Debra K. White: Going from London to Bath

If you are planning a quick day trip from London, we say pick Bath. No second thoughts. Comfortably located just an hour and a half away from London via train, Bath makes for a great day trip from London. If you do happen to go, we have a whole list of things you ought to do, the best way to get to Bath from London and a few insider tips that will help make your London to Bath day trip a whole lot better. Let’s set off from London to Bath, shall we?

Set in the valley of River Avon, Bath is a part of the Somerset county in England and mostly famous for its Roman built baths. Housing England’s best preserved Georgian architecture, Bath was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is now invites tourists from all around the world to its fine Roman bathhouses.

Quick Jumplinks to Navigate the Guide

London to Bath Day Trip Experience
London To Bath Day Tour - Transport Options
Best things to do in Bath - Day trip itinerary
London To Cotswolds Day Trip - Transport Options
Tips for your London to Bath Day Trip
Other Day Trips from London

London to Bath Day Trip Experience

London to Bath Day Trip

Situated about 110 miles from London is the ancient town of Bath, home to natural hot springs, historic Roman ruins, 18th-century Georgian architecture and honey coloured stone houses; Bath is one of the most beautiful towns in England. Even strolling through the city is enough to have a fulfilling experience, but packed with natural beauty, ancient history and amazing architecture, Bath is certainly a town that has much to show.

Bath Day Trip Itinerary Summary

• Head to the fascinating Roman baths, remnants of a bygone era, where you can see modern actors enact the life and times of a period when the baths were officially used in Roman Britain.
• Admire the Georgian architecture of impressive buildings such as The Royal Crescent, an arcing network of around 30 houses.
• The Circus and Assembly Rooms are the other popular must-see Georgian masterpieces.
• Surround yourself with art at the recently refurbished Holburne Museum.
• Learn about the city and its distinct architectural style at the Museum of Bath Architecture.
• Take a relaxing stroll through Prior Park Landscape Garden.

London To Bath Day Tour - Transport Options

The public transport system in Cotswolds is patchy, hence relying on it to get around Cotswolds is a bad idea. Renting a car is your best option here. However, you can get to Cotswolds from London on a train or coach which can help cut costs.

London to Bath by Train

From Paddington Station , London you get frequent trains to Bath Spa station in Bath ; almost one train runs every 30 minutes. Travelling from London to Bath by train is the quickest route , but necessarily the cheapest as bus tickets are cheaper. Moreover, Bath Spa station is quite centrally located allowing you to dive right into action once in Bath. Tickets are cheaper on weekdays than on weekends and you will get the best rates online , especially if you book in advance.You can check the train timings and schedule here.

Duration : 90 minutes

London to Bath by Bus

Comfortable buses ply from London to Bath on a daily basis, with a coach available almost every 90 minutes from the Victoria Coach Station to the Bath Spa Bus and Coach Station. Most of these buses are equipped with on board washroom facilities as well. Though the tickets for traveling from London to Oxford by bus is cheaper than traveling by train, the time taken will set you back by a few hours that could have been used to explore the city.

Duration : 3 - 4 hours

London to Bath by Car

The distance between London and Bath via road is approximately 185 km and if you hit the M4 motorway and keep up a good speed, you should be in bath within 2.5 hours. This is provided you don't hit any traffic jams. However, when such an efficient train network is available, we would hardly recommend driving down to Bath. Moreover going from London to Bath by car can run up costs as parking in Bath is not exactly cheap. It costs about £1.60 for an hour and £5.40 for up to 4 hours. Moreover, Bath is a very small city with compact lanes, hence finding on street parking is a huge hassle.

Duration : 2 hours 30 minutes

London to Bath Guided Day Tours

This is without doubt the most comfortable option as you have everything taken care of - travel, food and a guide to go! Moreover, guided tours help cover more ground at a decent cost and while you're traveling, what better than to see more for less! Most day tours from London to Bath are coach tours and combine the nearby towns of Stonehenge, Costswolds, Oxford etc.

Duration of day tour : 12-14 hours

Best things to do in Bath - Day trip itinerary

There's just the right number of thing to do in bath for one day. Apart from the list above and aimlessly wandering about gazing at the Georgian architecture, here's are the 5 best things you can do in Bath during your one day trip.

The Roman Baths

Considered one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world, a visit to the Roman Baths will take you down 2,000 years of history. While you're here, wander the Roman pavements surrounding the Great Bath and taste the famous spa water that contains 43 minerals! Spend atleast 1.5 hours here and if possible, engage in an audio guided tour.

The Royal Crescent

The Royal Crescent is Bath's single most impressive piece of architecture, a set of 30 crescent-shaped Georgian houses designed by architect John Wood. It was built in the 18th century and stands impressive to date in its near-perfect symmetry and Ionic columns. It stands in a beautiful piece of land overlooking historic architecture that looks all the more mesmerising when bathed in sunshine.

Thermae Bath Spa

Since you can't take a dip at the Roman Baths, the natural hot springs at Thermae Bath Spa is your best bet to experiencing the 'bath culture' in Bath. This 21st century rooftop pool cum spa screams luxury along with splendid views of Bath. There's a small fee to be paid for entry, but it is well worth the experience.

Sally Lunn

Leaving Bath without trying Sally Lunn's bun is almost sinful. Sally Lunn's house is the oldest house in Bath and has been converted into a snug tea room serving a certain teacake that will have you weak in your knees. This outlet is open through the day and serves authentic plates like the 'trencher dinner'. Hop in and grab a bite for sure.

Jane Austen Centre

There is a whole museum dedicated to Britain's favourite author, Jane Austen in Bath, reason being, Jane Austen stayed in Bath for a significant period in her life and have set 2 of her acclaimed books, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, in the city. The exhibits and costumed characters here tell the story of Austen’s during the time spent in Bath and the impact it had on her work.

Bath Abbey

Large stained glass windows and columns of gold stone characterise the Bath Abbey, also known as the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It was founded in the 7th century and is perhaps the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in Europe. Go in here to enjoy the wonderful choral music or for a short moment of contemplatuon and experience the Abbey environment for yourself.

Fashion Museum

Listed amongst CNN's list of the World's Top 10 Fashion Museums, the Fashion Museum in Bath is an exemplerary ode to the evolution of western fashion. Here, you can experience one of the world’s greatest collections of historic and fashionable dresses. Watch out for the Royal Women exhibition here as it is said to be particularly impressive.

Tips for your London to Bath Day Trip

Hit the Roman Baths first thing in the morning, before the tourist crowds swarm in.
Ubers are easily available in Bath. They tend to be cheaper than normal taxis and are a convinient option lest you're taxed on time for public transport.
The Bath Visitor Card is a great buy with amazing savings. Allows access to many attractions at a bundled price. Pop by the Bath Information Center and grab one to make the most of your day.
Not many people know this, but Bath is a hilly region. If you plan on walking, get ready for a good dose of cardio. Strap on your best shoes so that your legs don't wear out soon.
The Bath Hop On Hop Off is another convinient option to get around the city and hit all the attractions at a minimal cost.
Bath has a ridiculous number of festivals throughout the year - Literature Festival, International Music Festival, Children’s Literature Festival and the Jane Austen Festival to name a few. Try planning your visit around one of these festivals if you can. You can check out the list of festivals on the Bath Festivals website here.
If you intend to go to Prior Park, take the bus ( Bus 1) and do not attempt walking it. It's up a steep upward slope and walking it might not be easy; unless you're a seasoned trekker.

Other Day Trips from London

London to Stonehenge

One of the most historically significant remnants of Britain’s yesteryears is the Stonehenge, an unassuming but awe-inspiring structure of stones arranged on a field 5,000 years ago. Situated about 115 miles from London in Salisbury, Stonehenge can easily be visited in a day, making it one of the most popular, if not the most, day excursion destinations from London. Constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC, Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones, each weighing around 25 tons and almost 15 feet high. You can also visit the Stonehenge Visitor Center, an exhibition and museum where you can learn more about the history of the Stonehenge.

London to Oxford

Situated 60 miles from London, Oxford is one of the easiest day trip that you can take from London. At Oxford; emphatic university buildings, utterly charming houses, museums and experiences such as punting on the River Thames (or The Isis in Oxford) and having a drink at a bar where J. R. R. Tolkien used to hang out await you. If you want to walk the hallowed halls of old university buildings, go cruising down the Thames, explore “haunted” buildings, check out the shoot locations for the Harry Potter movies or simply admire the architecture and sights of a medieval British town, then a day trip to Oxford from London is your best bet.

London to Canterbury

Canterbury is a historic cathedral city in the district of Kent and UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies on the banks of River Stour. An extremely popular destination in Kent, Canterbury is situated about 60 miles to the east of London. The medieval city of Canterbury has been the setting of many works of literature and is most famous for once being the centre of English Christianity. Testimony to this is the iconic Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. You can also explore the rolling countryside and the beautiful coast, discover historic buildings or go shopping and enjoy a nice days out.

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Debra K. White

Friday, May 25, 2018

Going from London to Bath | Day Trip Guide