Travel guide · United Kingdom
Bath travel guide
Roman hot springs, honey-stone Georgian crescents and rooftop thermal pools
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Bath is a small city in a bowl of hills on the River Avon, built almost entirely in pale Bath stone and listed by UNESCO as a whole. The Romans built a bathing complex over its hot springs, still visible at the Roman Baths beside the Abbey, and in the 18th century the city became England's most fashionable spa, laid out in the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge. Today you can bathe in the same mineral water at Thermae Bath Spa, follow Jane Austen's footsteps and walk the whole centre in an hour. Plan 2 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 2 days
- Main airports
- BRS, LHR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$320 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, Royal Crescent and Thermal spa
Why visit Bath
- The Roman Baths are among the best-preserved Roman remains in northern Europe, with hot spring water still flowing into the Great Bath.
- Thermae Bath Spa's open-air rooftop pool is filled with natural thermal water and looks out over the Abbey and the hills.
- The Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge are some of the finest Georgian architecture in Britain, all within a 15-minute walk.
- Jane Austen lived in Bath and set two novels here; the Jane Austen Festival fills the streets with Regency costume each September.
- Stonehenge, Lacock, Castle Combe, Wells and Bristol are within about an hour.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 14 things to do.
Historic site · City Centre
Roman Baths
The Romans built a bathing complex and a temple to Sulis Minerva over the city's hot springs, where about a million litres of water at around 46°C still rise each day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · City Centre
Bath Abbey
The current abbey church was begun in 1499 on the site of earlier Saxon and Norman churches.
- Time needed
- 1 hour, plus 45 minutes for the tower
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Views
Architecture · Upper Town
Royal Crescent and No. 1 Royal Crescent
John Wood the Younger's sweeping half-ellipse of 30 terraced houses, completed in 1774, looks over the lawns of Royal Victoria Park and is the defining image of Georgian Bath.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Landmark · City Centre
Pulteney Bridge and weir
Robert Adam's Palladian bridge of 1774 is one of only a handful of bridges in the world lined with shops on both sides.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Experience · City Centre
Thermae Bath Spa
The only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural thermal spring water, this modern spa combines restored historic buildings with a glass-walled block.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
Architecture · Upper Town
The Circus
Designed by John Wood the Elder and finished by his son in the 1760s, the Circus is a ring of three curved terraces around a circle of giant plane trees, decorated with hundreds of carved symbols.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Where to stay
City Centre is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and couples
City Centre
Abbey Churchyard, the Roman Baths and pedestrian shopping lanes
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, quiet stays and culture
Royal Crescent and the Upper Town
Grand Georgian terraces, the Circus and the Assembly Rooms
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and families
Bathwick and Great Pulteney Street
A wide Georgian boulevard across Pulteney Bridge, ending at the Holburne Museum
$$ · Best for food lovers, solo travellers, budget and shopping
Walcot
Bath's artisan quarter of independent shops and makers
What to eat
- Sally Lunn bun — A large, light brioche-like bun said to date back to the 17th century, served toasted with sweet toppings or as a base for savoury dishes.
- Bath bun — A sweet, rich yeast bun topped with crushed sugar and baked with a lump of sugar or currants inside, a teatime treat since the 18th century.
- Bath Oliver biscuits — Plain, crisp, unsweetened biscuits invented in the 18th century by Dr William Oliver, a Bath physician, and eaten with cheese.
- Cream tea — Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, served with a pot of tea; a West Country tradition and a natural fit for Bath's tearoom culture.
- Bath Soft Cheese — A soft, bloomy-rind cow's-milk cheese made on an organic farm at Kelston, just outside the city, from a recipe going back centuries.
- Somerset cider — Somerset is England's best-known cider county, producing dry, still farmhouse ciders and sparkling craft versions from local apple varieties.
When to go
The best times to visit Bath are May, June and September, when the weather is mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July and August. Late November and early December bring the popular Christmas Market but busy weekends, and January to March is the quietest and best-value time, ideal for spa days.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom and daffodils, mild walking weather and the Bath Festival in May, with showers and busy Easter weekends. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm, long days and gardens at their peak, but the most crowded and expensive season, with coach tours at the main sights. |
| Autumn | September–November | The Jane Austen Festival in September, autumn colour in October and the Christmas Market from late November. |
| Winter | December–February | The Christmas Market in early December, then quiet streets, low prices and the rooftop thermal pool steaming in cold air. |
Getting there and around
Bristol Airport is about 30 km west. A direct airport bus runs to Bath in roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes, and taxis take about 45 minutes outside rush hour. From London Heathrow, take the airport coach link to Reading and change to a direct train to Bath Spa, about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours in total, or a direct coach.
Bath's centre is small enough to walk everywhere: Bath Spa station to the Royal Crescent is about 20 minutes on foot, much of it uphill. Buses serve the outlying hills, Park and Ride sites keep cars out of the centre, and towpaths and an old railway path make cycling easy.
Plan your days
One full day covers the Roman Baths, the Abbey, the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge. Two days adds Thermae Bath Spa, a museum or the Skyline walk; three or four make Bath a base for Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and Wells.
Practical information
- Currency
- GBP
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type G three-pin sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; the Roman Baths water is not, apart from the treated spa water served in the Pump Room.
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in pubs.
Bath is generally low-risk for visitors. Pickpockets occasionally target crowds at the Christmas Market and around the Abbey in summer, and the steep stone pavements on the hills are slippery in rain or frost.
Flights to Bath
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Bath?
One full day covers the Roman Baths, the Abbey, the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge. Two days adds Thermae Bath Spa, a museum or the Skyline walk; three or four make Bath a base for Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and Wells. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Bath?
The best times to visit Bath are May, June and September, when the weather is mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July and August. Late November and early December bring the popular Christmas Market but busy weekends, and January to March is the quietest and best-value time, ideal for spa days.
+What is Bath known for?
Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, Royal Crescent, Thermal spa, Jane Austen, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge. The Roman Baths are among the best-preserved Roman remains in northern Europe, with hot spring water still flowing into the Great Bath.
+Is Bath expensive?
Bath is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$320 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Bath?
Not for the city, where parking is scarce and traffic heavy; use Park and Ride if you arrive by car. A car is useful for Castle Combe, Lacock, Cheddar Gorge and the Cotswolds, or join a coach tour.