Bath is one of England’s most beautiful and interesting cities. Located in Somerset in the South-west of the country, Bath gets its name from the Ancient Roman Baths that still exist there, dating back nearly 2000 years. The city therefore has a long and interesting history and is a popular day trip destination for tourists staying in London. Apart from the Roman Baths, we knew very little about the city, and we expected it to be a nice quick day trip. What we found instead was a lively city full of character, interesting sites, cafes and shops. A day trip was hardly enough to fit it all in, however we managed to do a lot with our time. There are a lot of things to do in Bath, and this day trip itinerary will show you the highlights.
York Street Arch in Bath
Getting to Bath
If you’re staying in London, the best way to get to Bath is by train. Trains leave Paddington Station in London and arrive in Bath in around an hour and a half. Get an early start to make the most of the day. There are also buses and bus tours available, but it’s very easy to explore the city on your own if you like your independence. We weren’t staying in London when we visited and had a hire car at the time. There is a nice big car park on Avon Street. The car park and the train station are both located in the centre of the city and it’s easy to walk to all attractions.
Bath is an easily walkable city, however there is a good hop-on-hop-off bus that goes around the city if you aren’t able.
Morning tea in Bath
Get an early start to your day and try to arrive in Bath by around 9am so that you can make the most of your time. Wander through the city centre along the high street and along Stall Street to get to the square outside Bath Abbey and the entrance to the Roman Baths. This is the perfect place to sit down at a cafe and enjoy some morning tea or coffee before diving into the city’s attractions. We sat down at Mokoko and enjoyed coffee and scones with jam and clotted cream, sitting outside in the sun with beautiful views of Bath Abbey.
Coffee and scones at Mokoko in Bath
Roman Baths
The Ancient Roman Baths is the city’s main attraction, and also the most popular, so it’s a good idea to start here before the big crowds arrive. The entrance to the baths is accessed from the square outside Bath Abbey. We bought our tickets on arrival (pre-covid), however at the current time tickets must be booked in advance and an allotted time selected. You can book your tickets at the official website here.
We were surprised by just how much there was to do here. These are more than Roman Ruins. The baths have been kept beautifully preserved and built upon over the centuries as these are the only natural hot springs in England. It is quite a large complex and we were here for a good hour and a half exploring the baths and temple ruins. The audio guide was fantastic and highly recommended to learn about the history of the site.
The Roman Baths in Bath
Bath Abbey
You will have enjoyed lots of intriguing views of Bath Abbey from the Roman Baths and the public spaces outside. Bath Abbey is a beautiful gothic style abbey with over 1000 years of history, and its tall spires dominate the city’s skyline. The current abbey dates back to the 1800’s, however there has been a place of worship here since Anglo Saxon times. In fact, King Edgar, the first king of England, was crowned here in the year 973. The Normans built a Cathedral here which was eventually left to ruin after the dissolution of the monasteries. Eventually the site was rebuilt into the beautiful Abbey we see today.
When we visited, no ticket was needed to enter, however a gold coin donation was appreciated. Bath Abbey is stunning and well worth taking the time to explore.
Bath Abbey
Inside Bath Abbey
Pub Lunch in Bath
It will be around lunch time by the time you have finished exploring the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. There are lots of very nice cafes, restaurants and tea rooms nearby to sit down for lunch. However, we always enjoy a nice traditional pub lunch when we are in England, and Bath has plenty to choose from! Wander down towards the river from Bath Abbey and you will find a few good choices. We sat down at the tiny corner pub called The Alehouse. It’s a cozy little place serving ales and hearty pub food. I enjoyed an oversized loaded Yorkshire pudding that left me drooling, washed down with a nice pint of ale.
Loaded Yorkshire Pudding at The Alehouse in Bath
Pulteney Bridge
Across the road from our lunch spot there is a beautiful park located on the banks of the River Avon. Follow the path upstream and you will find the stunning Pulteney Bridge. This covered bridge crosses the river and is lined on both sides by interesting boutique shops and tea rooms. The bridge was built in 1774 and merges beautifully with the surrounding buildings. It’s well worth taking a stroll along the river and have a browse of the little shops along the bridge. We found a great little shop with gorgeous hand made kids clothes.
Guildhall Markets
Back across the road from Pulteney Bridge is Bath’s oldest shopping precinct, the Bath Guildhall Markets. This 18th century market was the place where all the city’s residents used to go to buy their goods. The market is still alive and well today but is more known for its gourmet food stalls. If I wasn’t so full from lunch I would have indulged in many of the delicious treats available. There are plenty of other interesting stalls here too, so a wander through is well worth your time.
You can exit out of the other side of the market onto High Street.
The Circus
Terrace homes are iconic in Bath and really add to the city’s charm. Seeing some of these beautiful Georgian terraces is one of the best things to do in Bath if you really want to explore the city. The Circus is one of the best places to see them, arranged in a perfect circle with streets branching off in every direction. From High Street head up to St Michael’s Church and left along Broad Street. Turn left on George Street and enjoy the pleasant walk to the end of the street. Turn right onto Gay Street and you will begin wandering past the beautiful terraced homes as you head up the hill and enter onto The Circus. I was blown away by the stunning architecture, arranged in a perfect circle with a pleasant park in the middle. We wanted to move in immediately!
Terrace homes on The Circus
Royal Crescent
From the Circus, take a short walk along Brock Street to Royal Crescent, where you will find a line of Bath’s most prestigious terrace homes known as The Royal Crescent. You can step inside one of these beautiful homes at No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum (check if it is currently open). There is a beautiful area of parkland where you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the terraces and relax a bit after a long day of sightseeing.
There is a lovely walk through the park along Royal Ave which leads to Queen’s Park, another beautiful public space.
Terrace homes on the Royal Crescent
This itinerary will take you a full day and covers the highlights, but there are so many more things to do in Bath if you have more time. Bath is a fascinating city with a lot to offer. Next time we visit the UK, we would love to stay in Bath for a few days to explore more of its quiet streets and laneways. It is the sort of city that seems to be full of treasures that are just waiting to be found.
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