Bath, United Kingdom: travel guide
A UNESCO World Heritage city famed for its Roman Baths, Georgian Royal Crescent, and honey-coloured limestone architecture. The only city in England built on natural hot springs, it inspired Jane Austen novels.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Currency
- GBP
- Time zone
- Europe/London
- Nearest airport
- BRS
Top places to visit in Bath
Roman Baths
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry GBP 26
The best-preserved ancient Roman spa complex in northern Europe, built around a natural hot spring that has flowed at 45°C for at least 10,000 years. The Georgian Pump Room is directly above. Superb museum.
Royal Crescent & The Circus
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h
John Wood's Georgian masterpiece — a sweeping crescent of 30 terraced houses (1774) overlooking a private lawn, and the nearby Circus, three equal curved terraces forming a circle. No. 1 Royal Crescent is a free museum.
Bath Abbey
Monastery · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry GBP 8
A magnificent Perpendicular Gothic church (1499) with extraordinary fan-vaulted ceiling and the world's greatest concentration of memorial tablets. The Tower Tours reveal remarkable views of the city and river.
Thermae Bath Spa
Activity · 4.6 rating · about 3 h
The only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural geothermally heated spring water. The rooftop open-air pool, with views of Bath Abbey, is one of the UK's most magical bathing experiences.
Bath Pulteney Bridge
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h
The Pulteney Bridge — the spectacular 1774 Palladian bridge with shops on both sides (one of only four in the world), with the iconic three-arched design, the V-shaped weir, and the historic Bath architecture.
Bath Cotswolds Day Trip
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 8 h
A day trip from Bath to the Cotswolds — the spectacular Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the famous picturesque villages (Bibury, Castle Combe, Bourton-on-the-Water), and the iconic English countryside.
Bath Christmas Market Festive
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 2 h
The Bath Christmas Market — the magical festive market in the spectacular Bath Abbey Square, with the wooden chalets, the famous Bath Abbey backdrop, and the iconic Georgian winter atmosphere.
Bath Jane Austen Centre
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
The Jane Austen Centre — the spectacular museum dedicated to the famous British author who lived in Bath (1801-1806), with the immersive Regency experience, the costumed guides, and the literary heritage.
Bath Bristol Day Trip Banksy
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 8 h
A day trip from Bath to Bristol — the spectacular harbour city with the SS Great Britain, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the famous Banksy Street Art Tour, and the iconic Bristol creative scene.
Bath Sally Lunn Bath Bun
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1 h
Sally Lunn's House — Bath's spectacular 1482 historic house (one of the oldest in Bath), home of the famous Sally Lunn Bun, with the historic bakery experience, the museum, and the iconic British baking heritage.
Bath No 1 Royal Crescent
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1 h
No 1 Royal Crescent — the spectacular Georgian townhouse museum at the iconic Royal Crescent, with the restored 1770s interiors, the period furnishings, and the immersive Georgian Bath experience.
Bath Bath Markets Walking
Market · 4.7 rating · about 2 h
The Bath Markets walking tour — the spectacular Christmas Market, the Bath Farmers' Market (the oldest in England), the Guildhall Market (1863), and the iconic Bath market heritage.
Things to do
- Thermae Bath Spa Rooftop Pool Session Activity · 2 h · from GBP 43 per person
- Roman Baths Evening Torchlit Tour Activity · 2 h · from GBP 28 per person
Day trips and tours
- North Yorkshire Moors & Robin Hood's Bay 9 h · from GBP 43
- Castle Howard & Helmsley Day Trip 7 h · from GBP 38
Where to stay in Bath
- City Centre (inside the Walls) about GBP 130 per night
Staying inside the medieval city walls is magical. Walk to the Shambles, York Minster, and riverside restaurants.
Hotels
- The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa Bath 5-star · GBP 400 to GBP 1,400 per night
- Apex City of Bath Hotel 4-star · GBP 150 to GBP 380 per night
Where to eat
- The Pump Room British, Afternoon Tea, Café · about GBP 45 per person
- The Marlborough Tavern British, Gastropub · about GBP 42 per person
- Acorn Restaurant Bath Vegetarian, Vegan, Modern British · about GBP 65 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Inflated 'Private Tour' Guides
Roman Baths entrance
Individuals outside the Roman Baths offer 'private tours' for cash. They have no access to the site and will simply walk you to the entrance.
How to avoid it: All legitimate Roman Baths tours are booked through the official website or desk inside the visitor centre.