out our other UK Travel Guides:
Bristol Travel Guide | Cardiff Travel Guide | London Travel Guide
Bath Travel Guide
How to get to Bath
The closest airport to Bath is Bristol Airport (BRS) which is located around 30km west of Bath city centre. Many visitors to the city will also arrive from London so, as well as looking at how to get to Bath from Bristol airport, we have also covered how to get to Bath from London. Bristol airport is a small airport that caters to Bristol and surrounding areas. The airport is modern, well equipped and has a good selection of restaurants, cafes and shops. The main ways of getting from the airport and London to Bath city centre are:
Bus – The A4 decker bus runs from Bath city centre, adjacent to the train station, to Bristol airport and departs every 60min. The journey takes max 1hr 30min with tickets costing £15 ($20) per adult one way or £20 ($27) return and can be bought online or direct from the driver
Taxi/Uber – A standard taxi or Uber can cost anywhere from £30-£50 ($41-$68) to Bath city centre and will take approx 45min
Train – Train services run from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads train station regularly and take approx 11min, tickets start from £8.70 ($11.75) for a single ticket. From Bristol temple meads take the airport bus or a taxi/Uber to the airport which takes approx 30min
From London via train – The easiest option from Bath to London is to take a train service from London Paddington station going to Bristol Temple meads. Bath Spa is the stop before Bristol Temple Meads. Services leave regularly and ticket prices vary depending on the time of day, book online via Trainline for the best ticket prices and options
Areas to stay in Bath
Bath is a relatively small city, in UK terms, and has a compact city centre that is very walkable. Bath city centre is the main option of where to stay and staying here allows visitors to be close to all the main attractions, a variety of restaurants, bars and cafes and within easy reach of public transport and shops. We would recommend anyone coming to visit the city and stay overnight to stay within the historical city centre area.
Accommodation in Bath
As a popular tourist destination, Bath has a good range of accommodation options to choose from including hostels, apartments and hotels. Hotels vary from budget to high end, boutique and chain. There are several larger hotels outside of Bath city centre, in the countryside, which can be nice if you are looking for a rural retreat but will make visiting the city harder. Prices in Bath can vary considerably depending on the time of year. In peak times such as July, August and Christmas and New Year, prices can be very high so it is worth booking well in advance at these times. Here are some of our favourite options for accommodation in Bath to suit every budget and every traveller:
Budget Hostel | YHA Bath – One of the best all-round hostels in Bath, YHA is just a 10-minute walk from Bath city centre, set in its own private gardens. Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable in options of dorms or private and guest facilities include a restaurant, laundry and a shared kitchen and lounge
Mid-range Hotel | The Z Hotel Bath – The Z Hotel offers visitors to Bath an affordable, good value hotel in Bath city centre. Rooms are small but well-equipped, modern and comfortable. This is a great base for exploring Bath
Apartment | Hiding Space Westgate Apartments – Located in the heart of Bath, Hiding Space Westgate Apartments offer a home away from home experience with fully-equipped kitchens and a lounge area in a contemporary and well-designed manner
High-end Hotel | Grays Boutique B&B – Located a 10-minute walk from Bath city centre and train station, Grays Boutique B&B is a beautiful, small bed and breakfast that mixes elegant English style and character with all the modern amenities one would expect from a hotel. The service and breakfast are both great too
Luxury Hotel | The Gainsborough Bath Spa – The five-star Gainsborough offers luxury to those who want it, with a restaurant, fitness centre and beautifully decorated rooms. The stand-out feature of the hotel is the spa which is the only UK hotel with naturally heated thermal waters, the perfect excuse to relax
How to get around Bath
The majority of sites in Bath are within reasonable walking distance of each other and are situated within the historical city centre. However, if you are staying further afield, visiting attractions out of the city or need some help getting around then there are transport options for you. Here are the most popular options for getting around the Bath:
Train – There is only one train station in Bath so you can’t get around the city via train but it is useful for getting to other cities. The station is Bath Spa and tickets can be bought at the station or online via Trainline
Bus – An extensive bus service runs throughout Bath, connecting to other towns, cities and outlying suburbs. The central bus station is next to the train station. Bus tickets start from £2.50 ($3.40) for an adult single journey. You can pay by cash or contactless card on board
Taxi – There are both standard taxis and ride-hailing services available in Bath. One of the most widely used standard taxi services that also now has an app is V-Cars, but Uber is also available, although wait times can sometimes be longer through Uber
Driving – If you’re planning to drive whilst in Bath, parking in the city centre can be a bit of a pain. If you’re driving further afield, Bath is well connected via the M4 motorway which links many other towns and cities, and to other motorways
Things to do in Bath
Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bath city has so much to see and do. We’ve put together a compact list of the top 5 things to do in Bath to help you plan your trip:
Victoria Park – Located just outside the city centre, this park features large green open spaces, lots of trees, botanical gardens and a kid’s park and skate park. Entry is free
Roman Baths – With elements dating back to Roman times, these well-preserved baths are one of the most popular attractions in Bath and the UK. They allow visitors an insight into Bath’s historical past and the Roman public baths that would have once been used on the site. An adult standard ticket is £25 ($34) on a weekday
The Royal Crescent – Situated just off Victoria Park, the Royal Crescent is an iconic piece of architecture in Bath. Enjoy the view from the park or visit no.1 to see a restored period property. Adult peak tickets cost £13 ($18)
Thermae Bath Spa – For a relaxing spa day, this Spa is a real treat. The building is a combination of a historic spa and new build and houses the only natural hot, mineral-rich waters in the UK. Prices vary depending on the treatment package chosen
Pulteney Bridge – Completed in 1774, this bridge spans the River Avon in the city centre and has shops on both sides, making it an impressive piece of architecture to see and enjoy
What to eat in Bath
As well as having a good selection of great British pubs, Bath has an array of restaurants and cafes serving up international cuisine. The city has just under 400 restaurants for travellers to choose from, including a 1 Michelin star restaurant. Whether you’re looking for an English roast or Vietnamese Pho, the city has you covered. If you’re looking to try some traditional English fare, then here are our top picks:
Ploughman’s – A traditional lunch item, a ploughman’s is a board filled with bread, pickles, cheese, chutney and sometimes ham
Wiltshire ham – Originating from the nearby county of Wiltshire, this ham is some of the tastiest in the country and is best in a sandwich or as part of Eggs Benedict
Afternoon tea – A well known British cuisine, afternoon tea is traditionally scones, cakes, small finger sandwiches and tea, although there are now more modern takes on it and options with champagne or prosecco
Scotch egg – An egg wrapped in sausage meat and breadcrumbed. Delicious with a beer
Eton Mess – A traditional English dessert consisting of strawberries, meringue and whipped cream
Money - Bath Travel Costs
The currency in England is the British Pound (£). Credit & Debit cards are widely accepted throughout England, including Bath, and there are plenty of ATMs that accept foreign cards. A service charge is commonly added to the bill in mid-range, chain and high-end restaurants, this is usually either 10% or 12.5%, if a service charge has not been added, you can leave a tip if you are happy with the service. A tip of 5-10% is the norm and you can round up for taxis. Although there are reasonably priced options available for food and accommodation, Bath is generally considered more on the expensive side. But, done correctly, it can be suitable for both the budget and luxury traveller. Here’s a guide for what you can expect to pay (per person) for:
A local draught beer – £3.50-£6 ($4.75-$8)
A coffee – £2-£3.50 ($2.75-$4.75)
A pasty – £2.50-£3.50 ($3.50-$4.75)
Budget restaurant meal – £10-£18 ($13.50-$24.50)
Mid-range restaurant meal – £25-£40 ($34-$55)
High-end restaurant meal – £50+ ($68+)
When to go to Bath and for how long
The best time to visit Bath is from June to September. Although July and August are peak season, this is also the best time of year for possible good weather, although, being the UK, this can never be guaranteed! Bath also has one of the largest Christmas markets in the UK, which lines the city centre streets so this can also be a great time to visit the city, this usually starts at the end of November and lasts until mid December. Being a small city, most of the sites of the city centre can be visited over 2 days, as well as sampling some of the local food, so we would recommend a trip of 2 days or a long weekend. If you’re planning to visit some attractions further afield of Bath then you could stretch this to 4 days.
Local language and phrases
The language in England is English. Bath is considered part of the West Country in England which has its own slang, like many areas of the UK. You may hear some of these so here are some West Country phrases:
Where’s that to? – Where is it?
Lush – Very nice
Babber – Baby or small child
Proper job – A job well done
Alright me luver – Hello
Bath travel tips
– Bath is a safe city and is safe for lone travellers, including lone females
– There are a range of places to eat including those specialising in vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets
– Bristol Airport and London Airports offer Covid-19 PCR & Antigen tests for those that require them, it is advisable to book a slot in advance if you require a test
Bath travel guide written in October 2021
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Bath Travel Articles
Bath Walking Tour Videos And Maps
Check out our Youtube Channel for more Bath walking tours, and tours for other destinations too.
Bath City Walking Tour
A walking tour video highlighting the sights of Bath historical city centre, and accompanying map showing the route we walked
Royal Victoria Park Walking Tour
A walking tour video of Royal Victoria Park in Bath
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