Bath
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Logistics
Getting There
Traveling to Bath is quick and easy from London for a day-trip. Typically there are two trains per hour running from London Paddington Station to Bath Spa Station and the journey takes around 80 – 90 minutes. Consider buying train departure tickets (open return to give flexibility on when you leave Bath) in advance to Bath as the tickets can get pricey to travel at peak times and sell out.
Getting Around
Bath is a fairly small town, making it easily walkable for most. The train station is very close to the city center and you can access other spots easily on foot. If you need to venture outside the city center, you can use taxis or ride sharing services if you do not have your own vehicle.
Accommodations
The Pig, branded as a restaurant with rooms, owns a group of properties found in different areas of the English countryside. The Pig Hotel is known for sourcing many products locally, either from within their garden or from local farmers within 25 miles. The location near Bath is about a 20 minute drive from the town itself and train station. To reach the Pig, you’ll need a car or a taxi as it is definitely not walkable from the city center. The Pig also has a lovely restaurant, available for guests and non-guests to book lunch or dinner. Breakfast is only available to guests staying on the property.
The Pig has a few common rooms within the main building to lounge, play games, chat, read a book by the fire, or enjoy small bites and a drink anytime of day. In warm weather, there is a lovely outdoor terrace served by a large pizza oven. They have rain boots / wellies to borrow for those looking to adventure into the countryside. The Pig offers a variety of different rooms depending on your needs and desires.
No.15 Guesthouse is a cute boutique hotel near the city center. The location of the hotel is ideal as it is very central, making it easy to walk around to different locations and explore the town on foot. It’s close enough to the train station as well, easy for arrival and departure. Book here
Things to do and see
Roman Baths
Bath is named after the Roman Baths. In order to visit them, you will need tickets and these may sell out on the weekend so consider purchasing a few days in advance if you plan to visit. On less busy days, getting day-of tickets should not be a problem. Inside you can see the famous Baths and leisure facilities along with a full museum. The visit takes 1-2 hours depending on how much you plan to read.
More information can be found on their website here
The Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent includes houses in the shape of a crescent with a nice park in front of them.
The Circus
Historical landmark where the townhouses are curving around the circular grass plot in the middle. The architecture here is very impressive
Exploring the City Center & River walk
Bath’s High Street and city center have lots of cute shops to stop in. If you feel like stretching your legs, stroll along the river to Pulteney Bridge
Bath Abbey
A nice church in Bath, found in the city center. Around the holidays, there are Christmas markets and a Christmas tree up around the Abbey.
Bath Spas
If you are up for packing a swimsuit, try visiting one of the spas. Thermae Bath Spa has a rooftop pool and nice city views.
Bath Lookout Point
If you are up for a bit of a climb, head towards the Bath lookout point in Alexandra Park. You’ll have to climb for about 10 – 15 minutes from the town center. Towards the second half, the stairs get quite steep and can be slippery if it rained recently so make sure you are wearing good walking shoes and are able to walk comfortably. The view over the city is worth the short climb
Food and Drinks
Cafe Lucca
Brunch
Italian cafe and bakery with take-away or sit-down options
Landrace Bakery
Cafe
Little bakery with fantastic baked goods and coffee. They have an option to order off the menu upstairs or takeaway pastries and coffee. Do not miss the buns or the focaccia.
Colona & Small’s
Cafe
Great coffee shop
Sally Lunn’s
Cafe
Famous tea and eating house, Sally Lunn’s is known for its buns
Sotto Sotto
Dinner
Underground Italian restaurant
Chez Dominique
Dinner
Tasty French food
Oak
Dinner
Very good vegetarian restaurant
Upstairs at the Landrace
Dinner
The restaurant above Landrace Bakery with a changing menu daily. Great ambiance here and good food!
Beckford Bottle Shop
Wine Bar
Cute wine bar and restaurant in town which you can walk into for a drink or book a table for a meal
Corkage
Wine Bar
Nice wine bar in town, great to stop in for a galss
Dark Horse
Drinks
Great speakeasy and underground cocktail bar. If you plan to visit at prime time on the weekend, be sure to book a table in advance.
The Raven
Drinks
Traditional English pub serving English pies and great for an afternoon drink. On some nights, this but has story telling nights.
Other Notes
Duration
A weekend in Bath is a perfect way to explore the city. While you can see a lot of it in a day, it’s nice to have at least one, maybe two, nights to be able to enjoy the evening restaurants and morning cafes. However, as it is so easy to reach from London, it is a possible day-trip from the capital as well.
Time of Year
Try visiting Bath in the autumn or Christmas period. The season when the leaves are changing makes for a beautiful time to visit the city. The city also is known for its Christmas markets, which can make it very busy but also festive around the holidays.