This post will share 15 places to visit in Bath on a day trip.
For my final trip for 2021, I decided to go down South for a couple of days after visiting Scotland for a week at the beginning of the month.
I decided to quickly cross out Bath and Bristol off my England Bucket List once and for all.
Especially since I’ll be starting a new job in January and need to plan my trips differently.
Trust me, I was a bit scared of going because of the COVID situation in London.
But this pandemic has already taken too much from me.
As long as there are no restrictions, I will travel while protecting myself.
So, I took the trip; even though I was tempted to extend it for one more day by including Cardiff, I changed my mind and made it home for Christmas.
Bath is the largest city in the South-West of England. It is one of the iconic cities in England because of its Roman-built baths.
It prides itself on being one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.
It’s also one of the top ten English tourist destinations.
I had really high expectations for this city with all of these credentials.
Unfortunately, I found it rather underwhelming.
Yes, the iconic Roman Baths are lovely.
The sidewalks over the Pulteney Bridge remind me of similar ones around the Eiffel Tower.
But that’s about it. I’m not sure if it was because of the season I went.
Even though it wasn’t so busy, I can’t pinpoint what made it so underwhelming.
Regardless, I still had a good trip and will share more details shortly.
Getting To Bath From Manchester
I live up north in Manchester, so getting to Bath down South required a bit of a journey, which is why I haven’t been to visit places in Devon yet.
Instead of my typical routine of setting out very early and returning the same day late at night, I decided to make an overnight trip.
If the train was not delayed, it would have taken about four hours to travel from Manchester to Bath, with a connecting train to Newport, Wales.
I did not mind the length of this journey because I honestly prefer long train rides to flights, which makes me anxious.
My first train to Newport was delayed, so I missed the connecting one to Bath.
Instead, I had to take another train to Bristol and Bath from Bristol.
Thankfully, these cities are close by.
So, in about 30 – 45 minutes, I arrived at Bath Spa Train Station.
When travelling, a rule of thumb is to ensure that my accommodation is as close to the train station as possible.
So, I stayed at the Bath Backpackers Hostel, which was just a five-minute walk from the train station.
To be honest, it doesn’t get any better than that.
I spent two nights in the hostel before heading to Bristol to complete my trip.
Getting Around Bath
Before sharing some of my best places to visit in Bath, it’s important to note that it is compact and walkable, just like every other English city.
In fact, I was surprised by how close everything was, which is what you want.
I don’t take any kind of transportation on my day trips except it is essential.
This way, you’re saving money on the bus rides.
Armed with my legs and Google Maps, I like to take sporadic self-guided walking tours.
Again, as a female solo traveller, I can do so without problems.
This way, I’m exploring hidden gems at my own pace.
As usual, after my trip, I create a semblance of a map of my walking tour for anyone who will find it helpful.
As a history and culture enthusiast, I like to stop by all the important historical landmarks as much as possible.
Here are 15 Iconic Places To Visit In Bath
This guide will be based on the assumption that you’re coming in through the Bath Spa Train Station.
So, attractions will be organized from closest to furthest.
SouthGate Bath
The first thing that will jump at you when you step out of the train station is the incredible Georgian architecture of the Southgate Shopping Centre, which was designed with the iconic Bath Stone.
I instantly fell in love and was almost deceived into thinking that all of Bath looked like that.
Spoiler alert! They don’t.
It’s just the SouthGate that has that distinct architecture.
I was so bummed when I discovered this.
After further research, I learnt that the Bath Stone can be used in various ways.
The SouthGate looks like that because the construction is pretty recent.
So, you’re looking at a modern version of the Bath Stone.
Aside from its architecture, it was not a shabby shopping centre.
It has all the familiar high-street retailers that kept my expenses minimal.
Bath Spas
Remember when I said the city is super compact?
You don’t have to go far before finding the Bath Spas.
They’re all clustered in the middle of the city.
The actual Roman Baths are no longer used for bathing for health and safety reasons.
But you can get tickets to tour the baths, museum and Pump Room.
However, if you want a thermal bath spa experience, the Cross Bath and Thermae Bath Spa, which are open to the public, are the places to go.
Bath Abbey
Just a stone’s throw away from the Roman Baths is the iconic medieval parish church of the Church of England, the Bath Abbey.
This cathedral was founded in the 7th century and has undergone extensive restoration work over the centuries to preserve it.
Because of its clustering, it reminds me so much of the York Minister.
I’m never a fan of cathedrals in the city centre, as they make the area claustrophobic.
It is interesting to know that it is also one of the buildings constructed with the Bath stone.
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Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum
It’s not every trip you come across the oldest houses in a city.
Sometimes, you’re lucky. Other times, not so much.
A less than five-minute walk from Bath Abbey is Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum.
It is one of the oldest houses in Bath and Sally Lunn’s home, the creator of the iconic and original Sally Lunn Bath Buns.
While it still operates today as a tea house, you’ll also find a kitchen museum used by the legendary baker and pastry maker.
Parade Gardens
As you leave the streets and head into the main roads, you’ll find the Parade Gardens, a quiet and serene park with a view of the River Avon flowing from the Pulteney Bridge.
It usually requires an entrance fee, but it was free when I was there.
Bath Guildhall Market
After a short walk around the Parade Gardens, a five-minute walk will take you to the Bath Guildhall Market.
I got so carried away with the views from the Pulteney Bridge that I forgot to go into the historic indoor market.
In my experience, indoor markets are the best place to buy unique artisan items, which you’ll probably not find anywhere else.
So, don’t be like me and make sure you check out the market.
Victoria Art Gallery
The Victoria Art Gallery is a public art museum that shares a building with the Bath Guildhall Market.
It was opened to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.
It houses over 1500 objects of art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from British artists dating from 1700 onwards.
If you have time and are into the arts, you can stop by this historic art gallery.
Pulteney Bridge
Will your trip to Bath be complete without stopping to admire the views from the Pulteney Bridge? I think not.
On your way to the Bath Guildhall Market and Victoria Art Gallery, you’ll probably have seen snippets of the weir across the River Avon.
Something is striking about the weir, particularly how the water ebbs and flows.
I love that you can watch the view from different areas.
Either from the Parade Gardens, on the banks of the bridge itself or from the opposite end of the bridge.
Whatever way you decide to enjoy it, make sure you soak in the views from one of Bath’s most iconic places to visit.
If you have time for some shopping, the bridge also houses several shops across its entire span.
This is ironic because the only other bridges in the world with shops on both sides are in Florence, Venice, and Erfurt, Germany.
The Jane Austen Centre
When I was done with the bridge, it was time for the final lap of my trip.
First, I stopped by The Jane Austen Centre, a museum that tells her life and times living in Bath and the city’s influence on her work.
At the entrance is a mini waxwork of Jane Austen; inside, you’ll find a life-sized version.
As always, you’ll need to book tickets to visit.
The Circus
After stopping by the Jane Austen Centre, a short walk down the street will take you to The Circus.
First of all. I wasn’t sure what was going on.
I followed the map’s directions and found myself in a historic ring of identical townhouses that formed a circle with three entrances.
I later found out that this was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome.
Listen, I can’t imagine how magical living in one of those townhouses must feel.
Other areas in Bath with similar symmetrical/speculative architecture are the Queen’s Square, a square of Georgian houses, and the Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses.
All three sequences were designed by the same architect, John Wood, the Elder and his son, John Wood, the Younger.
Museum of East Asian Art
One of the other underrated places to visit in Bath is the Museum of East Asian Art, the only museum in the U.K. dedicated solely to art and culture from East and Southeast Asia.
It houses a collection of over 2,000 ceramics, jades, bronzes and bamboo carvings from Japan, China, Korea and Southeast Asia.
This is so interesting because I just realized that I have never seen a dedicated Asian museum.
Then again, we’re not in Asia, so it’s understandable to find predominately European arts in the museums here.
In hindsight, I’m sad I couldn’t go in because it was closed for the day, given my interest in Korean culture.
But there’s always the next time.
Bath Assembly Rooms & The Fashion Museum
In the 18th century, with the construction of The Circus, Queen’s Square, and Royal Crescent, inhabited by influential people, a new venue for balls and concerts was needed.
So, the same architect, John Wood the Younger, designed and constructed this U-shaped building with the Bath Stone. It housed a tea room, card room, and octagon.
These days, it is available for hire for private functions including concerts.
In the basement of the building, you’ll find the Fashion Museum, which has a collection of over 30,000 objects and focuses on fashionable outfits from the late 16th century to the present.
I hear there’s a duplicate version of the famous JLO’s green dress at the Fashion Museum.
Finally,
In hindsight, I think Bath actually packs a punch. If you’re interested in the life and times of influential British people as far back as the 18th century, you’ll enjoy this city.
Or if you’re just curious about how wealthy people with old money live, Bath’s your guy.
I hope you have enjoyed this list of places to visit in Bath.
Most certainly, I’ll have to return to Bath again.
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