Is Bath Worth Visiting?

This blog post features links and information which have been obtained on a press trip. However, as always, all opinions shared in this post are my own.

The picturesque city of Bath is less than two hours from London and is the perfect place to step back in time. But does the city really live up to the hype you see online?

The city of Bath is definitely worth visiting. 

If you are an international traveller visiting the UK, I recommend spending at least three days in London. However, if you’re based in the United Kingdom and looking for somewhere to spend a weekend, Bath is great.

How Long to Spend in Bath

Bath is a relatively small and very walkable city. As such, if you’re short on time, you could see most of what the city has to offer in just one day. However, I’d recommend extending your trip to Bath to two days where possible.

I recently visited Bath with my wife and 2-year-old son. We spent two days in the city, arriving around 10:30am and leaving the following day around 3:00pm. During our two days, we:

• Visited the Circus
• Had lunch at Sally Lunn’s 
• Had a hot chocolate at Knoops
• Explored the Jane Austin Center
• Went swimming at our hotel (Apex Hotel)
• Visited Bath Abbey
• Walked across Pulteney Bridge
• Wandered around Bath Guildhall Market
• Explored the Roman Baths
• Had lunch at Good Day Café
• Visited Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath

Sadly, the only thing we didn’t do during our visit to Bath was visit the Thermae Bath Spa. This was predominantly due to travelling to Bath with a toddler rather than being short on time.

Nothing ever felt rushed despite having less than 48 hours in the city. We had plenty of time at each attraction, taking photos and reading all the information provided.

However, I will say I was somewhat unprepared for how long some of Bath’s attractions would take to visit. The two that come to mind most are:

• The Roman Baths: I spent around 90 minutes here. However, that’s the minimum amount you should allocate. Most people spend 2 – 3 hours here. 
• The Jane Austin Center: This is a guided tour experience. As such, you may find yourself waiting 20 – 30 minutes for a guide. Once the tour starts, it takes just over an hour to complete.

Visiting Bath with Kids

Bath is an excellent break for families with children. The city is very walkable, so getting around with little ones, both with and without a pushchair, isn’t a problem.

Most of Bath’s attractions focus on the city’s history, which may make it somewhat challenging for children around 3 to 8. However, most of the major attractions in the city have children’s activity books to make things more exciting and engaging.

For example, The Jane Austin Center had colouring pages and word searches. Plus, there was a dressing-up area towards the end. Meanwhile, at The Roman Baths, there were several interactive exhibits and an audio guide.

Given the limited number of kids’ attractions in Bath, we decided to stay in a hotel with an indoor swimming pool. This way, we could spend a few hours doing an activity we knew our son would really enjoy.

How Much Does a Trip to Bath Cost?

Despite being in South England, Bath is still a very affordable city break.

• Transport: Train tickets from London to Bath are usually around £45 return. Meanwhile, 48 hours parking is around £25.
• Food: Lunch in a cafe will cost around £12 – £15 a person. Meanwhile, dinner will be between £25 – £35, depending on the restaurant and the food and drinks ordered.
• Attractions: Sadly, Bath does not currently have a City Pass. Instead, tickets for all attractions need to be purchased separately. I’d budget around £40 per person, per day, for this.
• Hotel: If you plan to stay in Bath overnight, you’ll need to budget for a hotel. Hotels in the city can be as little as £100 a night. However, if you’re visiting Bath during the peak season, you may be looking closer to £140 – £180 a night instead.