Aristocrat to artisan – the best things to do in Bath in one day

Discover the city that spans the divide between Georgian aristocrats and contemporary hipsters in our day trip to Bath. Explore Roman temples, designer boutiques and everything in between.  

In Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen wrote of aristocrats negotiating a day trip to Bath ‘to see and be seen’. Little has changed today in one of the most beautiful British destinations.  Just as enticing as they were in the 18^th century, the many splendid things to do in Bath draw people from far and wide. It’s so beautiful, the whole place has been certified a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enjoy a thermal spa, socialise in Georgian tea houses, shop for designer goods and stroll honey-hued lanes bursting with impressive architecture. But there’s more to Bath than high society. Part hipster, part posh, the town straddles the divide between quirky independent shops and glamorous boutiques. There’s no surprise it’s up there with Oxford as one of our favourite UK cities.

Blessed with a combination of Roman remnants, including one of the world’s best-preserved bathhouses, and Georgian grace, there’s a charming, yet energetic element to Bath that makes it perfect for a day trip.  

Our guide covers all the best things to do in Bath on a day trip, plus tips on where to eat and where to stay if the allure of Bath tempts you to consider a weekend break in the UK.

---

MAP / THINGS TO DO IN BATH, UK

Bath is centrally located in southwest England within easy proximity of London and Bristol. Just on the outskirts of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a day trip to Bath is one of the most historic things to do in the Cotswolds.

BATH DAY TRIP / MORNING

Start your Bath day trip with a coffee from Society Café. Their weekly rotating guest roast is carefully brewed to perfection. It’s best enjoyed with a pastry sitting on Kingsmead Square just in front of the café.  

02 – CITY CENTRE & GREEN STREET

After the baths, stroll around the tiny lanes south of the Roman Baths. Explore Church Street and its small independent shops and tea rooms. Try the famous Bath Bun (a milk-based sweet bun) from Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House or the Bath Bun Tea Shoppe. For a more artisan experience, the coffee at Mokoko gets our tick of approval.  

It’s easy to explore yourself but can be more informative and fun to join a walking tour.

03 – BATH ABBEY

Next, head to Bath Abbey. The site has been a place of worship for eons, but the existing building was built between the 12^th and 16^th centuries. It’s an ostentatious gothic structure with an extraordinary fan-vaulted ceiling. The towering stained-glass window at the end of the nave is a breath-taking combination of engineering and art.

Bath Abbey // 10am to 5pm Mon-Fri; 10am to 6pm Sat; 12pm to 2pm Sun | Price: Free | Tickets: Services must be booked in advance. | Tower: only available by private tour.

BATH DAY TRIP / AFTERNOON

Kick off the afternoon of your Bath day trip with lunch. We recommend Chaiwalla for their Indian street food with a range of vegan and vegetarian options to pick up and go. Alternatively, Same Same But Different has a great selection of creative sandwiches, supported by a healthy array of Tapas goodies.

04 – PULTENEY BRIDGE

Head next to Pulteney Bridge, the photogenic icon spanning the River Avon. It’s unusual for that fact that it’s one of only four bridges in the world that has shops across its full span on both sides. This impressive example of Georgian architecture is best photographed with the arched weir in front.

A great way to see the bridge is from a cruise along the river.

05 – BATH CIRCUS & ASSEMBLY ROOMS

The Bath Circus is a circular formation of Georgian townhouses made up of three curved segments. Architect, John Wood was fascinated with the Druid’s who build many prehistoric stone circles. Influences include masonic symbols such as serpents and acorns built into the façade.

Continue to the Assembly Rooms, a high society hang-out in the 18^th century. Stroll through the Tea Room, Ball Room, Card Room and Great Octagon to the small formal garden in the centre.

Bath Assembly Rooms // 10am to 5pm Tue-Sun | Price: £9.50 | Tickets: entry is currently only possible to the Fashion Museum which must be booked online in advance.

06 – THE ROYAL CRESCENT

Adjoining the Bath Circus, the Royal Crescent continues the masonic theme with a design representing the sun and the moon. But stars abound inside the lavish Georgian residences as well. The good and the great of Bath society have called this most prestigious address home since the 18^th century. Ambling around the sweeping grand architecture of the Royal Crescent is a wonderful thing to do in Bath.    

---

Read more – Beautiful places in the Cotswolds

07 – VICTORIA PARK

Next, head to the nearby Victoria Park. Set across 57 acres, the park is a beautiful green space which includes the botanical gardens. Have a round of mini-golf or just stroll through the Dell, a small valley with paths winding through various tree species.

08 – THERMAE SPA

Before dinner, enjoy Britain’s only natural thermal spa just as the Celts and Romans did 2,000 years ago – but a bit plusher. Come for a spa treatment, or just book a 2-hour session which gives you access to the mineral bath and the open-air rooftop pool. Soaking in the naturally heated pool as the sun fades is one of the best things to do in Bath.

Thermae Spa / 9am to 9pm | Price: from £35 | Bookings: online

BATH DAY TRIP / EVENING

The nightlife in Bath features traditional pubs, fancy cocktail bars and a vibrant food scene. Here are some ideas to round out a day trip to Bath.

DINNER

The list of great dinner spots in Bath is ever-expanding. Some of our favourites include Circus Restaurant, a cosy, classy establishment with a seasonal menu. The Scallop Shell has sensational fish and chips, and plenty more simply prepared options. Another great option is Noya’s Kitchen which started life as a Vietnamese supper club which proved so successful it’s now a restaurant.

DRINKS

It’s not just the thermal waters than run freely in Bath, there are plenty of great places to grab a drink. Canary Gin Bar, part of the Bath Gin Distillery has an inspiring list of gin-based cocktails we could easily work our way through. Opium Bar is a richly decorated, late-night hangout that hits the quirky/vintage stylings just right.

Set in an old bakery, Walcot House is a lively restaurant and bar with live music. Choose between swing and jazz in one room or disco, soul and R&B in another. Finally, for a more old school evening, the Star Inn is a traditional pub with no music and no fancy food (according to them).

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN BATH

There are plenty more great things to do in Bath that we couldn’t feasibly squeeze into one day. Here are some more things that you can save for another day trip.

BATH WALKING TOUR

It’s easy enough to explore Bath under your own steam, but for more insight into its history join a walking tour. Lasting 90 minutes it visits most of the highlights in the old city centre.

PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDEN

Stroll the beautiful landscaped Prior Park Gardens featuring the thoroughly photogenic Palladian Bridge. With a scenic lake and situated at the top of a hill, there are also great views over Bath.

VICTORIA ART GALLERY

The permanent collection at the Victoria Art Gallery is free to enter and includes works from the 15^th to the 20^th centuries by famous artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Thomas Baker.

JANE AUSTEN CENTRE

The Jane Austen Centre is an interactive and immersive experience that focuses on the life and times of Jane Austen. In addition to the museum, they also organise walking tours around Bath highlighting aspects of her life in the city.

CRUISE THE RIVER AVON

Strolling along the banks of the River Avon is a wonderful thing to do in Bath. However, to experience this beautiful city from the water, take a river cruise from Pulteney Bridge out to the scenic Avon Valley or hop on a traditional cruiser and enjoy a glass or two of Prosecco as the city floats by.  

DAY TRIPS FROM BATH

If you decide to extend your Bath day trip to include an overnight stay, there’s a host of excellent day trips from Bath that allow you to take advantage of this wonderful part of England.

Castle Combe & The Cotswolds // With green forested hills in the background, quaint cottages in the foreground, and a babbling brook in between, it takes little imagination to see why Castle Combe and the Cotswolds is a great day trip from Bath. More information is in our guide to the best Cotswolds weekends.

Lacock // Lacock is a small village owned and managed by the National Trust. Half-timber, half-stone cottages line wonky laneways that fill the village with charm and character. It’s one of the coolest places in the Cotswolds.

Stonehenge // These massive stone blocks, are one of the great prehistoric monuments, not only in the UK, but the world.

Avebury // The huge stone circles at Avebury are another great marvel of prehistoric Britain. See them and the quaint village they surround in just under 1 hour from Bath.

Wells & Cheddar Gorge // Visit the home of cheddar cheese and the limestone gorge where Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton was found. Cheddar Gorge is around 50 minutes from Bath.

HOW TO GET TO BATH

With great transport links, Bath is an excellent day trip option from many parts of the country. Find yourself strolling the independent shops or indulging in a spa treatment in no time at all.

BY CAR

Bath is located in South West England on the edge of the Cotswolds and 40 minutes’ drive from Bristol.

If you’re driving to Bath, the best place to park is at the Podium Car Park or Southgate Shopping Car Park. Both are a very short walk to the centre. However, to avoid driving into the centre of town, there are three Park & Ride services located around the outskirts of the city.

BY TRAIN

Bath Spa Train Station has direct connections from Bristol (11min), Reading (55min), Oxford (1h, 4min), Cardiff (1h 4min), London (1h 14min) and Portsmouth (2h, 24min), just to name a few. So getting the train to Bath is an easy endeavour from many parts of the country. Bath Spa train station is located just a 5-minute walk from the centre of town. Check train times here.

HOW TO VISIT BATH ON A DAY TRIP FROM LONDON

With excellent transport connections, Bath is a great choice for a day trip from London. Here’s how to get

LONDON TO BATH BY COACH

The coach from London Victoria Station to Bath Bus Station takes 2 hours, 35 minutes. With 5 hours of total travel time, this would make a long day, so consider spending the night if you are taking the coach. The bus station is just a 5-minute walk to the city centre.

LONDON TO BATH BY TOUR

To save the hassle of catching the train or bus join a tour. Most tours from London to Bath last 10 to 12 hours and stop at either Stonehenge or Windsor Castle (and sometimes both) enabling you to see many of Britain’s iconic sights in one day.

Choose from one of the tours below.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BATH

The best time to visit Bath is from June to the end of September when the weather will be pleasant, and the city will be looking beautiful.

However, the peak tourist season is also July and August when things will be busy, so book ahead if you plan to visit over this time.

From March to May the weather is starting to pick up from the winter cold but tourism is still relatively slow. So this is a great time to visit Bath and snap up a bargain.

FESTIVALS IN BATH

You may also want to time your visit to Bath to coincide with one of the many annual festivals held in the city.

In summer the Bath Festival celebrates the best in music and books from around the world. It coincides with the Bath Fringe Festival which includes a mixed bag of stand-up comedy, cabaret, physical theatre, circus and folk music. 

In September the Jane Austen Festival is a homage to Bath’s most famous literary export. While in October, the Great Bath Feast will see you eating your way through the city’s culinary creations.

MORE READING FOR YOUR UK TRIP

The UK is blessed with a host of diverse and interesting days out. Here are some more suggestions for us for getting out and about on a classic day trip.

UK TOWNS & CITIES

Our guide to spending a day in Cambridge

Oxford day trip – An Itinerary for 1 day in Oxford

The best things to do in Tenby

Exploring charming St Ives

SOUTH COAST

Wonderful things to do in Cornwall

The best ways to visit and photograph Old Harry Rocks, Dorset

See the best of Seven Sisters Cliffs on this stunning walk

HIKING GUIDES

Best walks in the Lake District for all levels

Best hikes on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Explore the remote and rugged Lake District at the Langdale Pikes

---

---