Bath, England, looks like a movie set. With gorgeous architecture, historical sites, and hot springs, it’s a stunning city to explore. A UNESCO World Heritage City, just 100 miles west of London, it’s possible to visit as a day trip from the capital, but spending a night or a weekend here is an even better choice to give yourself more time to uncover its magic.
We’ve visited three times in different seasons, and we always enjoy uncovering more fun things to do in Bath. Here’s a look at some of our favorites.
See the Roman Baths
The city’s top attraction, the Roman Baths date back as far as 60 AD when the natural hot springs were channeled inside the original temple. There have been many phases of development and destruction over the centuries, leaving lots for visitors to see today, including the Great Bath, the sacred spring, and the remains of the Temple to Sulis Minerva. The first-rate museum and entertaining audio guide explain the importance of the site and its preservation. As history lovers, we were smitten with this unique place.
The site can get quite crowded, especially with tour and school groups. We recommend booking ahead as well as going early or late to avoid the lines, if you can. Leave at least 2 hours for a proper visit.
Take a hop-on hop-off bus tour to visit the Roman Baths and other city highlights, or consider a city walking tour that includes admission to the baths.
Soak at Thermae Bath Spa
If you actually want to dip into the water, head two blocks down the street from the Roman Baths to Thermae Bath Spa. This amazing, modern spa complex has a stunning open-air rooftop pool to look out on the city and a giant relaxation pool. With the additional steam rooms, spa treatment rooms, and on-site restaurant, we spent a long time relaxing here.
It’s worth noting that the spa is a camera-free zone, so you can enjoy the water and the view, but don’t plan on photos or videos of the kind that are popular at other famous spas and hot springs in Europe. Book ahead for a 2-hour session and treatments or show up early in the day to fill one of the walk-in spots.
Shop on Pulteney Bridge
Take a little stroll along the River Avon to the Pulteney Bridge. This 18th-century construction is one of the most photographed places in the city. The tiny stores that span both sides of the bridge include cute cafes, charming flower shops, and more. We were lucky to get a prime spot looking out over the river while we enjoyed a cup of tea inside–a perfect, picturesque break from sightseeing.
If you would like to cruise the river, there are boat tours available at the base of the bridge.
Visit The Bath Distillery
If there’s a local distillery nearby, you can guarantee it will be on our list of places to visit, so stopping by the Bath Distillery Gin Bar was a must. If the detailed menu isn’t enough, the helpful bartenders will walk you through the different notes and flavors of any one of the impressive 230 gins they have in-house, and you can sample their small-batch Bath Gin Company gins, too. The classic and the orange sloe gin were among our favorites, but they have something for every palate.
If the infused-spirit moves you, consider taking a tour or cocktail class. If you’re spending more time in the area, don’t miss the Oxford Artisan Distillery in Oxford just an hour away.
Eat a Sally Lunn bun
We didn’t quite get the idea of the bun until we tried it. Situated in Bath’s oldest house is Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House. It claims to be “one of the world’s most famous eating houses.” That’s a lofty promise, but Sally Lunn’s delivers. The focus is the bun: a massive teacake. The warm buns are served as a half bun, with the tops served with sweet delights and the bottoms served with savory goodness.
Whether you get a half or a whole, the buns are amazing! Our favorite is the cinnamon butter, which is like a giant cinnamon roll. They are so good that we always try to bring some back to the US with us from the UK.
See a show
Bath is full of entertainment from great theater performances to more casual experiences. One of the top places to go is the Theatre Royal, which offers a year-round program of theater, comedy, and opera. Around the Christmas holidays, they also put on pantomimes—musical comedy productions for the whole family. The Egg is their special theater for young people, featuring puppet shows, classic works, and other performances designed to appeal to children as young as 2 years old.
If you’re looking for something completely different, consider a magic show. Each weekend, Krowd Keepers features renowned professional magicians entertaining in an intimate 35-seat theaters over the Ale House Pub. A night here will leave you impressed and entertained.
Visit Bath Abbey
Day or night, the city skyline is dominated by the beautiful Abbey. During the day, its 161-foot bell tower is visible from all around the city, and the bells ring out. At night, the illuminated facade seems mystical, and the details of its Gothic exterior are somehow even more prominent.
Tracing its roots back to the year 757 AD, the current Bath Abbey was constructed in 1500. Inside, you’ll find richly colored stained glass, fan vaulting on the ceilings, and hundreds of wall memorials and floor stones. Admission was by donation until recently, but entry to the Abbey is now £7.50 for adults, and behind-the-scenes tower tours are available for £15 every day except Sunday for those wanting a closer look.
Get local insights on the main attractions on this top-rated walking tour or this private option. For a unique spin, consider a ghost tour of top sites.
Try glass blowing at Bath Aqua Glass
One of the most unique things to do in Bath is to make your own glass creation. At Bath Aqua Glass, you can take one of their informative workshops designed for any skill level—from beginner to advanced—and walk out with a creative souvenir like an ornament or paperweight. If you don’t have time to make your own, you can also pop into the glassblowing studio to watch the professionals at work.
During certain special events like the city’s famous Christmas market, you might find their mobile glass blowing trailer around town. If you’re lucky, you can sign up to make a bauble on the spot.
See the Jane Austen Centre
Bath’s most famous resident was the novelist Jane Austen who was already an accomplished writer when her family moved to the city. Though she didn’t write much during her time here, Bath provided deep inspiration for elements that would later be included in her two most famous works, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. At the Jane Austen Centre, you can experience a bit of Austen’s life here.
Shop at SouthGate
Just a few steps from the train station, you’ll find the massive shopping and restaurant complex known as SouthGate. With over 50 shops and 20 restaurants, it has a little bit of everything.
One of our favorite stops at SouthGate is Hotel Chocolat, a British chocolatier and cocoa grower. In addition to truffles and expected treats, they also have ice cream and specialty items like cocoa gin. You’ll even find vegan options there.
See The Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is one of the most famous streets in England and one of Bath’s most famous landmarks. This curving row of 30 uniform Georgian townhouses built in the 1770s looks much like it did when it was constructed 250 years ago. If you’re a Bridgerton fan, you may recognize the setting as the home of the Featherington family.
Most of the townhouses in the Royal Crescent are private homes, but Number 1 Royal Crescent has been turned into a museum. Furnished with authentic decorations and period furniture, the museum shows how Bath’s most fashionable Georgians lived in the late 18th century.
See more Bridgerton locations and learn about the Regency period on this themed tour.
Visit Guildhall Market
The Bath Guildhall Market is the oldest shopping venue in the city. A stop here satisfied our need for caffeine and our compulsion to always visit markets whenever we travel. With about 20 cute shops and cafes, the market is the perfect place for a little browsing and a little snacking.
Explore the Holburne Museum
Bath’s first public art museum, the Holburne Museum opened to the public in 1882. Its collection focuses on decorative and fine art—most notably works by Thomas Gainsborough, Johan Zoffany, and Francesco Guardi. Visitors will also see items ranging from Renaissance bronzes to miniature carvings and period furniture.
The Holburne is housed in the former Sydney Hotel, and its exterior is used as the home of Lady Danbury in Bridgerton. One of its grandest spaces is the former hotel ballroom, which now features porcelain and silver items displayed under a dazzling chandelier. The museum’s café overlooks the former hotel gardens, the only surviving 18th-century pleasure garden in Britain.
Enjoy the culinary scene
Bath has a robust culinary scene. Cafe Lucca is a favorite for breakfast. Check out Sotto Sotto for Mediterranean fare served in the beautiful setting of a candlelit stone cellar. For something less formal, The Raven is a traditional English pub serving excellent pies and cask ales. The tough-to-find Sub 13 lounge is our pick for amazing cocktails and first-rate mixology.
Play mini golf in Royal Victoria Park
In Royal Victoria Park, you’ll find something that’s not on the main tourist path—Adventure Golf.
Most of the year, the mini golf course provides a fun outing with family or friends during the day. But, in the winter, things get even more interesting at night. From mid-November through early January, the golf course and the balls glow in the dark at night. Check out the 18-hole course and navigate the obstacles like waterfalls and bridges lit up in the colors of the rainbow.
Visit the Christmas Market
The Christmas market in Bath is often listed as one of the best Christmas markets in the UK. The squares and streets near the Abbey and beyond become a giant holiday festival to the point that the whole city center feels like it’s joined in on Christmas. It’s magic.
The Christmas market has more than 150 chalets, and most of vendors are local. That means that much of the merchandise and food you find for sale here is unique, handcrafted, or artisan, which truly makes the market a standout.
In addition to the shopping and food, you’ll find musical entertainment in the streets, in theaters, and at the Abbey during the market season. There’s also ice skating in Royal Victoria Park and other festive activities around the city.
Where to Stay
The Gainsborough Bath Spa: Five-star accommodations and service and the only hotel whose spa has access to the city’s natural thermal waters.
The Francis Hotel: A townhouse hotel with individually decorated rooms—many with four-poster beds and nice views—that offers top-notch service.
Abbey Hotel: Boutique hotel set within three Georgian townhouses from the 1740s.
Lance Longwell is a travel writer and photographer who has published Travel Addicts since 2008, making it one of the oldest travel blogs. He is a life-long traveler, having visited all 50 of the United States by the time he graduated high school. Lance has continued his adventures by visiting 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. He’s a passionate foodie and enjoys hot springs and cultural oddities. When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him photographing his hometown of Philadelphia.
Ryan K Biddulph
Friday 2nd of April 2021
The Roman Baths looks amazing Lance. I am fascinated by Roman culture in general. What a cool list of things to do.
Ryan