No. 14 25 Classic Day Trips from Great Cities 2026

Bath

Somerset, England · Day trip from London

Roman baths and honey-coloured Georgian crescents in a green valley.

Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Bath grew around natural hot springs that the Romans developed as a bathing complex. In the 18th century it became a fashionable spa town, with grand Georgian terraces and crescents built in local golden stone.

The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can bathe in the modern Thermae Bath Spa, fed by the same springs.

Baños Romanos, Bath, Inglaterra. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Puente Pulteney, Bath, Inglaterra. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Bath - Pulteney Bridge and Bath Weir. Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

Pleasant all year; spring and summer are busiest. December has a Christmas market.

Highlights

1

Roman Baths

The well-preserved Roman bathing complex and museum.
2

Bath Abbey

A late-Gothic abbey church beside the baths.
3

Royal Crescent

A sweeping curve of Georgian townhouses.
4

Pulteney Bridge

A bridge lined with shops over the River Avon.
5

Thermae Bath Spa

Modern spa with a rooftop pool using the thermal waters.

Getting there

Trains from London Paddington to Bath Spa take about 1 hour 20–30 minutes. The centre is a short walk from the station.

Practical tips

Opening & tickets: Opening times, ticket rules and transport timetables change, so check official information before you go.
Time needed: A full day.