24 Hours in Bath, England
Bath is a beautiful city set amongst the Mendip hills of Somerset. A UNESCO world heritage site, it’s well known for its mineral rich spring waters that emerge from the ground at a constant 46°C (114°F). The Romans were so attracted to the city that they built the majestic Roman Baths, and today people can enjoy bathing in these waters at the Thermae Spa. Bath is a city to be explored by foot, and 24 hours is a good amount of time to explore the main sites as well as to sample some of its great shops, cafes, bars and year-round festivals. The city is also a popular filming location, and you might recognize many places from the Bridgerton Netflix series.
The city has many accommodation options, and there are regular tours to Bath from London, often combining a visit to the city with other nearby places such as The Cotswolds.
Update 2021: We’ve made a list of what’s open in Bath now.
how to spend the morning in bath:
Visiting Bath
Roman Baths:
Start the day with a trip to the Roman Baths. The center of the complex is the Great Bath, a lead-lined pool filled with hot and steamy water. Although now open-air, the bath would originally have been covered by a high vaulted roof. It lies next to what was in Roman times the Sacred Springs, a place worshiped for healing and associated with the Roman goddess Minerva. The visitors museum houses the many artifacts discovered on the site, including thousands of Roman coins.
More info: www.romanbaths.co.uk
Bath Abbey:
Next to the Roman Baths lies Bath Abbey, a site of Christian worship for over 1,200 years, Bath Abbey is known today for its stained glass windows, fan vaulted ceilings and gold stone. There is no entrance fee to go in but you are encouraged to leave a donation which goes towards maintaining the abbey. The entrance to this large impressive space is through the West front with its unique ladders of Angels. A magnificent breath-taking view of Bath awaits the climb of the abbeys 212 steps (but you do have to pay a small charge to climb up).
More info: www.bathabbey.org
how to spend the afternoon in bath:
Jane Austen Centre:
Find out more about the life of the esteemed author Jane Austen with a visit to the Jane Austen Center. It tells the story of Austen’s time living in Bath and the effect it had on her writings, include two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
More info: www.janeausten.co.uk
Bath Abbey Vaulted Ceiling
The Royal Crescent:
Admire the grand Georgian architecture with a visit to these 30 majestic townhouses. The houses are arranged in a semi-circular terrace and are situated in a stunning location above the Royal Victoria Park. Built between 1767 and 1775 by the famed architect John Wood the Younger, these elegant homes would have been rented for the season. To learn more about what life would have been like at the time, consider visiting the museum at Royal Crescent No.1.
Thermae Spa:
End the day with a trip to The Thermae Spa which allows you to experience first hand the famous waters of Bath. Relax in the roof-top pool with stunning views of the city. Experience the aroma themed steam rooms with scents including lavender, lotus flower and mint and enjoy the Minerva baths.
More info: www.thermaebathspa.com
The Royal Crescent
Events and Festivals:
Bath is known for its year-round events and festivals. Annual events include the Literature Festival, Great Bath Feast, Bath Christmas Market and the Jane Austen Festival. Make sure to check in advance to take advantage of any one off events.
Tours to Bath:
For most people, spending one day in Bath is long enough to see the main sites of the Roman Baths, the Jane Austen Museum and to admire the architecture. There are many tours to Bath, including one day tours from London which cover the city and often include a visit to nearby Stonehenge or multiple day tours that include more of the region. If you want to spend longer in the city, there is a selection of good hotels in Bath, and some people choose to base themselves here to explore the surrounding area.
Our Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Day Tour departs daily from London. Explore the main highlights of Bath, as well as visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
