How to Spend 2 Days in Bath, England (see, eat, stay)

If you’re looking for interesting and unique places to visit in Britain with a fascinating story to tell – both modern and new – the beautiful and historic city of BathEngland is the perfect place for you!

We visited Bath during our two-week London vacation. We decided to take the train from London to explore the city (80 minutes), and spend two nights in Bath.

Craig and me had been to Bath before we had kids 20 years prior and wanted to return to it with the girls.

Bath boasts a rich history spanning over 2,000 year. There are many things to do in Bath.

Why visit Bath?

Bath, England is the only entire city in the UK that’s designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s a grandeur you can’t deny as you walk its beautiful streets lined with stunning Georgian Architecture made from local golden-colored Bath limestone.

This is the reason it was included on the list along with its stunning Roman remains, thermal hotsprings and beautiful country surroundings.

The city was Romans founded it in the 1st Century ADWho used the natural hot springs to relax in a thermal spa. (Though there is evidence that Bath was a spiritual sanctuary for the Celtics.

King George l. ll. and III developed it into a sophisticated spa city in 18th century. It was renowned for its literature and art.

Over the past couple of years, Bath has been put back on top of people’s list of places to visit in England thanks to the Netflix hit, Bridgerton, which has been extensively filmed in Bath – the perfect backdrop for the glamor and romance of Regency London. When released in Christmas 2020, it quickly became the network’s biggest show to have aired.

Bath is just as beautiful in real life as it is on the Bridgerton screen.

One thing I loved about Bath was its ease of moving around. It’s Very walkableMost streets in the historic part of the city are pedestrian streets or see very little traffic.

It’s a great way to soak up the vibe of Bath, experience its beauty, and get to know the local, independent stores and businesses.

And even though we had a wild weather day while in Bath – alternating between snow and sunny skies – we were not deterred from continuing to walk and explore this fine English city. 

This is not an exhaustive list of things to do in Bath – of which there are many – but more suggestions as to How to make the most out of two days in Bath That’s a summary of some highlights, based on our own experience.

First, we’ll share the Bath attractions we loved, including some places to eat and drink, and our stunning Georgian accommodation with Bridgerton vibes. You’ll also find some travel logistics on getting to Bath and a sample two-day itinerary as we experienced Bath to help you plan out your days.

Where is Bath?

Bath is located within the Avon Valley, Somerset. South West EnglandIt is situated near the southern boundary of the Cotswolds, and is surrounded with limestone hills.

The city is located just over 160 km / 100 mi from London, and 12 miles away from Bristol, the largest city of the South West. It is located only an hour east from Cardiff in Wales, and an hour from Stonehenge.

Its seven hills surround make it an ideal base from which to explore most of south west Britain. 

Where to Stay In Bath

Bath is one of the most popular cities in the world. Accommodation that reflects Georgian architecture’s unique beauty.

We stayed as guests at Steam House, a Georgian townhouse of luxury that has a chic contemporary style with Bridgerton flair.

Like every scene in the Netflix series this house pops with color from the featured floral wallpaper to photo booths covered with flowers, vibrant colored couches and furniture, and even little details like Lady Whistledown’s framed letters.

There are Five floors, Six bedroomsThat is possible Sleep up to 25. The bedrooms have king-size beds that can also be unzipped to make single beds. Extra single beds can be added, as well as sets of full-sized bunk bed beds for additional guests.

Each room has a dry bath with comfortable pink stools, and large mirrors with hairdryers and straighteners. You’ll also have a bath tub near the window in the main room and one in the main bathroom.

After a week in London we were grateful for the laundry room, which allowed us to finish our laundry.

The townhouse can accommodate large groups of people, including families. It makes it a very affordable and stylish option for accommodation in Bath.

The house was renovated. Easy 15-minute walk to the center of Bath and was across the road from a small Tesco, and a couple of other small independent stores, and around the corner from Lady Danbury’s house and a cool neighborhood rugby pub!

It’s best to book Bath accommodation that lies within or near to the city. Bath is very walkable, so a car is not necessary.

Take a guided walking tour of Bath

You can start your Bath trip by taking a guided walking tour. This will give you a fantastic overview of the city, including the history of Bath, some of the characters who’ve lived here, what modern bath is like, and an insight into what some of the best things to do in Bath are!

Then you’ll know what to return to and experience on a deeper level throughout your stay in Bath.

We booked a guided walking tour of 90 minutes through Get Your Guide.

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. She also tried to include the children in the discussions. She had a bag of artifacts she’d pull out to help tell the story when she could. She was also quick to point out places where TV or movies have been shot, such as Bridgerton or Bath Street, where Willy Wonka was shot just weeks before our visit. You heard it here first.

The tour began at the Bath AbbeyAnd Roman BathsIt is where we learned its history, from the Romans through the Medieval to the Georgians.

We walked up to the more modern Bath (hundreds years old modern), where we learned more about Bath’s architectural history and the glamorous residential areas of Circus and Royal Crescent. The Assembly Rooms were also closed. If we had done the tour first, we would have returned to see inside the Assembly Rooms (the glamour settings of Bridgerton Balls!)

Enjoy the Roman Baths

The most popular and well-known attraction in Bath is the Roman Baths, 2,000 years old, the place of Britain’s only natural thermal waters.

It is located in the heart of the city. It is one of the most well-preserved Roman remains anywhere in the world and the most important north of all the Alps.

The beautiful city built by the Romans around the baths was then called Aquae Sulis.

A visit to the Roman Baths can give you a great insight into Roman life and how these healing thermal water pools were a place of spiritual connection and communal gathering.

An audio tour that can be self-guided You’ll be able to see some of the original Roman pavements and the Sacred Spring’s bubbling green waters, the treatment rooms and saunas, as well as the ruins of Temple of Sulis Minerva and other excavated artifacts such the gilt bronzed head of Goddess Sulis Minerva.

I enjoyed the projections of Roman characters. It gave me a feeling of the space. You can also see how the head of the Gorgons on the Temple Pediment in Roman times would have looked animated.

My favorite part was learning about curses. People would write a curse on a piece lead and then throw it in the baths. They believed Silus Minerva would catch it, seek revenge and take it!

I loved the idea of writing down your grievances and then letting karma take care of them.

For this experience, allow for approximately two hours. We were fortunate to walk straight in, but typically, as it’s Baths’ top attraction, it can see crazy crowds. Book ahead and make sure you get there early. (Currently, they do timed entries.

The Roman Baths are one of the best things to do in Bath England, so for first time visitors, it’s one not to miss!

NOTE:The Roman Baths are not safe for swimming. However, the modern Thermae Bath Spa nearby has found a way to tap into the clean part of Bath’s natural thermal springs. A rooftop thermal spa offers great views of the city. To visit, you must be at least 16 years old.

The Bath Abbey

• Address: Bath BA1 1LT (United Kingdom)

The stunning Bath Abbey, located right next to the Roman Baths, is just a few steps away. Last Medieval Abbey of its Kind. On our walking tour, we learned a lot about the history of this abbey.

The inside will be filled with beautiful stone glass windows and an impressive fan-vaulted ceiling. It is said to be among the best in the world.

You can Climb the 212 steps You can see 360-degree views from Bath Abbey. We’re leaving that for our next trip to Bath.

Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein

Many tourists to Bath will go deep into the waters.Jane Austin story She lived here for five year and loved it. Did you know that there was another female writer from Bath who created a story that would forever alter history?

Mary Shelley is the author of FrankensteinThe first example of science fiction was written by, who lived briefly in Bath in 1816 when she was just 19 years old. It is impossible to see the place she lived because it was demolished after it was discovered that the Roman Baths were beneath. It’s now known as The Pump Room.

A new attraction to Bath, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein pays tribute to her by telling the story of her troubled life – including her strange marriage to Percy Shelley and friendship with Lord Bryon – and what inspired and motivated her to write the book about this much-loved creature throughout the ages.

You’ll find Four floors of historical storiesUnusual artifacts and special effects, as well a small cinema showing the original silent film. You can see if it scares or makes you smile!

What I loved was discovering what Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein REALLY would have looked like – it’s not the green creature version that we all know.

Frankenstein is described in only one paragraph of the book. The owners sent the description to an animatronics expert, who then set to work creating the monster. This is what you can see inside the museum.

Soon to be opening in the HOF, is an Escape Room that goes inside Victor Frankenstein’s attic laboratory. We were able to take a quick look inside, and it was amazing! To create Frankenstein, you will need to find the body parts!

The thrills continue into the basement.This fun addition to museum is a lot like walking through your favorite haunted house on Halloween. It’s filled with macabre creatures and things that shake, rattle, and jump out! This may be a bit scary for children. Our girls raced to the finish.

Savannah contacted her friend immediately after we left to tell her about her visit to the House of Frankenstein. That’s always a sign of a memorable adventure!

The House of Frankenstein, a new attraction in Bath, is now open. It’s one of those positive success stories born out of the pandemic, when ideas for people started to run free.

Admire the Royal Crescent

• Address: 1 Royal Cres Bath BA1 2LR

It is one of the best examples of Georgian architectureThe Royal Crescent in Britain is another unique thing to do in Bath.

It’s a grand sweeping curve of 30 Grade 1 listed terraced housesEach with a view over rolling countryside.

On our walking tour we learned of father and son architects, John Wood Snr and John Wood Jnr who were responsible for designing much of the “newer” Bath.

They laid out many of the city’s present-day squares and crescents within its green valley and surrounding hills, which UNESCO notes as being “the deliberate creation of a beautiful city”.

John Wood Jr is responsible for the 150m length Royal Crescent. These homes were built between 1767-1774 with the intention of bringing the countryside into the city.

Pay attention to the haha a ditch in front of the Crescent’s private lawn. Designed to create an invisible divide between the lower and upper lawns so as to not interrupt the view from Royal Victoria Park, and so the residents could look out and see cows in the lower pasture – that country feel – without them being able to walk onto the upper pasture – their private space for gathering.  

No.1 Royal Crescent houses Lady FeatheringtonThe Bridgerton series. It is also a museum that provides a glimpse into Georgian life as it was in the past. Many of the rooms are furnished and decorated exactly as they were in 1776-1796.

The large central house at number 16 is The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa.

Admire the Circus

• Address:Circus Place, Bath

Just five minutes walk from the Royal Crescent, you will find the equally grand Circus. Three curved segments of Georgian townhouses You will find the most magnificent plane trees in the middle of a public circular lawn.

John Wood Snr designed and built the Circus from 1754 to 1768. The building has been designated Grade I listed.

To tie into Bath’s celtic history, Wood created The Circus to reflect Stonehenge, creating the same circular diameter of these mystical stones. 

Our guided walking tour took us to No 4 Circus, a backyard of one of these houses. It is part of the local government and allows us to see an example Georgian garden. It was found by archeologists who decided to recreate it.

It’s plain and simple with flower beds, box hedges and topiaries and plenty of space on a paved path for walking – as was the Georgian Way. 

Coffee with a View on the Pulteney Bridge

• Address: 17 Pulteney Bridge, Bath

The small Pulteney bridge, which spans the River Avon on the side of the city, was built in 1774 to link the city to the land of Pulteney’s family.

This bridge is one of only three bridges of its type in the world with shops on both sides.

Bridge Coffee Shop is a small cafe that you can visit if you’re looking for a place to relax with a cup of coffee and a view over the River Avon.

Visit The Holburne Museum (Lady Danbury’s House)

• Address: Great Pulteney Street, Bath, BA2 4DB
• Website: Holburne.org

This stunning Georgian building is located within Bath’s beautiful Sydney Gardens, the only remaining eighteenth-century pleasure gardens in the country and overlook the famous Great Pulteney Street. It was once the Sydney Hotel, before it became a museum in 1916.

If you’re a Bridgerton fan, this will be high on your list of things to do in Bath!

The Holburne Museum is also known by the following: Lady Danbury’s House. The Sydney Hotel was once a popular place for grand parties, just like Bridgerton. Jane Austin enjoyed visiting the Sydney Hotel.

Be sure to walk around the back to see a very modern exterior with a lovely café and gorgeous gardens.

The museum houses both contemporary and historical art, including pieces such as the renowned 18^ThCentury portraits, Renaissance bronze sculptures  

See Jane Austin’s Life

Jane Austin fans may be interested in seeing where she lived in Bath from 1801 – 1806. Northanger and Persuasion, two of her books, are set in Bath. This is a city she loved for its social status.

You can walk across the street to her terraced home at 4 Sydney Place.

We were unable to visit the Jane Austen Center. However, Bath fans will want to add this to their list.

The center gives a snapshot of her life during Regency times and how it affected her writing (it’s right next door to House of Frankenstein, to help your itinerary planning).

Walk along the River Avon and through the canals

Bath is surrounded with beautiful waterways, including Avon and Kennet canals, and the famous River Avon. It’s the perfect place for an afternoon stroll, or even a boat tour, or punting experience. 

We loved the fact that our accommodation was only a 15-minute walk to town along the picturesque Kennet & Avon canal paths.

Eat a Bun at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum

It is impossible to visit Bath, England without trying the famous Sally Lunn bun. We were so happy to run into Sally Lunn’s Historic eating House after a freezing, and snowy, Bath guided walking tour. There is no better way to warm up than with a Bailey’s coffee and jam and scones.

Sally Lunn’s is known to be the Bath’s oldest houseThis date backs to the 1600s. 

You’ll notice its age immediately upon entering and crouching down due to the low ceilings, narrow creaking staircase, and small rooms.

The kitchen museum features the original kitchen that Sally Lunn, a young Huguenot baker, used in Georgian Bath to create the first Bath Bunn. a light, flaky treat that’s part bread, part cakeYou can top it with savory or sweet toppings.

Now the question is, will you choose sweet or salty? Craig and the girls decided for sweets with a cinnamon butter topping and chocolate butter for Savannah.

They had wonderful gluten-free options, which was great for me. Gluten-free sconesWith jam for me. They were probably the best I’ve ever had.

Do you want the Sally Lunn Bun or the gluten-free scones?

NOTE:After I left Bath, I was introduced to the Bath Bun, which can be found in different areas of Bath. It’s smaller than the Sally Lunn Bun and contains fruit and a sugar lump and is topped with currants and sugar crystals. You can try both, and I’d love to know which one you prefer.

Other places to eat in Bath (and drink)

Bath offers a wide variety of places to eat or drink to suit all tastes. When we visit England, we love to eat at pubs, as it’s such a homely experience with fascinating history, and good food and ales.

 Our focus wasn’t on food for this trip, more just grab and go to fill the belly in between attractions. I’m sure foodies will love the Bath food scene..

Here are some of the places we ate and loved.

Breakfast

Boston Tea Party: Not only will you find healthy, delicious British food here that uses quality ingredients, it’s also a business that cares about sustainability. Here we enjoyed a relaxed breakfast. You can choose to go traditional or go for something more casual. Big Boss English breakfastOr, the more Modern Sweetcorn HashWe enjoyed it together with our children Pancakes with bacon. A seating area outside is available at the edge of a busy Bath square, perfect for people watching.

Diana’s Cafe: Across the road from the train station, we found a great breakfast spot before catching our train to Oxford. All organic, great coffee, excellent English breakfast, and hot cocoas.

Lunch

Bill’s Restaurant: This is a great place for a intimate sit-down lunch with table service. Bill’s uses seasonal ingredients with an ever changing menu. There are many options for children and those with dietary restrictions. Craig enjoyed his burger, while I enjoyed my Butternut Squash lasagna and Spinach lasagna.

The Boater: Laurence, our friend from Bath, stopped by for lunch. Boater is situated next to Pulteney Bridge. You can expect river views and a large beer garden. We enjoyed the warm interior and the beautiful views of the snowy landscape. You’ll find typical pub fare such as fish and chips. I was satisfied with one of my favorite English meals – chips with mayo (that is fries for the Americans).

Dinner/ Drink

The Curfew Our accommodation recommended The Curfew to us as our favorite place to eat in Bath. Unfortunately, the chef had COVID and the kitchen was closed. We did stop for a drink, however. They had gluten-free beer, which was a huge surprise to me. It has a warm, sophisticated Georgian feel with wooden paneled bars, high windows, and nooks and corners to relax in.

Lettuce and Slug: Here you’ll find that modern floral color style with Bridgerton vibes. They have a kids’ menu with £4.99 kid’s meals that includes a drink and dessert. Be sure to eat before 8pm, as kids aren’t allowed after that time when it becomes the place for young’uns to party! There’s a great menu for adults too with a huge variety. I loved the butternut squash tagine. 

The Pulteney Arms: We were pleased that the girls stayed at the house, even though most pubs are not kid-friendly. It was packed with local rugby players – well we assume that, as it is known as a rugby pub. Bath Rugby Club is the oldest club in the UK. It was small and intimate, with a great community vibe.

Best Coffee in Bath: Colonna & Smalls

We’re always on the hunt for good coffee. When I read that Colonna & Small’s is known to have some of the best coffee in the country, I led us straight there. This coffee shop is a bespoke one that pays attention to the craft and will make you a delicious cup of coffee in any way you want. 

2-Day Bath Itinerary:

Below is the itinerary schedule we followed, except I switched around the House of Frankenstein and Bath Walking Tour for you, as I think that’s a better order to do it in. You may also want to try different dining experiences.

This can be changed to best suit your interests or time in Bath. 

Day 1

• Take the train from London (noon).
• Lunch at Bills Restaurant
• Bath Guided Walking Tour (included the Circus and Royal Crescent).
• Assembly Rooms
• The Steam House is open for you
• Walk through the city center and along the canals
• Drink at The Curfew (and possibly dinner)
• Alternatively, you can also eat dinner at The Slug and Lettuce
• Bridgerton on the TV and couch at the house

Day 2

• Boston Tea Party: Breakfast at Boston Tea
• Coffee at Colanna & Smalls
• Roman Baths
• Bath: Take a stroll through
• Coffee Pulteney Bridge
• Holburne Museum and Jane Austin House
• Lunch at the Boater
• House of Frankenstein
• Sally Lunn Bunn
• Back to the house (it had snowed so we wanted to stay warm)
• Drink at The Pulteney Arms (with takeout dinner)
• Netflix on the couch

How to get to Bath

Train is the best way to reach Bath. It’s about 80-minutes direct from London (Paddington Station). We booked our train tickets using TrainLine, a Great Western Railway Service.

We also took the train from Bath to Oxford, which was an option if we were coming from that direction. The journey took just over an hours, but it did include one stop-and-change.

Within the city is the Bath Spa train station. We walked about 15 minutes to reach our accommodation and other related sites from there. 

There are places across from the station where you can store your luggage if you arrive too early for check-in (which is very useful as you don’t want to drag your luggage around the cobblestone streets of Bath all day).

To get to Bath, a car is not necessary or recommended.

One of the things you’ll love about Bath is the noticeable absence of cars. Bath has created a Zero-tolerance policy to combat high levels of pollution. Clean Air Zone. You will be charged a fee of £9 if driving a higher emission vehicle in the zone. See more details here.

Bravo. It is almost like a pedestrian-only community because there are fewer cars and cleaner air.

Car rental in the UK can be expensive and fuel prices can be high. Also, smaller cars are easier to fit on small village roads. This can make it difficult for people traveling together with lots of luggage. For all our train tickets from London > Bath > Oxford > London we paid around $220 for the four of us. A car rental for 6 days cost $1,500.

There are three Park and Ride services in Bath that allow you to drive on a UK trip. You can avoid paying the tax by parking in the city’s centre.

If you’re looking for a bus, National Express is an option.

If you insist on renting a car, check rates here with RentalCars.com If renting a car from Central London, you will have to pay a Congestion surcharge of £15 per day you are in the zone (i.e. pick up and drop off = an extra £30).

I hope you find this post helpful. We have fond memories and look forward to returning. If you have any questions or tips about Bath, England, please leave a comment below.