Things to do in Bath: the Roman Baths, the Abbey and the Crescent
Bath is a small Georgian city in honey-colored stone, built around hot springs the Romans used. You can walk across it in 20 minutes and see the main sights in a day, though two days is kinder. Book the Roman Baths ahead, and expect crowds in summer and at weekends.
The short answer
- First trip
- See the Roman Baths and the Abbey, walk to the Royal Crescent, then cross Pulteney Bridge.
- Where to stay
- The center for the sights, the Upper Town for Georgian streets, Widcombe for value by the station.
- How many days
- Two days is ideal. One day covers the main sights if you start early.
- Best time to go
- May to September for the weather, or December for the Christmas market and fewer day trippers on weekdays.
- Book ahead
- The Roman Baths and Thermae Bath Spa, a week or more ahead on summer weekends.
- From the airport
- Bristol Airport is about an hour from Bath by the A4 bus, which runs hourly.
Where to stay in Bath, in brief
City center
a first visit and the main sights
Around the Abbey and the Roman Baths, flat and walkable, with the station ten minutes away. It is busy by day and loud on Friday and Saturday nights.
Upper Town
Georgian streets and a quiet night
The Royal Crescent, the Circus and the streets between them, a steady 10 to 15 minute walk uphill to the Abbey. Calm in the evening, with a climb to get home.
Widcombe
value close to the station
A small village center across the river from Bath Spa station, with independent cafés. The Abbey is about 10 minutes away on foot.
Bathwick
wide streets and the river
Great Pulteney Street and the streets around it, on the east side of Pulteney Bridge. Quiet and elegant, and about 10 minutes from the Roman Baths.
Things to do in Bath
The Roman Baths
The temple, the great bath and the hot spring that made the city. Go at opening time or late afternoon, when the groups have gone. Allow 90 minutes.
a week or more ahead on summer weekends
Bath Abbey
A late medieval church with a fan-vaulted ceiling. The tower tour climbs to the roof for a view across the city.
a few days ahead for the tower tour
Thermae Bath Spa
A modern spa with a rooftop pool filled by the natural hot spring, open to the sky. Go in the evening for the lights over the city.
1 to 2 weeks ahead
The Royal Crescent and the Circus
The two best-known Georgian terraces, a crescent of 30 houses facing a lawn and a circle of town houses. No. 1 Royal Crescent is open as a museum.
Pulteney Bridge and the weir
One of the few bridges in Europe lined with shops on both sides. The curved weir below is best seen from the riverside path.
Prior Park Landscape Garden
An 18th century garden with a Palladian bridge and lakes, on a hill south of the city. Take the bus or the long climb.
a day or two ahead in season
The Bath Skyline walk
A six-mile circular path through woods and fields on the hills around the city, with views over the roofs. Wear walking shoes.
The Jane Austen Centre
A small exhibition on her years in Bath. Worth an hour if you read her books, and skippable if you do not.
The Holburne Museum
Paintings and decorative art in an 18th century building at the end of Great Pulteney Street, with a garden café.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Bath can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Bath, and which to pick- The Roman Bathsa week or more ahead on summer weekends
Entry is timed in busy periods, and the slots you want go first.
- Thermae Bath Spa1 to 2 weeks ahead
Sessions are limited, and evening slots sell out first.
- A Saturday night hotel4 to 8 weeks ahead
Bath is a weekend destination, and good rooms near the center go early.
What to skip in Bath
- Eating on the streets around the Abbey at midday
Tables beside the Roman Baths charge for the view. Walk five minutes to Walcot Street or Widcombe for better value.
- The Roman Baths at 11am on a Saturday
This is the busiest time of the week. Go when it opens, or after 3pm.
- Driving into the center
Streets are narrow, parking is expensive and the city is easy to walk. Use a park and ride on the edge of the city.
Best time to visit Bath
May to September has the best weather and the longest days, and the city is busiest at weekends and in school holidays. Weekdays in spring and early autumn are a good balance.
Winter is cold and damp but pleasant: the Christmas market runs in the weeks before Christmas and draws large weekend crowds, while January is quiet, and the rooftop spa is at its best in cold air.
- From Bristol AirportThe A4 bus runs from the airport to Bath city center in about an hour, hourly, until late. Check the timetable for your flight time.
- By trainBath Spa station has direct trains from London Paddington in about 90 minutes and from Bristol Temple Meads in about 15 minutes.
- On footThe center is flat and compact. The Royal Crescent is a 15 minute uphill walk from the Abbey.
- Buses and park and rideBuses cover the hills and Prior Park. Park and ride sites on the edge of the city are cheaper than the car parks in the center.
Bath in two days
- Day 1
The Roman Baths at opening time, Bath Abbey, a lunch near Walcot Street, then the Royal Crescent and the Circus in the afternoon. A bun at Sally Lunn's.
- Day 2
Pulteney Bridge and Great Pulteney Street, the Holburne Museum, then a long soak at Thermae Bath Spa in the late afternoon.
Day trips from Bath
- BristolAbout 15 minutes by train, with the harbor, street art and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
- LacockA National Trust village of stone cottages, used as a film location, about 25 minutes by car. Public transport is limited.
- StonehengeMost visitors go on a half-day tour or by car. Book timed entry ahead, and allow about half a day.
Bath: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Bath?
Two days is ideal for the Roman Baths, the Abbey, the Georgian terraces and the spa. One day is enough for the highlights if you start early.
Is Bath worth visiting?
Yes, if you like Georgian architecture, walking and a relaxed pace. It is small, so it suits a weekend better than a long trip.
Is Bath walkable?
Yes. The center is flat and compact, and the sights are within 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The Upper Town and the hills are steeper.
When is the best time to visit Bath?
May to September has the best weather, but is busiest at weekends. Spring and early autumn weekdays are quieter.
Do I need to book the Roman Baths?
In summer and at weekends, yes. Entry can be timed, and the slots you want sell out. On a winter weekday you can often buy on the day.
How do I get from Bristol Airport to Bath?
The A4 bus takes about an hour and runs hourly to the center. Or take a bus to Bristol Temple Meads and then a 15 minute train.
Can you do Bath as a day trip from London?
Yes. Trains from Paddington take about 90 minutes. A day trip covers the main sights, but you will miss the evenings and the spa.