Things to Do in Bath
Bath is small enough to see in a day and hilly enough to need a plan. This guide sets out the river, the canal, the slopes and the wet weather options by area.
The river and the canal towpath
The River Avon winds through the city, and the Kennet and Avon Canal joins it on the eastern side. The towpath is level, quiet in the morning and easy to leave at any bridge, which makes it a relaxed way to start. You can walk for an hour in either direction and still be close to a bus stop. Cyclists share the path, so keep to one side and listen for bells.
The River Avon winds through the city, and the Kennet and Avon Canal joins it on the eastern side.
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Walking between the Georgian streets
Much of the centre is built in pale stone terraces and crescents, and the pleasure is simply walking from one to the next. Milsom Street is a sensible place to begin, and the side streets off it are calmer than the main routes. Wear comfortable shoes, because the pavements are uneven in places.
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Somewhere to book a room or a table for the evening, in Bath itself.
Open ground on the slopes
The hills around the centre hold parks and fields, and the view back across the rooftops is the reward for the climb. Lansdown is the area to head for if you want height and quiet. A taxi up and a walk down is kinder than the reverse, and the walk always takes longer than it looks on a map.
The hills around the centre hold parks and fields, and the view back across the rooftops is the reward for the climb.
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Museums and galleries when it rains
Bath has a good number of small museums and galleries, many of them in historic buildings close together in the centre. They suit a wet afternoon because you can step from one to the next in a few minutes. Opening days vary, so confirm them beforehand, and expect more people at weekends and in school holidays.
Bath has a good number of small museums and galleries, many of them in historic buildings close together in the centre.
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Browsing at Walcot Street and Widcombe
Walcot Street lies to the north and is a run of independent shops and cafes. Widcombe, beyond the station, feels like a village, with a short high street. Either gives an hour of browsing away from the busiest crowds, and both have somewhere to sit with a coffee when your feet need a rest.
Walcot Street lies to the north and is a run of independent shops and cafes.
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Fitting a day together
A simple shape for the day is the towpath in the morning, lunch in the centre, a museum if the weather turns, and the slopes at the end of the afternoon while the light is soft. Leave the steepest part until you have had a rest, and keep the evening free for dinner or a quiet drink.
A simple shape for the day is the towpath in the morning, lunch in the centre, a museum if the weather turns, and the slopes at the end of the afternoon while the light is soft.
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An easy trip by rail
Bath Spa station has regular trains to Bristol, so a second city is easy to reach for an afternoon. Look up the last train back before you leave. Nobody under eighteen should be using this site, and that holds for this guide as well.
Bath Spa station has regular trains to Bristol, so a second city is easy to reach for an afternoon.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can cross the middle on foot, and the Georgian streets are within reach of the railway station. Taxis are the sensible choice for the steep streets.
No. This is a directory, so nothing is planned for you: you settle the day with whoever you are meeting.
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