Looking for the best things to do in Bath in a weekend? You’ve come to the right place!
Despite living in London for almost 8 years I have to admit I very rarely get out and explore more of the UK. I recently spent a weekend in Bath for my flatmate’s birthday, and it was the perfect weekend break!
Bath is without a doubt one of the most beautiful English towns, and a must-see. Especially coming from the busy city life of London, doing a Bath weekend break will reinvigorate you.
In this post I have outlined everything you need to know about spending a weekend in Bath; including the best things to do in Bath, where to stay, where to eat and more.
So let’s dive in, and start planning that perfect Bath weekend!
Contents
The Roman Baths and Bath Abbey in the background
How to get to Bath
Bath is well connected to the rest of the UK by both train and bus. You can also very easily rent a car and drive there.
We took the coach on Friday evening just after work (we were recent graduates at the time and the coach was considerably cheaper than the train) and arrived in Bath just in time for a late dinner and a little night out.
Enjoying our weekend getaway to Bath – Photo by Lloyd Evans on Scopio
Bath weekend break itinerary – Day 1
Explore the Bath town centre
Start your Bath weekend simply by wandering around the town centre. Bath has a beautiful town centre, with quaint cobbled pedestrian streets and gorgeous Victorian architecture.
It also had a bit of a Roman influence, which makes it all the more interesting. Walk around the cute streets and soak in the atmosphere of this lovely British town.
The cute streets of the town centre in Bath
Visit the Circus & Royal Crescent
As you walk around Bath city centre head over towards the Circus and Royal Crescent. These are some of the most recognisable landmarks in Bath.
The Circus and Royal Crescent are two historic streets in Bath, lined with large Georgian townhouses. They’re beautiful streets where you can just wander around and admire the architecture.
There is a little garden area where you can chill if you’re visiting Bath on a sunny weekend.
The Royal Crescent has become famous lately since it’s one of the filming locations of Bridgerton, the Netflix TV show.
The Royal Crescent in Bath
Visit the Roman Baths
One of the main highlights of Bath is, without a doubt, the Roman Baths. These are the ancient historical baths, not the thermal ones you can go for a dip in.
We were given audio guides on entrance so that we could learn a bit more about the history of the place. The self guided tour starts with a few rooms of Roman relics and history.
You have to follow the set route before arriving at the actual baths. The architecture is undeniably beautiful and it’s a pretty interesting place to explore, even if you’re not a history or museum fan (like me).
The baths are quite extraordinary from an architectural point of view, and it’s really interesting to listen to the history.
Especially when you think that they’ve been there for thousands of years and are still almost perfectly preserved!
Click here to book a tour of the Roman Baths and walking tour of Bath!
The Roman Baths in Bath
The Roman Baths in Bath
Visit Bath Abbey
We didn’t get to do this as we opted for some early pub drinks instead (we were spending the weekend in Bath for my friend’s birthday after all) but another Bath highlight is the cathedral.
They do organised tours of Bath Abbey, which allow you also to access the roofs.
Whenever I’ve done similar tours in Milan and Seville I’ve loved them. The spires and rooftops of the cathedral always have extremely interesting architecture and details, as well as epic views over the city.
You can also visit the inside of the cathedral and learn about its history.
Wandering the streets of Bath, with Bath Abbey in the background
Bath weekend itinerary – Day 2
Visit the Thermal Spa
Wake up bright and early on your second day in Bath and head straight to the Thermal Spa. You can book your ticket online beforehand to ensure you have a time slot booked and don’t have to queue or wait for too long.
I’m not usually a fan of thermal spas but considering it’s the only natural hot spring in the UK, I decided to make an exception. They also have a very cool heated roof top pool with view over the rooftops of Bath.
You have an awesome 360 view and you can just about see the tops of the Roman Baths and of Bath Cathedral.
Relaxing in the hot thermal water while enjoying the view over the rooftops of Bath is a great way to start your Sunday.
Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit! You’ll be given slippers, a bath robe and towel at the spa but definitely don’t forget your swimsuit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5IOA0xoJKx/
Have lunch at Sally Lunn
After a relaxing morning spa, head to Sally Lunn for lunch. It’s famous for being the oldest house in Bath, and they serve some pretty amazing buns.
I’d never had buns that big and it was an interesting experience. It’s known as one of the best places to have lunch in Bath, so make sure to book beforehand or you’ll have to queue!
Some of the famous buns of Sally Lunn in Bath
Explore the markets
Depending on the time of year you visit, you might find some lovely markets dotted around Bath city centre.
We were there around Christmas time and spent quite a while on Sunday wandering around the cute Christmas markets.
Even if it’s not around Christmas you can often find weekend markets around Bath cathedral and some of the other central streets.
One of the markets in Bath
Enjoy the sunset view from Alexandra Park
Just outside the main town centre you will find Alexandra Park. Alexandra Park is a lovely park perched on top of a hill, with an epic view over Bath.
We wandered around the park for a bit, enjoying the greenery and relaxing atmosphere, and then made our way to the top of the hill just in time for sunset. The hill is quite steep and the walk up can be tiring, but the view is worth it.
We saw a beautiful pink sunset, made all the more stunning by the pink reflections on the pale cream houses, which gave everything an even more pink hue.
The view over Bath at sunset from Alexandra Palace
Where to stay for a weekend in Bath
Bath is a fairly small town so as long as you’re somewhere close to the town centre you’ll be fine, and you’ll be able to easily walk everywhere. I’ve listed below some options for every budget.
Budget: Bath Backpackers Hostel – We stayed at Bath Backpackers Hostel. It’s a simple hostel with fairly spacious dorms and perfectly located in the centre of Bath.
Click here to see the latest prices and availability at Bath Backpackers Hostel!
Mid-range: The Griffin Inn – This is the perfect place for those who don’t want to stay in a hostel dorm, but also don’t want to break the bank. Great central location, spacious rooms and a cosy atmosphere.
Click here to book your stay at The Griffin Inn!
Luxury: Francis Hotel Bath – If you’re looking to treat yourself for a fancy Bath weekend break this is the place to do so. Francis Hotel is well located in the centre of Bath, and offers a luxury experience for all.
Check out prices and availability at Francis Hotel Bath!
Beautiful reflections along the river in Bath – Photo by Lloyd Evans on Scopio
Final thoughts on doing a Bath weekend break
I really enjoyed visiting Bath. It’s one of the prettiest British towns and it was the perfect city weekend getaway, even more so because it’s easy to reach from London.
There are lots of other great places in the UK that you can visit on a day trip from London, for example Blackpool with kids is a great weekend destination.
You can visit Bath also on a day trip from London, however I would recommend spending a weekend there to really soak in the atmosphere and make the most of this lovely town.
Travelling while having a 9-5 office job can be hard, which is why I always say weekends away are one of the best ways to do so. If you’re looking for more city guides check out these alternative European city breaks.
This Bath weekend guide is based on the activities we did while in Bath. I hope you find it useful in planning your Bath weekend break!
Have you been to Bath? Did you love it as much as me? Let me know in the comments below!
Looking for more UK travel tips? Check out these guides:
- 15 must-see London Harry Potter filming locations for Potter-heads
- Where to stay in London according to a Londoner
- Should you do an afternoon tea bus tour in London?
- Where to find the best street food in London
- The best Christmas activities in London
- Stratford Upon Avon bucket list
- The ultimate Brighton weekend itinerary
- 40+ awesome things to do in London
- The 30 most photogenic places in London
- How to spend 2 awesome days in London
Enjoyed reading about spending a weekend in Bath? Pin it!
