Bath

Main sights

• Roman Baths

  A Roman bathing complex fed by hot springs, right next to the Abbey in the centre. Allow at least two hours inside.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Roman Baths (opens in a new tab)
• Bath Abbey

  A late Gothic abbey beside the Roman Baths. You can pay to climb the tower for a wide view over the city.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Bath Abbey (opens in a new tab)
• Royal Crescent

  A curved row of 30 terraced houses by John Wood the Younger, built 1767 to 1774. The front is uniform and the backs are irregular, because each buyer hired their own architect behind the shared façade. No. 1 is a historic house museum.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Royal Crescent (opens in a new tab)
• The Circus

  Three curved terraces of Georgian townhouses forming a ring, completed in 1768 and a short walk east of the Royal Crescent.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for The Circus (opens in a new tab)
• Pulteney Bridge

  Designed by Robert Adam and finished in 1773, with shops along its full span and a view over Pulteney Weir on the Avon.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Pulteney Bridge (opens in a new tab)
• Georgian Garden

  A small free garden near the Royal Crescent, open daily and easy to add to a walk up the hill.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Georgian Garden (opens in a new tab)

Ticket links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• City centre

  The Abbey, the Baths and Parade Gardens by the river. Some shopping streets feel pedestrianised but still have vehicles, so keep looking.

• Upper town

  The Circus, the Royal Crescent and, further up, Camden Crescent and Lansdown Crescent. Sion Hill is a good place for a slower stroll among Bath stone houses.

• Bathwick

  Across Pulteney Bridge, with Great Pulteney Street, Laura Place, the Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens.

• Widcombe

  A village-like area across the river, south of the centre, with Widcombe Crescent and access to the canal.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Abbey to Royal Crescent

   Head up from the Abbey past the Assembly Rooms to the Circus, then west along Brock Street to the Crescent. This is the main climb of the centre, and it is steady rather than steep.

2. Great Pulteney Street loop

   Cross Pulteney Bridge, pass the Laura Place fountain and walk down to the Holburne Museum. Go around Sydney Gardens, which Jane Austen knew, then return along the same street.

3. Kennet and Avon Canal

   Follow the towpath from the city for about 40 minutes to reach the George Inn at Bathampton. It is level.

4. Royal Victoria Park

   Bath's largest park, free and open at all hours, spreading below the Royal Crescent with botanical gardens in its north-west corner.

5. Bath Skyline

   A 6-mile circular National Trust walk through meadows, woodland and farmland above the city. Expect uphill sections and mud after rain, and wear proper footwear.

6. Two Tunnels Greenway

   A paved four-mile path south to Midford, a flatter choice when the hills or the mud have lost their appeal.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Hilly above the centre; the climb to the Royal Crescent is steady.

• Distances

  Central sights are close together. Our mapped route from the Abbey to the Royal Crescent via Pulteney Bridge is 1.7 km, about 22 minutes without stops.

• Crowds

  Busiest at weekends and around the Abbey and Baths. Start early, or head to Widcombe or the canal, if you want quieter streets.

• Rain

  Paved streets cope well with wet weather, but the Skyline path crosses fields and woodland and gets muddy. Save it for a dry spell or take boots.

• Free or paid tour

  The volunteer guides' free walk suits most first visits, and it needs no booking. Paid guided walks and evening ghost tours are advertised around the city if you want a theme. Our self-guided route is an easy way to do it at your own pace.

When to visit

• Spring and summer

  Gardens in bloom.

• Autumn

  The Jane Austen Festival in September.

• Winter

  A Christmas market.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By rail

  Trains reach London Paddington in about an hour and a half.

Local transport

• On foot

  The centre is best walked.

• Buses

  Cover the outer areas.