3 days in Bath

Day by day

1. Day 1: Roman Baths and Bath Abbey

   Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge and weir, then Thermae Bath Spa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Bath Abbey

      Take a tower tour for views over the Roman Baths and the city's rooftops; groups are small.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sally Lunn bun

      Sally Lunn's Eating House on North Parade Passage, in one of the oldest houses in Bath.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Thermae Bath Spa

      Go up to the rooftop pool after dark, when the Abbey is lit up and steam rises from the water.

2. Day 2: Royal Crescent and No. 1 Royal Crescent and The Circus

   Royal Crescent and No. 1 Royal Crescent, The Circus and Jane Austen Centre, then City centre lanes in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Royal Crescent and No. 1 Royal Crescent

      View the crescent from the lawn below for the best photograph, then see the servants' quarters in No. 1.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bath bun

      Bakeries and tearooms around the Abbey and the Pump Room.

   4. Afternoon

      Jane Austen Centre

      Combine the visit with the Jane Austen walking routes through the Upper Town and Sydney Place.

   5. Evening

      City centre lanes

      Historic pubs, cocktail bars and wine bars around Kingsmead Square, George Street and the lanes near the Abbey.

3. Day 3: Holburne Museum and Bath Skyline walk

   Holburne Museum, Bath Skyline walk and Kennet and Avon Canal towpath, then Walcot in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Holburne Museum

      At the end of Great Pulteney Street, this museum in a former Georgian hotel holds Sir William Holburne's collection of paintings, porcelain, silver and miniatures, including works by Gainsborough and Stubbs, with a modern glass extension overlooking Sydney Gardens.

   2. Late morning

      Bath Skyline walk

      Start from Bathwick Hill and walk the loop clockwise; allow half a day with a picnic.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bath Oliver biscuits

      Delis and cheese shops, and on cheese boards in local restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Kennet and Avon Canal towpath

      The canal joins the Avon at Widcombe through a flight of locks, then climbs past Sydney Gardens towards Bathampton and the Dundas Aqueduct.

   5. Evening

      Walcot

      Live-music pubs and independent bars along Walcot Street with a more local crowd.

Before you go

• Roman Baths: Book a timed ticket online for weekends and school holidays, when walk-up queues are long.
• Bath Abbey: Tower tours run at set times with small groups and often sell out at weekends; book ahead.
• Thermae Bath Spa: Weekend and evening sessions are busy; booking is recommended. Children are not admitted to the main spa.

If it rains

• Swap in Victoria Art Gallery (City Centre): Pop in on a rainy hour between the Abbey and Pulteney Bridge.
• Swap in Herschel Museum of Astronomy (Kingsmead): Look out for the small garden behind the house where Herschel set up his telescope.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, City Centre keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Royal Crescent and the Upper Town ($$$$) suits couples, luxury, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.9 hours in December to 16.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bath
• 2 days in Bath

Questions travellers ask