Bath, England – 1 day Itinerary
A 1 day Itinerary to Bath because why not? It is not news that one of the most popular day trips from London is a day to Bath. Bath is named after the roman baths and is the largest city in Somerset county. In the 80s, the entire city became a World Heritage Site. I have always had a list of places in the UK that I would love to visit. Bath was one of them. Keep reading and I’ll explain how and why Bath!
What to do in a day in Bath, England
It is no secret that I love enjoyment and tbh, I don’t like to stress myself at all. A day trip is not the time to see every single thing a city has to offer. I was very intentional about enjoying the day and maximising my time in such a way that I did not return feeling so tired. I have also shared a blogpost showcasing 20 Pictures to inspire you to visit Bath which is a prequel to this itinerary post.
Most of what we did was free and I will mention where we paid a fee and where we didn’t.
The Roman Baths (and The Roman Museum)
This was the first place we headed to as soon as we got to Bath at about 11am. I had read about the long queues to get in and I was worried that as it was half term, it could get crazy busy. However, we were definitely in luck as there was no queue at all. We literally walked straight into the reception and paid to get in. I had done my googles prior so I knew the prices but I will admit that paying was a little annoying lol – I thought it was expensive tbh.
For 3 of us (myself, Mr E and Bobo), it cost £40.50 for 2 adults and 1 child tickets. However, I will admit, it is worth it. With your ticket comes an audio guide so you are able to go through both the baths and museums at your pace and with a guide in your ear.
There are also free walking tours at various times if you fancy!
Bath Abbey
Literally next to The Roman Baths, is Bath Abbey. As with most Abbeys, Cathedrals and Basilicas, entrance is free. It is a Church of England parish and was founded in the 7th century. The medieval abbey is one of the largest perpendicular gothic architectures in West Country; it also houses a heritage museum in its cellars. It is a Grade 1 listed building and has the most beautiful stained glass inside. The floors are filled with plaques and the ceilings are just grand. It is worth going in to light a candle and just have a look around.
Bath Fudge Kitchen
Fancy a slice of the most delicious fudge you’ll ever taste? Then just across the Bath Abbey churchyard is Fudge Kitchen. Fudge Kitchen has a few shops dotted around the country. You can find it in Canterbury, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, Windsor, York and of course Bath. It costs about £5 to £6 per slice depending on what it weighs. We had some tasters as well to make up our minds on which particular fudge to try.
Anyway, this is a sweet treat for any “sweet tooths”!
Pulteney Bridge
If I told you that my number 1 reason for visiting Bath was to see the Pulteney Bridge in real life, would you believe me? But that, my lovelies, is the truth. Stay with me, there is a back-story. Mr E and I’s favourite movie is Les Misérables (2012) and one day, I was having a look at locations where Les Mis was shot and guess what I saw? Pulteney Bridge in Bath! So the scene of Inspector Javert’s suicide was filmed at Pulteney Bridge. In the book, he jumps off Pont au Change in Paris; but indeed, it was shot at Pulteney Bridge due to an error found during post-production.
It was so cool to see it and I just started humming
“There is nothing on earth that we share…It is either Valjean or Javert”
Pulteney Bridge was modelled after Ponte di Rialto in Venice and Ponte Vecchhio in Florence. One of the only 4 bridges in the world to have shops on both sides, it runs across the Avon river and is a Grade 1 listed building.
It has a horse-shoe shaped wier and is one of Bath’s most notable and famous images. There is no fee required to walk across the bridge and of course, to take as many pictures as you want!
Parade Gardens
We stumbled upon the beautiful gardens as we left Pulteney Bridge. Parade Gardens is a Grade 2 listed site, it is a really pretty garden and I can imagine that it most likely witnesses a lot of picnics in the summer. I had read on the Visit Bath website that you had to pay to enter; however, it was free entrance for us. The garden gates were open and we waltzed in, wandered around, taking pictures and looking at the different structures. We had most of the gardens to ourselves and Mr E and I even shot a little music video for fun hahahaha (see my instagram for this one). There were flowers trying to spring from beds just in time for spring surrounding a little cemetery. It was a really well kept and tidy garden with beautiful scenery.
Oh and you get a spectacular view of the Pulteney Bridge from a different angle once you are in the gardens!
The Royal Crescent
The most stunning row of 30 terraced houses in the shape of a crescent street!
A Grade 1 listed building as well, it is one of the most beautiful Georgian architectures I have seen which has stood for over 250 years! Again, it is very popular with period dramas (none of which I have watched) but is a must see in Bath. Some of the houses on the crescent are hotels, one is a museum and some are actually residential. Rumour has it that some Hollywood stars own houses on the crescent. I mean, you have to have a lot of coins to live on the most exclusive crescent in Bath!
One thing that I might go back for in the summer to experience is the Bath Thermae Spa. A rooftop spa experience which looked quite lush but as it was a day trip, we did not have room to indulge. Also, there was a queue to get in so we gave it a very quick pass!
How to get to Bath from London
When planning what to do in Bath for a day, you have to factor in how to be efficient with your time. There are a few ways of getting to Bath from London and the good news is that is a perfect day trip.
By Train – Great Western Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa station. I recommend you book way in advance as prices get quite steep especially weekend trips, during half term and of course, during summer months. The journey is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes which makes it the most time efficient method of travel.
By Bus – National Express from London Victoria Coach station to Bath Spa Bus station. This is most likely the most cost effective way to visit Bath from London. Again, once you know your dates, book in advance for cheap tickets. It could be anything between 2 hours 20 mins to 3 hours 20 minutes depending on departure time and number of stops.
By Car – This was our method of travel, it was comfortable for us and Mr E did not mind the drive. We drove from London to Bath and it was a total of 2hrs 50mins. We ended up parking in Avon Street Car Park, which was about £9.60 for 6 hours. There were various time options to choose from but we knew that we were going to spend some time in the Roman Baths and Museum; we factored in lunch as well and 6 hours seemed perfect.
Where to park your car in Bath
Car parks can get very busy but if you are visiting Bath, I suggest to get there early so you can snag a spot in one of the car parks close to the city centre.
Avon Car Park – in the city centre. It has over 600 spaces to park so we headed there. This was the closest to the Roman Baths according to my google search so we parked there. It was £3.20 for 2 hours, 3 hours for £4.80, 4 hours for £6.40, 6 hours for £9.60, 8 hours for £12.80 and 12 hours for £15. You can pay at the card machine. However, there are others.
Bath Spa Station – There is an all day parking which is about £12 during the week and under £8 during weekends. But there are limited slots so might be impossible to find a parking space.
Charlotte Street – the biggest car park I imagine as it has over 1000 spaces. £6.80 for 4 hours, £9.60 for 6 hours, £15 for 12 hours. After 8pm, £1.50!
Southgate – All day car park; however has only 140 spaces. On the weekends, £3.50 for 2 hours, £4.80 for 3 hours, £5.80 for 4 hours £11 for 8 hours and £14 for 24 hours.
When to go to Bath
I can imagine Bath does get quite busy especially in spring and summer. Also, during school breaks, as it is one of the most family friendly day trips. However, it was such a beautiful day even for a February month that had just seen the back of storm Dennis. Apparently it had rained all week and the Friday we went, was the first break of sunshine and zero rain the city had seen.
So I guess we were in luck as it was not so busy even though it was half term. It was not windy, there was no rain and we even had some pockets of sunshine. Cheers blue skies!
Where to eat in Bath
Anywhere around the city! There are pubs, cafés and restaurants dotted all around the city and I don’t think you need to even have reservations. Maybe except if you are after something fancy!
If the purpose of your day visit to Bath is to celebrate something special, then booking a fancy spot is definitely a treat. My recommendation would be The Ivy Bath Brasserie since I have eaten in its London chain and the menu looks the same. If you are just thinking of what to do in Bath for a day, skip fancy and just have lunch in one of the high street restaurants.
We walked into All Bar One at about 2.15pm and had a relaxed lunch after a few hours of wandering. We did not have to wait to be seated or anything like that. There was availability everywhere we looked. I would like to think we went on a good day as I have heard how busy restaurants and pubs get especially in summer. But tbh, you are spoilt for choice that I’m sure one will always find somewhere to eat. I also noticed a food cart so street food must be popular in spring/summer!
Who can go to Bath
Bath is ideal for everyone. As I already mentioned, it was half term so Bobo was off school for the entire week. We have started to do more family friendly activities to include him, so Bath was perfect. He is at that age where he is no longer a child but not yet really a teenager so keeping him entertained is not so simple; however, he loved Bath. He was asking questions, snapping pictures and was generally intrigued.
It is a lush romantic day out for couples as well, girls who want a cute spa day out, guys who want to have a lads day (that is not too unruly) and of course your mama-daughter dates!
It is really an all rounder city!
To Bath or Not to Bath?
Bath is such a gem. If you love period movies and dated buildings, you will love the vibe in this pretty city. We walked everywhere as everything was next to each other so we did not think there was a need for buses. I have always been drawn to the locations steeped in history or those that have been featured in TV series or movies. There is something exciting that tingles when I come face to face with these beautiful structures that I might have seen on my TV screen.
It is important to re-iterate that for a day trip to Bath, your itinerary should not overwhelm you. In this 1 day Bath itinerary, I made sure I enjoyed the handful of places I visited and did not feel rushed to see everything. This might be something to take into consideration. If you are thinking of seeing a lot more, then perhaps, an overnight visit is more conducive.
Other Travels inspired by TV shows?
- For Sex and The City and Gossip Girl lovers, New York is the dream. See NY TV Guide: Gossip Girl vs SATC
- Loved The Affair? I visited Montauk after watching!
Anyway, that’s it for my lovely day out in Bath. It has really inspired me to take UK travels more seriously. It is lovely to explore other countries and in the same vein, it is actually interesting to explore the UK. So many not-so-hidden gems surround me and I am determined to keep exploring.
For more pictures from Bath, see post 20 Pictures to inspire you to visit Bath, England.
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
