A Day in Bath

On April 9, 2019
By Shruti
Comments Off on A Day in Bath

Spending a day in Bath is like wandering through the pages of a Jane Austen novel. With cobbled streets, neoclassical Georgian architecture and genteel tearooms beckoning you, this is a city which as a whole has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This post covers the top 10 things to see in Bath England as well as

How to reach Bath from London
Weather and the best time to visit
Places to see and Experiences
Going around and other information tidbits
Where to Eat

Reaching Bath from London
There are various options including Train (GWR) and National Express Bus Coaches if you plan to head to Bath on your own. Additionally, there are a lot of tour operators who run day tours to Bath, Stonehenge and adjacent areas like Lacock, Stratford upon Avon etc. For more details refer to this detailed post on options, schedules, fares, calling stations, refunds and cancellations etc when going from London to Bath

Weather and the best time to Visit
Summers are of course the best time to visit. I however, highly recommend the shoulder months of Mar-Apr. All the places are less crowded, the tickets and hotel rates are all off season and the weather is not too bad either. Its around 12-13 degrees with a wind chill and unpredictable rain showers.

Places to See and Experiences
There are numerous things to see in Bath, England such that a day in Bath can be easily spent sightseeing, taking leisurely strolls in the streets, for a spa, soaking in the history while eating some great fudge, cakes and cornish pastries. Some of the experiences I’ll recommend include the following. You can also see this page to know more about top 10 things to see in Bath, England.

Mayor of Bath Honorary guides free walking tours around Bath
amongst the top 10 things to see in Bath, England, this comes even before the Roman Baths – from where Bath gets its name. During these walks, the guide will take you centuries back into history of where it all started: Where Bath rose to prominence through visiting places like King’s Mead, Queen’s square, Royal Crescent, the famous town houses and some old historic buildings. It starts in front of Roman Baths and typically takes around 2hrs for the whole tour.

Hanging Loos of Bath — Erstwhile Clay Pipe factory in Bath

Roman Baths have a special significance since 1st century AD. People from all around the Roman world came to visit Roman Baths, Sacred Springs and the temple of Sulis Minerva since 76 AD when the first baths and temple buildings were completed. The natural hot water springs were considered sacred and magical. The water is extremely mineral rich and at the end of your visit to the Roman Baths, you can actually taste the hot spring water which is extremely salty given the amount of mineral concentration. Best time to visit these Roman Baths is actually either early morning as soon as the Baths open (8am) or in the afternoon right after finishing the free guided walking tour. The Baths are open till 6pm in winters, with the last entry at 5pm. You get a 10% discount on buying tickets online and don’t have to wait in the serpentine queues to get them.

Sun God Sol from the temple courtyard, Roman Baths, Bath

Moon Goddess Luna from the temple courtyard, Roman Baths, Bath — Sun God Sol from the temple courtyard, Roman Baths, Bath

Bath Abbey Bath Abbey is a fully functional abbey with ongoing services at the Abbey. You could admire the wonderful architecture, enjoy exceptional music in a beautiful setting or just join in a prayer at the abbey. While there are no entrance tickets, they have something called suggested donations specified by the Abbey (different for children, students, adults and families).
Visit to the Jane Austen Center If you are a fan of the Jane Austen novels, this is one must stopover for you.
Spa in one of the thermal Spa (Thermae Bath Spa) or in the Georgian Townhouse
Walk the Skyline While I was not able to do this thanks to the long immigration lines at the airport, I have heard a lot about this super rewarding morning activity for spectacular views and suitable for all fitness levels.

Stained glass windows of Bath Abbey — Jane Austen Center and tearoom, Bath

Pulteney Bridge: A Palladian treasure This is one of the only four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides.
Experience the classic English afternoon tea in one of the Georgian Tea Rooms in Bath
Walk along the River Avon This is another rewarding walks in Bath. Take just a leisurely stroll along river Avon, to see the townhouses and the small houseboats you could rent.
Try fudge, cornish pastry and scrumptuous cakes in many of the bakeries around Bath Right in front of the Roman Baths is the square or the market-y area that boasts of many a pastry shops and fudge shops. When in Bath, do try the cornish pastry which seems to be some sort of a specialty in Bath.

A small houseboat and townhouses along river Avon — Houses along River Avon

Going around and other info

Bath is a relatively small town and thus within Bath you can pretty much walk. For one, its a beautiful town so I am sure you wouldn’t mind walking and two, even if you have babies with you while walking, everything is fairly stroller friendly except some sections of the road which are cobbled paths. Most of the places to see are located in the same vicinity and there are enough cafes and pastry joints for you to take a break and relax in.

Where to Eat
Since I was in Bath for just one day, I didn’t explore too many restaurants. The ones I did include Sotto Sotto (Italian in a nice old style basement cave setting) and The Real Italian Pizza Company. For Sotto Sotto, you will need to reserve a table in advance, just like a few other diners in Bath.
Outside of restaurants, I highly recommend trying out Sally Lunn’s for British cuisine and Yak Yeti Yak for Indian.
As mentioned above, the cornish pastry, fudge shops and afternoon tea are a must try to complete the experience.