Bath Tourism: Quick Guide to Visit this excellent Destination This Summer

England is full of ancient Roman cities. London, Manchester, York etc. But this place is significantly unique to the others. This place is Bath, anciently known as Aquae Sulis. It was also known as Aquae Calidae meaning “hot waters”. The most important places of Aquae Sulis were its baths and temple. One of the most historical cities in England, it is known for its naturally heated thermal springs. It is located above the valley of river Avon.

While you’re around the city you’ll notice the old architecture and some old buildings. All the buildings are made up of the yellowish stone known as the famous Bath limestone. Most of the city is constructed with this stone. When you walk around the city you’ll notice the historic paths, and Victorian architecture mixed with modern architecture. It is the largest city in Somerset, England. The city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1987. Overall this is a very historic place. If you love the old stuff with the cobbled streets, with the Greek Architecture; then this place is pretty much perfect for you to visit.

1. Bath World Heritage Centre

The World Heritage Centre of Bath is a place where you can learn about the uniqueness of the city of Bath, UK. You can learn about the hot springs, Roman Remains, Georgian architecture, Georgian town planning and much more at this World Heritage Centre located at Bath. There are displays and exhibitions for a guest at this Heritage Centre which is informative and inspiring.

Bath World Heritage Centre Timings and Entry Fee:-

April to October – 9.30 am – 5 pm
November to March – 10 am – 4 pm
Entry is free.

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2. Roman Baths

It is the most famous attraction in the city of Bath in UK. This place is the primary reason behind the name of this city. The building is colossal. The reason for the place to be this famous is that thousands of years ago the Romans found that this place has natural thermal hot water from underground.

Entry Fees:-

• Weekdays £20
• Weekends £27.50

3. Bath Abbey

It is a giant cathedral located 200 meters from the Roman Baths. If you don’t like churches, you can also hang around the area. It has some musicians and performers performing in the square. It is famous because this is the first church in the country to coronate a king. In the year 973, king Edgar was crowned “King of all England”. The arch is one of the oldest parts of the abbey. It is in the Gethsemane chapel. The abbey’s beautiful ceiling is considered one of the finest examples of fan vaulting. It was built in the 1500s by the Vertue brothers, Robert and William. The construction work started in 1498 and it took almost 120 years to finish. It was completed in 1616.

Entry Fee:-

• Free entry (£5 suggested donation)

4. Sally Lunn’s eating house (1680) & The Bath bun tea shoppe & takeout

There is a unique food item which you’ll never find anywhere else in the world. That is the “Bath bun”. Only two places in the entire city actually make this.

Sally Lunn’s historic eating house & museum house the original kitchen used by Sally Lunn.

Museum & Daytime Refreshment:

• Monday-Saturday 10a.m – 6p.m
• Sunday 11a.m – 6p.m

Evening Restaurant:

• Monday-Saturday 6p.m – 10p.m (last orders)
• Sunday 6p.m – 10p.m

The Sally Lunn Bunn costs £2.90 per bun.

The Bath Bun tea shoppe & takeout is a traditional-style tea house that serves its own version of Bath bun.

Timings:

• Tuesday-Saturday 09:30a.m – 5p.m
• Sunday-Monday 11a.m – 5p.m

The Bath bun’s bun costs £2.50 per bun.

5. Queen Square

It is a square of Georgian houses. There is a replica of the Washington state monument. It includes the Circus and the Royal Crescent.

• The circus – A circle of colonial buildings.
• The Royal crescent – It is also a semicircle of colonial buildings. There is the No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum.

Museum Timings

Tuesday-Sunday – 10 a.m – 05:30p.m (last entry at 04:30p.m)

6. The Jane Austen Centre

This is a famous building set up to show the effect of this city on Jane Austen’s writing. There is a life-sized wax model of Jane Austen on display.

Timings:-

• Monday-Friday: 10a.m – 4p.m
• Saturday: 09:45a.m – 05:30p.m
• Sunday: 10a.m – 4p.m

1 April 2023 – 31 October 2023

• Monday – Sunday: 09:45a.m – 05:30p.m

During July and August, the Centre is open from 9.30 am until 6 pm (The last entry to Centre & Tearoom is 1 hour before closing).

Tickets:-

• Adult: £13.25
• Child: £6.50
• Senior citizen: £12.00
• Student: £11.00
• Family: £35

7. Pulteney Bridge

It is a bridge constructed over the river Avon. It was designed by Robert Adam in a Palladian style and completed by 1774. When you’re on the bridge it looks like any other ordinary street. It is only when you go down the Grand Parade that you’ll notice that was a bridge. Pulteney Bridge is one of the few inhabited bridges here in the country. It is similar to the Rialto bridge in Venice.

8. Victoria Art Gallery

It was constructed to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in the year 1990. It has over 1,500 objects including a collection of oil paintings, sculptures, glassware and decorative art objects.

Timings:-

Tuesday-Sunday 10.30 am-5 pm (Last entry 4.30 pm)

*Tickets

• Adult – (Age 19+) £7.00
• Student – (Full-time with valid I.D) £6.50
• Senior citizen – (Age 65+) £6.50
• Child – (Age 6-18) £2.50

9. The Theatre Royal

This theatre was built in 1805. It has the capacity of housing a total number of 900 audiences. It is one of the most iconic examples of Georgian theatre architecture.

10. Thermae Bath Spa

This is a must-visit place if you’re in Bath. It is a combination of a historic spa and a contemporary design and facilities. The Spa is operated by YTL Hotels. It also has a selection of relaxing spa treatments. It also has a rooftop spa.

Timings:-

• Monday-Sunday – 9a.m – 9p.m

Tickets:-

• 2 Hours Spa Session Any Day (over 16 years) £40.00 per ticket
• 2 Hours Spa Session Monday – Friday (over 16 years) £36.00 per ticket
• Cross Bath 1 1/2 Hour Session Any Day (over 12 years) £20.00 per ticket
• Cross Bath 1 1/2 Hour Session Monday – Friday (over 12 years) £18.00 per ticket
• *Cross Bath Exclusive Booking for Up to 10 People Any Day From £400
• *Cross Bath Exclusive Booking for Up to 10 People Monday – Friday From £200

1. Fashion Museum
2. The Holborne museum
3. Royal Victoria Park
4. The Museum of East Asian Art
5. American Museum & Gardens
6. Herschel Museum of Astronomy
7. National Trust – Bath Assembly Rooms
8. The Pump Room Restaurant
9. Great Chalfield Manor
10. Museum of Bath Stone
11. Parade Gardens

Bath is a location full of history, full of idyllic scenes, full of good food, full of restaurants, bars, cafes and full of newly made good memories. It is one of the most picturesque cities in England.

How to reach Bath?

• Car – M4 or M5 multiway
• Train – Bath Spa station
• Buses – there are too many buses to reach Bath
• Airport- the nearest international airport is to Cardiff and Birmingham.

Best time to visit

Early June to September end is the ideal time to visit Bath. The Jane Austen festival in September also makes it a busy season for Bath. Christmas at Bath is also very popular and people go to witness the magic.

Note down these helpful tips when you plan to visit this Iconic city

1. Always book in advance. You might need to book tickets to visit the attractions in advance especially on weekends as it gets more crowded.
2. The attractions are more expensive on the weekends so if you’re in Bath on weekends, expect to pay a little bit more for hotels, attractions and food. It is suggested to visit during the weekdays.
3. The majority of the city centre of Bath is flat. But everything around it is not. It can get quite hilly at places.
4. Make sure to shop during the daytime. Shops generally close around 6p.m and only the eateries are open.
5. Parking is a major issue. Hotels normally do not have parking facilities. If you’re driving your own/rental car, do remember to confirm the hotel for parking beforehand.
6. Pay and display Parking can have a 2-hour time limit.

FAQ’S =》

Q. How to reach Bath from London?

Ans – Bath is nearly 200kms away from London. You can reach Bath by any kind of road transportation.

Q. How much time does it take to reach Bath from London?

Ans –

• Car – 2 hours
• Bus – 3:30 hours
• Train – 1:30 hours (Paddington station)

Q. Is Bath costly?

Ans – Bath is reasonably priced. The attractions are a bit expensive. Food and drinks on the other hand are quite reasonably priced.

Q. Where to stay?

Ans – The hotels inside Bath can be a bit expensive, so it is recommended to stay out of town if you’re on a tight budget and use public transportation to commute.

Q. How many days are enough to explore Bath?

Ans – Generally, a day is enough to explore Bath. But I would recommend you to stay a night as the nightlife in Bath is quite interesting. Staying for at least 2-3 days and exploring the city slowly is also peaceful and quite enjoyable.

Q. How to explore Bath?

Ans – You can rent/drive/hire a car and explore the city. The city also has a nice transportation system. You can take a bus anywhere you want to go. The connectivity is quite good so you can pretty much travel anywhere by bus. I recommend walking down the streets as the destinations are not quite far from each other. You can have a nice time walking down the lanes while picturing yourself in a Jane Austen novel.

Q. What are the nearby places to explore?

Ans – The best day trips from and to Bath are Salisbury, Stonehenge, Cardiff, Glastonbury, Mendip hills, Bristol etc.