Located a mere hour away from London, day trips to Bath from London by train are popular for a reason. This quintessentially English city is packed with history, scenic country views and an assortment of lovely little cafes and restaurants.
If you’re thinking a day isn’t enough to see everything that Bath has to offer - you’re probably right. But still, there’s a fair amount of exploration you can pack into a few hours. The city centre is quite compact and can easily be covered on foot.
To help you get started with your planning, read on for our recommended itinerary for an enjoyable and relaxing day trip to Bath.
First things first, how do you get there?
If you’re in London or the surrounding areas, there are a couple of quick and easy ways to get to Bath:
Day trips to Bath from London by train:
The main station in Bath is the centrally located Bath Spa train station. Regular trains are running from London Paddington to Bath Spa, with an average journey time of 1 hour 34 minutes. On weekdays, as many 35 trains travel from London Paddington to Bath Spa. Keep in mind though that the journey time may be slightly longer on weekends and holidays.
Day trips to Bath from London by coach:
If you’re not short on time and are looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to train travel, consider getting the coach to Bath. On average, the coach to Bath takes around 3 hours and 5 minutes from London Victoria Coach Station. Fast coaches can take just 2 hours and 35 minutes. Remember though, your journey time can vary depending on traffic conditions.
Bath day trip itinerary
Now that your travel plans are sorted, it’s time to focus on what you’ll actually do on your day trip to Bath. There is a plethora of inviting options to choose from, but we’ve picked the very best of Bath to create the (what we think is) perfect Bath day trip itinerary below:
Start with a visit to the stunningly preserved Roman Baths
Head straight to the World Heritage site that gave Bath its name, just 7 minutes’ walk away from Bath Spa train station. These natural hot springs were extremely popular in Roman times, when people came together to socialise and, well, bathe here. The Roman Baths are still pretty popular although sadly you’re no longer allowed to take a dip.
Check out the Roman Temple and the impressive Great Bath itself. There’s plenty of signage and audio guides on offer to make this an enlightening visit. You can also refresh yourself with a little spa water packed with minerals from their on-site water fountain.
Recommended duration of visit: 1 - 2 hours
Address: Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ
Opening times: The Roman Baths are open 9.30–17.00 but the schedule can vary depending on the time of year.
How to get there from Bath Spa train station: The Roman Baths are less than 10 minutes’ walk from the station.
Pop in for a cup of tea/breakfast/lunch at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House
With a name like that, how could you resist? Stroll over to Sally Lunn’s from the Roman Baths in just a couple of minutes. The historic tearoom is located in Bath's oldest house (c.1483). Once you’ve gotten over the sheer cuteness of it all, get yourself a cuppa. And of course, one of the famous sweet or savoury Sally Lunn Buns with a slab of strawberry jam and a scoop of clotted cream. Trust us, many people take day trips to Bath just for a taste of these! You can also get great breakfast and lunch options here depending on when you go (and your hunger levels).
Dining at Sally Lunn’s also gives you free access to a small museum room below, which has a small exhibition. This tells you more about the history of the house, and you can check out its Tudor fireplaces and 11th-century baker’s oven.
Recommended duration of visit: 1 hour (or more for breakfast/lunch)
Address: 4 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX
Opening times: Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House is open from 10.00 to 22.00. The bakery museum closes at 18.00.
How to get there from Bath Spa train station: Sally Lunn’s is a mere seven-minute walk from Bath Spa train station.
Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Bath Abbey
Just a stone’s throw away from Sally Lunn’s is the gorgeous and historic Bath Abbey. This UNESCO World Heritage site is over 12,000 years old and an architectural wonder. Wander the surrounding grounds and walk through the church to admire the beautiful stained-glass windows and magnificent vaulted ceiling. You can also climb to the top to get stunning views of the whole of Bath city.
Recommended duration of visit: 30 minutes
Address: Bath BA1 1LT
Opening times: 09.00 to 18.00
How to get there from Bath Spa train station: The beautiful abbey can be reached by foot from Bath Spa station in just 8 minutes. You can also get a short bus there from directly outside the station.
Wander over to the Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent
If like us, you’ve managed to overorder at Sally Lunn’s, there are plenty of scenic walks you can take. Head over to the nearby Grade I listed Pulteney Bridge. You'll find plenty of quirky shops and cute cafes to explore, and you can get a couple of Instagrammable shots of the beautiful bridge.
From there, walk over to the famous Royal Crescent about 10 minutes away. This visually impressive stretch of Georgian houses is what people often picture when they think of Bath. Again, it’s a good spot for the ‘gram. To find out a little more about the history and the high society Georgian lifestyle, check out the museum at No.1 Royal Crescent.
Recommended duration of visit: You can cover this walk in 1-2 hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way.
Address: Pulteney Bridge is at Bridge St, Bath BA2 4AT and No.1 Royal Crescent is at 1 Royal Cres, Bath BA1 2LR
Opening times: The bridge can be admired at any time of the day, and the Royal Crescent museum is open from 10.00 to 17.00.
How to get there from Bath Spa train station: The Pulteney Bridge can be reached by foot from Bath Spa station in just under 10 minutes. You can also get a short bus there from directly outside the station. Regular buses also run from outside the train station to Royal Crescent, or you can walk there in 20 minutes.
Indulge in some Italian fare at the divine Sotto Sotto
Got a little time for dinner (or a late lunch) before you need to take your train or coach back? We’d highly recommend getting a bite at Sotto Sotto, one of the best Italian restaurants in England located right in the centre of Bath. Booking beforehand is advisable, so this may only be suitable for those of you have planned your day trip to Bath in advance.
Recommended duration of visit: 1.5 - 2 hours
Address: 10 N Parade, Bath BA2 4AL
Opening times: 12.00 - 14.00 for lunch service and 17.00 to 22.00 for dinner.
How to get there from Bath Spa train station: Sotto Sotto is a short six-minute stroll from Bath Spa station.
Whether you want to unwind and relax, indulge in good food, or immerse yourself in history, it’s clear that there’s plenty to see and do in this lovely Somerset town. Hopefully, the above itinerary will serve as inspiration for many future day trips to Bath. It’s truly one of those fairy tale towns that you imagine when you think of old England. As you amble through the city, you’ll feel transported to a previous (and arguably more glamorous) time.
For another time, take an entire day trip to indulge in a bit weekend (or mid-week) relaxation at the Thermae Bath Spa. As you’ll see from the train timings, day trips to Bath from London by train are easy and frequent.