Bath holidays

How to reach Bath

• Flight time: The nearest major airport to Bath is Bristol Airport, about 30 minutes away. Flights to Bristol from most major UK airports like Manchester and Edinburgh take about an hour.

• Transfer time: From Bristol Airport, the Airport Flyer Express bus takes about an hour to reach Bath, with services running every 30 minutes. Taxis take around 30 minutes depending on traffic.

• Price: The Airport Flyer Express bus costs about £14 for a single ticket. Taxis from the airport to Bath will set you back between £30 and £40. Alternatively, take a train from Bristol Temple Meads station; a taxi or bus from the airport to the station costs around £12, and the train from Bristol to Bath takes 15 minutes and costs around £10 for a standard single.

Best time to visit Bath

There are good reasons to visit Bath at any time of the year – the Roman Baths, the spa, museums, festivals, parks and gardens – which makes it a truly year-round destination.

• March to May: Spring is a lovely time to visit Bath, and although not yet the high season, visitor numbers are higher than in most other cities. The city’s full range of cultural attractions are open and the city’s parks and gardens are in fantastic bloom. Mild weather sees average temperatures between 8°C and 15°C.

• June to August: Summer is very much the high season in Bath, and as one of the UK’s most popular cities, expect nearly everywhere to be busy – so plan accordingly. Temperatures average between 16°C and 22°C, though there are still plenty of cloudy and rainy days. Festival season is in full swing too, for example the Bath Fringe.

• September to November: Autumn is another fine time to visit Bath, and although there are still decent crowds in September (especially for the Jane Austen Festival), the city is noticeably quieter come October. Temperatures range from 8°C to 18°C with around 5 to 7 hours of sunshine daily.

• December to February: Winter in Bath is relatively mild, with temperatures between 4°C and 8°C, although snow is not unusual. But the city really comes into its own at the beginning of December when the wonderful Christmas market starts up – it’s a good time to have a soak in the spa too.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: English, although it’s a popular destination for foreign tourists and foreign language students.

• Local habits and customs: Bath is a laid-back, friendly city and most people are well versed in receiving visitors.

• Health and safety: Bath is a safe city, but do keep an eye on your belongings in more crowded areas like the Roman Baths.

• Currency: The currency is the British Pound. ATMs are widely available and credit/debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

• Getting around: Bath is a compact city and there’s really no need to use public transport. But if you do, there is a reliable bus service, with single tickets costing around £2.50 and a day pass about £4.50.

• Time zone: GMT, moving to British Summer Time in the summer months.

Best things to do in Bath

This world-beating UNESCO city packs in everything from ancient baths and thermal waters to Georgian architecture and abundant greenery. You certainly won’t be left scratching your head when it comes to thinking of things to do on your Bath holidays.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Alexandra Park: A bit of an unknown this one (even with the locals), but this lofty park on the north side of the city serves up superlative views.

• Bath Skyline Walk: Fantastic 10km circular trail high above the city with peerless views from just about everywhere, although many rate the view from Bathwick Hill the finest.

The best districts

• Walcot Street: Nicely off the beaten track, Bath’s artisan quarter is a low-key thoroughfare filled with independent shops and restaurants, and is home to the curious Stone Faces, a series of familiar local faces recreated in stone.

• Royal Crescent: This graceful Palladian masterpiece is the most jaw-dropping of Bath’s architectural highlights.

Museums

• House of Frankenstein: Yep, you’d better believe it. It was here, in Bath, that Mary Shelley wrote the Gothic masterpiece, and now you too can relive the nightmare of Frankenstein’s monster.

• Herschel Museum of Astronomy: Bet you didn’t know that Uranus was discovered in Bath? Well it was, by one William Herschel, whose life you can learn more about in this fascinating small museum.

Parks and gardens

• Royal Victoria Park: So much more than Bath’s largest park, the “Vic” is also home to botanical gardens, crazy golf, a skatepark and a stupendous children’s playground.

• Sydney Gardens: One of Britain’s oldest public gardens, designed in the 18th century, this was one of Jane Austen’s favourite spots (she lived just across the road) – and it'll quite likely end up being one of yours too.

Historical monuments

• Roman Baths: Quite simply, they’re what Bath is all about – the source of its fame and fashionability – but this thermal complex is also an imaginative and engaging insight into Roman Britain.

• Bath Abbey: Overlooking the Baths, this stunning Gothic church manifests a superb van-vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained-glass windows. Best of all, though, are the elevated views from the tower.

Day trips in the area

• Stonehenge: The most famous stone circle in the world, and an unforgettable sight, either from the perimeter path or from within the sarsens themselves.

• Bristol: It’d be remiss not to spend a day in the southwest’s coolest city just 15 minutes by train from Bath. You’ve got the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain and sensational street art – and that’s just for starters. Find the best deals on hotels in Bristol and spend a few days in this amazing city.

• Bradford-on-Avon: Step back in time with a charming day trip to Bradford-on-Avon. Explore the picturesque town centre with its beautiful 17th-century buildings, take a leisurely stroll along the River Avon, or visit the impressive Titley Abbey. Discover a range of hotels for a relaxing escape with our selection of hotels in Bradford-on-Avon.

• Lacock: Immerse yourself in a picture-perfect village with a day trip to Lacock. This enchanting village boasts honey-coloured cottages, a magnificent abbey founded in the 13th century, and a timeless atmosphere that's been featured in numerous films and TV shows. Unwind after exploring Lacock's beauty with our selection of hotels in Lacock.

• Castle Combe: Explore a village straight out of a fairytale with a day trip to Castle Combe. This quintessentially English village is known for its charming stone houses, the Cotswold stone bridge spanning the River Bybrook, and its timeless beauty. Find your perfect Cotswolds escape with our range of hotels in Castle Combe, ideally located for exploring Castle Combe and the surrounding area.

Activities for families in Bath

Bath caters well to families, from parks and playgrounds to pools, while a number of festivals are geared towards kids.

• Playgrounds: Royal Victoria Park is a firm family favourite thanks to its large, well-equipped children’s play area, with climbing apparatus, skateboard ramp, zip lines and tyre swings. The adults, meanwhile, can kick back with a cup of coffee from the cool kiosk.

• Interactive museums: Few attractions combine interactive fun and education as well as the Roman Baths; they’ve even got their own kid-friendly audio guides.

• Swimming pools: The Bath Sports and Leisure Centre has a fantastic kid-friendly pool with a flume and toddler splash area – plus a trampoline park if you want to go the whole hog.

Free things to do in Bath

Although not a cheap destination, it is possible to seek out free activities in Bath, making the load on your wallet a little lighter.

• Free events: The brilliant Bath Festival features some free performances and workshops, as does the Bath Fringe, while the Bath Carnival is an annual highlight, with a colourful parade and free activities for all ages.

• Free museums: The Victoria Art Gallery offers free entry to its permanent collection, showcasing works by both local artists and famous names, while the little known but rather wonderful Museum of Bath at Work is free on certain days.

• Free guided tours: For orientation and insiders’ knowledge, you can’t beat the free walking tours conducted by the Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides; these cover the main architectural sites, with heaps of historical detail and insight that reveal the guides’ genuine passion for the city.

• City Farm: A great free place to visit with kids, Bath City Farm – a charity supporting people with enduring mental health issues and those living with disabilities – has plenty of animals to pet, as well as a play park, walking trails, farm shop and café.

Wellness in Bath

Bath’s long history as a spa city means just one thing: taking to the waters, just as the Georgians used to do.

• Spas and thermal baths: Relive the rituals of past generations in Bath while pampering your body with treatments and a rooftop bathe at the Thermae Bath and Spa, a thoroughly 21st-century establishment. The neighbouring Cross Bath, fed by its own natural spring, offers a more intimate and exclusive experience.

• Yoga and meditation centres: There are numerous studios in Bath offering yoga retreats and meditation sessions, such as the Yoga Bodhi studio, which provides a restful environment for mindfulness and relaxation classes.

Nature and outdoor activities in Bath

Bath is surrounded by beautiful countryside, hence there are limitless possibilities for outdoor adventures.

• Hiking and walking: An integral part of any visit to Bath, the Skyline Walk is an undulating 10km circular trail that takes you through woodlands and meadows, and over hilltops, all the while providing astonishing views of the city.

• Cycling: Bath is brilliant for bikes. Pride of place is the Two Tunnels Greenway, a well-maintained 21km circular route that allows you to experience abundant wildlife as well as the long, eerie ex-railway tunnels for which it is named.

• Boat trips: Between Easter and October, hour-long river trips run from Pulteney Bridge to Bathampton and back, or you can hire rowboats, punts and canoes for a more hands-on experience.

Local dishes in Bath

One of the great delights of holidays to Bath is partaking in the city's culinary scene, which has come on in leaps and bounds in recent times, but it’s also worth sampling some of Bath’s original recipes.

Some typical dishes

• Bath Olivers: These crisp, slightly sweet biscuits, created by Dr William Oliver, taste best when smothered with soft, creamy Bath cheese.

• Sally Lunn Bun: A brioche-style bun, served sweet or savoury, is an age-old Bath delicacy – and there’s only one place to try it, the venerable Sally Lunn’s of course.

Meat dishes

• Bath Chaps: A traditional dish made from the lower part of a pig’s cheek, typically cured and cooked, then sliced and served with mustard or pickles – it’s much tastier than it sounds.

Sweets and desserts

• Bath Buns: These sweet buns, sprinkled with sugar and currants and with a whole sugar cube baked into the bottom, are best when washed down with a cup of tea.

Local drinks

• Bath Ales: The city has a burgeoning craft beer scene, with Bath Ales one of the most popular local breweries; try a pint of their Gem Amber Ale or cool, crisp Sulis Lager.

• Cider: Tasting traditional farmhouse cider straight from the barrel, and fresh from the surrounding orchards, is a quintessential Bath experience.