Free things to do · Bath · United Kingdom
5 free things to do in Bath
Bath without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Bath without paying an entry fee: Pulteney Bridge and weir, The Circus, Bath Skyline walk and Kennet and Avon Canal towpath are all free. Roman Baths tickets vary by day and season; booking online for a quieter weekday slot is usually cheaper than a summer weekend.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · City Centre
1.Pulteney Bridge and weir
Walk down to the riverside below Grand Parade for the classic view of the bridge and weir together.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Architecture · Upper Town
2.The Circus
Look up at the frieze of carved emblems above the ground floor; no two are quite the same.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Nature · Bathwick
3.Bath Skyline walk
Start from Bathwick Hill and walk the loop clockwise; allow half a day with a picnic.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Bathwick
4.Kennet and Avon Canal towpath
Walk or cycle about 4 km to the George pub at Bathampton for lunch by the water.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- Nature
Park · Upper Town
5.Royal Victoria Park
Bring children to the adventure playground at the western end after the Royal Crescent.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| City Centre | Pulteney Bridge and weir | 30 minutes |
| Upper Town | The Circus and Royal Victoria Park | 20 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| Bathwick | Bath Skyline walk and Kennet and Avon Canal towpath | 3–4 hours + 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · City Centre
Bath Abbey
Take a tower tour for views over the Roman Baths and the city's rooftops; groups are small.
- 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
View the crescent from the lawn below for the best photograph, then see the servants' quarters in No. 1.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Bathwick
Holburne Museum
Walk on through Sydney Gardens behind the museum to the Kennet and Avon Canal bridges.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Garden · Widcombe
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Wear sturdy shoes; paths are steep and muddy after rain, and there is no visitor car park.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- Nature
- Couples
Gallery · City Centre
Victoria Art Gallery
Pop in on a rainy hour between the Abbey and Pulteney Bridge.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Kingsmead
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
Look out for the small garden behind the house where Herschel set up his telescope.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Roman Baths tickets vary by day and season; booking online for a quieter weekday slot is usually cheaper than a summer weekend.
- The Circus, Pulteney Bridge, the Abbey exterior, the parks, the canal towpath and the Skyline walk are free.
- Visit midweek and outside school holidays; weekend room rates are much higher.
- Stay in Kingsmead, Walcot or Widcombe, or in Bristol, which is 15 minutes away by train, to cut hotel costs.
- Book advance train tickets to Bath from London for much lower fares than walk-up tickets.
- Pre-theatre and set lunch menus are better value than à la carte dinners.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bath expensive to visit?
Bath is expensive for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Bath?
Pulteney Bridge and weir: Walk down to the riverside below Grand Parade for the classic view of the bridge and weir together.