Bath
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview
Bath is a city in the South West of England known for its Georgian architecture and its Roman Baths. For these reasons Bath has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is small and friendly with lots of attractions, events, culture and places to eat and drink. Bath is a very popular tourist destination and gets very busy in the summer and around Christmas. Its streets contain many small small independent shops, it has a far higher proportion of such shops than the average UK city so is also a popular shopping destination.
Tourist Information
Bath's Tourist Information Centre is centrally located, next to the Abbey and Roman Baths
Health / Emergencies
Emergency services
To call the emergency services (fire, police or ambulance) call 999 or 112
NHS Direct's website provides self-help advice or you can call 0845 4647 to speak to health advisors
The walk-in centre has now closed.
The RUH is located on the outskirts of the city and has a 24 hour accident and emergency department.
The police station is in the city centre and is open from 7am to midnight. They can deal with lost property. For non-emergencies you can call 0845 4567000.
Couchsurfing in Bath
There is an active CouchSurfing 'scene' in Bath. Bath is popular with visitors so there is strong demand for couches, luckily there are also lots of hosts so if you make enough requests you shouldn't be disappointed. The Bath CouchSurfing Group is also quite active and there are relatively regular meet-ups and activities. It's recommended that you join the group in advance of a visit to Bath, the friendly members will be able to help you get the best out of your visit.
How to get there
Train
Bath is on the main railway line between Bristol (Temple Meads station) and London (Paddington Station). It is also served by trains to Wales and the South Coast (Portsmouth, Weymouth, Southampton). Bristol Temple Meads is the next station to the west (about ten minutes away) and offers connections to the South West, the Midlands, Northern England and Scotland.
Bath Spa station (Google map) is central to the city and is reasonably close to bus stops and the bus station.
National Rail (for train times and tickets)
Coach
Coaches are often the cheapest way to get to Bath. National Express are the main coach operator serving Bath and their coaches arrive and depart from the bus station (Google map showing location of new bus station). Megabus also comes to Bath and is often cheaper than National Express although it has a smaller route network.
Car
Bath is just over 10 miles south of the M4. There are a number of car parks (Council website) in the centre as well as a good park and ride bus service (Council website) with a number of sites on the outskirts of the city. Charlotte Street and Avon Street are probably the best car parks for using to visit Bath. The centre of Bath is designed to keep cars out, so it's best not to get caught up in the one way streets and 'bus gates'.
Left luggage
The YMCA hostel and Bath Backpackers hostel both offer a left luggage service. There are two cafes which offer a secure left luggage service on Manvers Street facing the railway station.
Internet access
There are many ways to get on-line in Bath. There are many pubs, cafés and coffee shops - Starbucks and independents - with wireless hotspots with a few of them being free for customers. There are also internet cafés and the public library.
- The public library offers internet terminals which are free for a set list of information web sites and chargeable for other sites.
- £3.60 / hour for adults and £1.80 / hour for childen and students (billed per 15 minutes) (July 2008)
- The Bell (a pub) offers Wi-Fi access for customers as well as a PC by the bar
- £ Free
- The Raven (a pub) offers free Wi-Fi access for customers. This is also a good place to eat or get a coffee.
- £ Free
The Bridge Coffee Shop
- This coffee shop has free Wi-Fi for customers
- £ Free
- Google Map
- The King of Wessex (a pub) offers Wi-Fi access for customers. They also do very cheap food and drinks.
- £ Free
- The Green Park Brasserie has free Wi-Fi access for its customers. It offers coffee and snacks during the day as well as meals.
- £ Free
McDonalds
- McDonalds offer free Wi-Fi.
- £ Free
- Google Map
Click Café
- This internet café is almost opposite the railway station.
- £1 / 20 minutes
- Google Map
Local transport
Buses
Bath is reasonably well served by buses. The main operator is First Group. The bus station is right next to the train station.
Cycling
Bath is on route 4 of the UK national cycle network. The very pleasant route heads west to Bristol along an old railway (Bristol / Bath railway path) and east (initially along the Kennet & Avon canal) to Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Newbury, Reading and London. Both routes are picturesque and fairly flat.
There is a street bike rental scheme Bike In Bath but this is expensive and you can get a better deal with hire shops.
The most central hire shop is Green Park Bike Station which offers daily bike hire for £7.50 for 1/2 day, £15 per day (£20 for two days but not weekend), £50 for the week (prices correct September 2012)
Bath itself is situated amongst a number of hills so can be challenging to cycle into the suburbs. There are good bike shops and plenty of bike racks.
Sustrans map of Bath cycle routes
Places to stay
Hostels
- Youth hostel in an Italianate Mansion on Bathwick Hill, about a mile from the centre
- Large central hostel with gym, left luggage and many other facilities
- Hostel above Belushi's Bar in city centre
- Central hostel with left luggage facilities
Camping
Newton Mill Camping & Caravan site
- This is the only campsite near Bath, it's right on the outside of the city and as such is really too far to walk into the city. It is close to the well served #5 bus route and also to the Bath & Bristol cycle track.
Hotels / Bed & Breakfast (B&B) / Guesthouses
Bath has hundreds of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses, ranging from economy guesthouses to various 5* hotels. An easy option to find something for your budget is to use the city's tourist office to book accommodation for you. This service costs £3 (correct in October 2008) and they will also take a non-refundable deposit of 10%.
Food, drink & nightlife
Cafes
Delis / Take-aways
Schwartz Brothers
- Half of Bath thinks this is the best place in the world to get a burger ...
Manhattan burger bar
- ... the other half of Bath thinks this is the best place in the world to get a burger!
- Great fish & chips in the centre of Bath
Restaurants
Pubs
Bath has dozens of pubs and bars in and around the centre so this is only a selection of what's available. There should be something to suit most tastes in the lists below.
- The Bell is arguably one of the best pubs in Bath. With an alternative atmosphere and equally alternative clientèle, live music three times a week, an eclectic playlist the rest of the time, a great selection of beer and other drinks, friendly staff and a lovely outside area, what's not to like? Oh, and Bath's smallest laundrette!
- Another of Bath's pub highlights, The Salamander is a Bath Ales (a local Brewery) pub and as such always serves a few of their own brews as well as guest ales and continental beers. Small and friendly.
- Yet another Bath gem, the Raven is a real community pub with various groups meeting there throughout the month. Lots of good beer and equally good pies.
King of Wessex (Wetherspoons)
- A chain pub with little atmosphere but with a wide selection of beers from the UK and further afield as well as a large food menu. All at very low prices!
- A very popular pub with good, reasonably priced food. A good place to watch any big matches.
Old Green Tree
- A very traditional British pub, always featuring a character or two! Small wood panelled rooms with a good selection of real ale and great food (in massive portions!).
Hobgoblin
- An alternative pub, lots of goths and rockers. Good atmosphere.
The Grapes
- City centre 'boozer' with sports usually on the TV and cheap food
The Boater
- A student favourite with a massive garden overlooking the river.
Mandalyns
- Now Bath's only Gay & Lesbian friendly bar with garish decoration and lots of fun nights.
- Another traditional old pub, supplied by Bath's only brewery, Abbey Ales. A great example of a traditional pub with numbered rooms dating from the 19th century
- One of Bath's smallest pubs but with a great atmosphere. Right in the city centre
- An Irish themed pub, always busy and a good place to meet
Bars
The Common Room is a small and friendly late night bar near the Assembly Rooms. Very stylish but also friendly. It is very compact so get there before the pubs empty to stand a chance of getting a sofa or seat.
Grappa
Lounge is a busy late bar with lots of cocktail options. Adorned with interesting contemporary art on the ground floor and mildly saucy photography downstairs.
Pulp is a stylish and vaguely Latin themed cocktail bar connected to the Las Iguanas restaurant. Pulp also offers Tapas.
Beau Bar
Clubs
Bath is a small city and doesn't have large clubs. If you're into serious clubbing then a trip to Bristol is best. Bath does have a number of smaller clubs with character.
Back To Mine
Poo Na Na
QT's
Live music & comedy
Theatre & cinema
Attractions
- The Roman Baths are probably the single 'must do' attraction in Bath. Consisting of the various original Roman Baths, remains of the Roman temple along with the Georgian Pump Rooms there is a lot to explore. A lot of the Baths are actually under the surrounding streets so there is more to it than you might realise. An audio guide (in a selection of languages) is included and you should allow 2-3 hours to see all of the complex. Although a little expensive, the Baths are generally found to be a worthwhile visit and are very well presented.
- Tip! For a quick free view of one of the Baths go into the Pump Rooms entrance, you can also sample the hot spa water for 50p.
- Adult £10.50 (£11 in July & August), student £9, child £6.80 (in July 2008)
- The Pump Rooms are a lavish venue for morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. The Pump Rooms are in the same building as the Roman Baths. Food and drink prices are expensive as you're paying a premium for the location.
- The Thermae Bath Spa opened in 2006 and allows you to bathe in the same hot spring water as fills the Roman Baths. Housed in a contemporary "Glass Cube" designed by Nicholas Grimshaw the complex has two thermal baths, a steam room and various treatment rooms.
- A two hour spa session cost £22 in July 2008.
- Prior Park Gardens are restored 18th century landscape gardens in a sweeping valley about a mile from the centre of Bath. The gardens feature an Ornamental Palladian bridge, one of only four in the world. The location also gives great views of the city. The gardens are best accessed by bus from the city centre otherwise it's a steep walk.
- Adult £4.50, child £2.50 (in July 2008)
- Victoria Park is a large public park close to the centre of Bath. With a botanic garden, large childrens adventure playground, skateboard park, lakes, tennis, bowling, golf & putting and many beautiful gardens there is something for everyone. The Royal Crescent sits on the edge of the park above a large open area, perfect for impromptu football and picnics. Hot air balloons launch from the north west area of the park in the summer.
Adventure Golf
- The Victoria Fall Adventure Golf course provides an entertaining way to spend an hour. Located in Victoria Park there are 18 holes around an interesting miniature golf course.
Google map - Adult £4, student/elderly £3.50, child £3 (in August 2008)
View Bath from Alexandra Park
- One of the best things to do in Bath is trek up to Alexandra Park, high above the city, to get the best view of Bath. You can always get a bus up to Bear Flat to save your legs a little! There is only a single point where the view isn't obscured by trees.
Google map of the exact vantage point
- Bath Abbey is situated in the centre, next to the Roman Baths and the Pump Rooms. The Abbey was founded in the 7th century. The current building is the third on the site and was completed in 1611. The inside of the Abbey is surprisingly light and is worth a look.
- There is a Tower Tour which is very interesting, see the Walks / Tours section for more details.
- Suggested contribution of £2.50 in July 2008.
- The Kennet & Avon canal joins the river Avon in Bath to the river Kennet in Newbury (which in turn flows into the Thames). It runs east from Bath through glorious countryside to Bradford on Avon, Devizes and beyond. Bradford on Avon is about 10 miles along the canal so is an easy cycle or a reasonably long walk. You can catch a train back from Bradford on Avon (after stopping for refreshment at one of the many pubs!). Devizes is about 20 miles along the Canal and isn't on the rail network so it's a 40 mile round cycle. The canal's towpath from Bath to Devizes forms part of route 4 of the national cycle network and is a good hard surface with only a few puddles when it rains. For an easy walk, it's only a couple of miles out of Bath to the George at Bathampton. This popular pub is right next to the canal and serves food as well as a good range of beer. This is a popular walking destination from Bath on summer weekends.
- The Georgian Garden is authentically restored and planted with species known to have been used in Georgian town gardens. It is accessed from the Gravel Walk in Victoria Park. Ideal to relax in during a walk around the city.
- Entrance is free
- Google map
- You can watch glass being blown in Bath Aqua Glass' workshop in Walcot Street.
- Adult £3.50, child £2 (July 2008)
Culture
- Bath's Theatre Royal is over 200 years old and has three auditoriums; the original main theatre, a studio theatre (The Ustinov Studio) and a youth theatre (The Egg). The Theatre holds a number of festivals / seasons each year and always has a full schedule. Behind the scenes tours are also available.
- The Little Theatre is Bath's more interesting cinema with two screens showing a mix of art-house / independent / foreign language films as well as mainstream cinema
- The Odeon is an 8 screen multiplex featuring mostly mainstream cinema. In the same complex is a Weatherspoons pub, a Nando's chicken restaurant, Feast (an Asian buffet) and a TGI Friday's restaurant as well as a health club in the basement.
- The Jane Austen Centre is a permanent exhibition which explores the relationship between Jane Austen and Bath (she visited twice and then lived here for six years). As well as the exhibition there are regency styled tea rooms and an extensive shop.
Architecture
Walks / Tours
- Well recommended free guided walking tours of the city led by volunteers. There is at least one tour each day.
- Free!
- City Sightseeing offer an open top bus tour of the city and a second tour of the Bath skyline (ticket includes both). Tickets are valid for two days so the bus can be used for getting around the city as well as for the tour.
- Adult £10, student / elderly £8, children £6 (in July 2008)
- A fascinating tour of the Abbey's roof and tower. You get to look through the ceiling into the Abbey below, ring the bells, go behind the clock face and get the superb view from the top of the tower.
- Tours run daily (except Sundays) on the hour from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
- Adult £5, child (5-14) £2.50 (in July 2009)
- A irreverent 90 minute comedy walking tour. A favourite with visitors, this tour promises to contain no facts about the city but instead features jokes, funny walks, teasing and an escapologist rabbit.
- Adult £8, student £5 (in July 2008)
- An atmospheric tour of the many haunted areas of the city
- Adult £6, student / child / elderly £5 (in July 2008)
Boat trips
Museums / Galleries
Events
- Illuminate Bath brings beautiful and engaging projected artworks to the city centre. Banishing the gloom of January’s long evenings, this ‘festival of light’ will include a number of original installations in public spaces, all of which will be completely free to explore.
- Occasional event, last took place in 2015
- Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th February 2017
- Friday 24th - Saturday 25th April 2017
- Saturday 1st - Monday 17th April 2017
The Bath Festival (Formerly the Literature Festival and International Music Festival)
- Friday 19th – Sunday 28th May 2017
- 2017 dates not yet announced
- Sunday 23rd April 2016
- Not taking place in 2017
- Friday 26th May - Sunday 11th June 2017
- Sunday 2nd July 2017
- Not sure if this will return
- Street party / festival that takes place in Widcombe Parade. Features music, competitions, street entertainment and general randomness.
- Possibly back in the future
- Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th September 2017
- Friday 8th September - Sunday 17th September 2017
Childrens' Literature Festival
- Friday 29th September – Sunday 8th October 2017
- TBC 2017
- Thursday 2nd - Sunday 12th November 2017
- Friday 10th to Saturday 18th November 2017
- An outdoor market held around the Abbey area in the centre of Bath. Over 100 stalls selling a wide selection of quirky and unique gifts as well as hot food and drinks. With a great festive atmosphere this market makes Christmas shopping a lot easier.
- 2017 dates to be announced
Shakespeare Festival
- This festival doesn't seem to happen any more...
Puppet Festival
- This festival doesn't seem to happen any more...
- This festival doesn't seem to happen any more...
- This festival doesn't seem to happen any more...
Nearby destinations
Bristol
Salisbury
Cotswolds
Bradford on Avon
- Stonehenge is considered one of the must see sights in the UK but people are sometimes disappointed by it. After all, it is a pile of stones which you aren't allowed to touch (except on the summer and winter solstices), it's not cheap and the visitor experience isn't really up to standard. It's best to go with reasonably low expectations and then you are more likely enjoy the experience.
- Adult £6.90, student/elderly £5.90, child £3.50, English Heritage / National Trust members - free (in July 2010)
- Two companies run trips to Stonehenge:
- You can also travel to Salisbury (see above) by train and get a bus from there:
- Avebury is another set of stone circles and people often enjoy these more. Access is unrestricted so there's no charge and you are free to walk up to the stones and touch them.
- Mad Max Tours offer tours which combine Stonehenge with Avebury