The Best 1 Day Itinerary For Visiting Bath: Top Things To Do And See
Read on for the best 1 day itinerary for the city of Bath!
Bath in England is arguably the most beautiful city in the UK and is a great option for a 1 day trip, but having the perfect itinerary is crucial for making the most of your time there.
I recently spent 1 day in Bath (August 2024) and really fell in love with the charm of the city; from its gorgeous architecture, incredible history dating back to the Roman times and awesome literary museums – it has so much to offer.
So I’ve put together this best 1 day itinerary detailing all the best historical and cultural things to do and see when visiting, relating my personal experience and giving you plenty of options to make sure you enjoy this exceptional city.
⌚ In a rush? My Top Recommended Tours for Bath:
Visit Bath and Stonehenge from Birmingham
Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London
Bath and Cotswolds Tour from London
Roman Baths and Bath City Walking Tour
City Sightseeing Bath Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
1 Day Itinerary For Bath
Bath is such a perfect option for a day trip, whether you have free time in London or anywhere else in the UK, I highly recommend making time in your schedule to visit this wonderful place.
I was completely blown away by Bath’s stunning architecture, it is no wonder that the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned as one of the great spa cities in Europe (only Budapest is better in my opinion!).
So without further ado, here is my best 1 day itinerary for visiting arguably the most pleasantly charming city in England:
📍 Visit the astounding Roman Baths
Without a doubt the number one tourist attraction in Bath (and one of the most popular tourist sites in the whole of the UK), is the place that Bath is named after – the Roman Baths.
Being 2,000 years old, it’s shocking just how well preserved this temple site is, and it is considered to have the best preserved Roman remains anywhere in the world.
Visiting here is an absolutely must do activity when in Bath. You can explore the surroundings of the main temple bath and enjoy the excellent museum (which is full of ancient artefacts) all while listening to a very useful audio guide.
The steps next to the baths are a perfect place to sit and relax and to really appreciate the beauty of the area – and you can order drinks there too!
👉 Pro Tip: I would strongly recommend booking your ticket online in advance if you plan on seeing the Roman Baths, especially if you will be going on a weekend.
I also recommend visiting on a weekday, either early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds. I visited the Roman Baths on a Saturday afternoon and the place was totally crammed with tourists.
Adult tickets start at £24.50, which may sound expensive but it is worth paying to see such an incredible place.
📍 Climb to the top of Bath Abbey
After enjoying the Roman Baths you can head to Bath Abbey which is almost within touching distance of one another. The Bath Abbey is another incredibly impressive piece of architecture dating back several centuries.
Entering the interior of the Abbey is a peaceful, serene experience that has beautiful medieval stained glass windows. The Abbey provides a nice escape from the busy, lively city centre.
You can also purchase tickets to access the Abbey’s tower, which gives the most stunning panoramic views of the entire city, and is another absolute must when visiting Bath for just 1 day or more.
📍 Visit the Jane Austin Centre
Bath is also well known for it’s ties to literary history and was home to the famous author Jane Austin for several years.
So a trip to the Jane Austin Centre cannot be missed for any fans of the author, especially if you want to learn how the city inspired and influenced her writing.
The centre is based in a Georgian Town House and is full of fascinating exhibits, as well as having a gift shop and a lovely tea room too.
📍 Get spooked at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
On the same street (almost next door in fact) as the Jane Austin Centre is another attraction dedicated to another famous author who lived in Bath; Mary Shelley, and her most well known iconic character – Frankenstein.
The House of Frankenstein is a fun, interactive museum and escape room where you can learn all about the author and the cultural impact Frankenstein has had over the years.
This is ideally situated right near the Jane Austin Centre so that you can visit both places in a relatively short period. This makes both attractions easily doable for a 1 day itinerary for Bath.
Although a fun experience, please note that the House of Frankenstein is not suitable for children aged under 12 as its deemed too scary!
📍 Enjoy the beauty of the Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is another top destination to see in Bath and is a really beautiful sight to behold.
Based just a short 1o-15 minute walk from the city centre, the Royal Crescent is a series of historical terraced buildings.
This is probably the best example of Georgian architecture in the whole city. That says a lot as the entirety of Bath is full of absolutely gorgeous architecture everywhere you look.
The exterior of the buildings are totally unchanged from when they were built in the 1700’s. They have been home to everyone from the likes of Jane Austin to various Princes and Dukes over the years.
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re lucky enough to visit Bath on a nice sunny day, then there’s nothing better than relaxing at Royal Crescent Park directly in front of the buildings. Here you can chill out and enjoy the magnificent architecture on display.
📍 Take a stroll through Parade Gardens
Bath has some absolutely glorious outdoor spaces and probably the most famous and beautiful park in the city is the Parade Gardens.
Just a short walk from the city centre, the Parade Gardens feature lovely flower beds and is also situated right next to the River Avon. It is a truly delightful place to take a stroll on a sunny day and to experience the best that Bath has to offer.
📍 Walk along the historical Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge is another famous landmark in central Bath. It is definitely worth a visit during your 1 day itinerary to the city.
Dating back once again to the 1700’s, this bridge goes over the River Avon and has a very unique and quite unusual design.
Nowadays there are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants on the bridge. The views of the city and the River Avon from here are absolutely beautiful.
📍 Enjoy a meal at a top restaurant
Having made the most of the cultural, historical aspects of Bath and enjoyed its best beauty spots too, it’s time to finish your 1 day itinerary with a top quality meal at one of Bath’s superb restaurants.
Walking around Bath, you’ll soon discover that it is filled with really excellent restaurants. You are spoilt for choice in terms of options, whether you fancy some pub food, international cuisine or a fine dining experience.
The Olive Tree is currently the city’s only Michelin starred restaurant and offers an exceptional menu. Other popular restaurants such as Yak Yeti Yak (which specialises in Nepalese cuisine) and The Circus restaurant are also great choices.
Best Bath Day Tours
There are numerous options when it comes to taking a day tour to Bath. You can also go on a walking guided tour, which is a great way to learn more about the history and culture of this fascinating city in a short amount of time.
Here are my recommendations of day tours, guided tours of Bath and more, in no particular order:
- Visit Bath and Stonehenge from Birmingham: combining a trip to both Stonehenge and Bath is a great way to visit two famous UK sites as they’re only a 1 hour drive apart from each other. I went on this day tour from Birmingham to both Stonehenge and Bath and fully recommend it.
- Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London: this day tour is a perfect option if you’re travelling from London and want to see some famous UK attractions such as Stonehenge and Windsor Castle as well as Bath.
- Bath and Cotswolds Tour from London: this 11 hour day tour visits two of the most picturesque places in England, starting and ending from London.
- Roman Baths and Bath City Walking Tour: this is ideal if you’re visiting the city for just one day and want a whistle stop 2 hour walking tour to the main historical sites and learn about the city’s history at the same time.
- City Sightseeing Bath Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: I always recommend taking a sightseeing bus when visiting a new city for the first time, and this bus stops at all the major landmarks and your ticket is valid for up to 24 hours.
Map of Bath
Check out this interactive map of Bath, which includes pinpoints for all of the major landmarks and places mentioned in this blog post:
Bath FAQs
Still not sure about visiting Bath for just 1 day? Allow me to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this ancient city:
Is 1 day enough to visit Bath?
Yes, absolutely! I only had 3 hours to explore Bath as I was on a joint tour of Stonehenge, but I still had time to visit the Roman Baths, the Abbey, the Royal Crescent and other top sites in the city.
Bath is very much a walkable city and it didn’t take me long at all to gather my bearings with its layout. The Abbey and the Roman Baths are situated very centrally next to each other for example, as are most of the museums in the city.
Although 1 day is indeed enough time to visit Bath, I would recommend visiting for 2 days to really appreciate all that it has to offer.
How to get to Bath from London?
Taking a day trip from London to Bath is a very popular option and getting to Bath from the capital is relatively straightforward as well. Here are a few travel options you may want to consider:
- Train: If you’re using public transport to reach Bath from London, then I would recommend using a train. There are direct trains from London Paddington to Bath Spa station, which typically takes around 1 hour 20 minutes and costs anywhere from £17 to over £40, depending on when you book (book in advance for cheaper tickets).
- Bus: Travelling to Bath from London via bus is a cheaper option, with tickets costing from as little as just £7 via National Express, leaving from Victoria bus station. But this option takes longer to reach Bath than a train, usually taking 2 and a half hours or longer depending on traffic.
- Car: Of course you can reach Bath from London via car, which will take you around 2 and a half hours as well, depending again on how bad the traffic is when leaving London.
What are some free places to visit in Bath?
If you’re on a budget when visiting Bath and don’t fancy forking out a lot of money for the top attractions (which are a bit overpriced in my opinion) then don’t worry – there are plenty of free things to do. Here are my suggestions:
- Take a pleasant walk through the city and appreciate the beautiful architecture of places such as the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge, the Circus and plenty of parks and gardens.
- Enjoy some of Bath’s delightful markets you can visit for free such as the Guildhall Market, Bath Artisan Market and Bath Antique Flea Market.
- Wander along the River Avon which is alongside the beautiful Sydney Gardens near the city centre.
Conclusion: 1 Day Itinerary For Bath
So that concludes all the top places and best things to do for your 1 day itinerary for Bath, a city that rivals the likes of London and Edinburgh in terms of history, beauty and culture.
I honestly can’t rate Bath highly enough; whether you visit for just a day trip or plan for a longer stay, I can guarantee that you’ll fall in love with the beauty and charm of this historical city.
There are so many activities you can do in Bath in just one day as well, whether you want to discover its historical past, enjoy the city’s thriving culture or make the most of Bath’s parks and gardens, you have so many options to consider.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through this 1 day itinerary for Bath and are now fully equipped with all the info you need to enjoy one of the UK’s best cities to the fullest.
➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
