Bath

Day 1: Roman springs and Georgian showpieces

Begin at the city’s ancient heart before following the ceremonial routes that made Bath the Georgian stage for “seeing and being seen.” Keep your camera for late-afternoon light when the Bath stone turns a deep honey-gold.

• Morning: Beat the crowds at the Roman Baths (pre-book timed entry), then step into Bath Abbey to admire its Perpendicular Gothic space and fan vaulting. Pop into the Pump Room for coffee and to “take the waters”; it’s a seamless leap from Roman ritual to Georgian ritual.
• Midday: Stroll to Pulteney Bridge; view it from the river steps or Parade Gardens for the classic façade-and-weir scene (on Bath Rugby match days the area around the Rec is busy). Cross via Great Pulteney Street towards the Holburne Museum for lunch in the garden café or a quick browse if you like decorative arts.
• Afternoon: Walk the classic Georgian sequence: Queen Square → Gay Street → the Circus (look up at the Doric–Ionic–Corinthian orders) → the Gravel Walk → the Royal Crescent. Visit No. 1 Royal Crescent to understand interiors and social life; then slip behind the Crescent to see the famously “messy backs.”
• Evening: Dine in the old centre and end with a riverside or Abbey-courtyard stroll to enjoy floodlit stone. In summer, look for special torchlit evening entries at the Roman Baths; in winter, warm up in a tiny historic pub like the Star Inn.

Day 2: Society, promenades and spa indulgence

Today explores Bath as an 18th-century social machine—grand rooms, graceful streets, and the ritual of promenading—before a luxurious return to the waters at twilight. Pack swimwear and book key experiences in advance.

• Morning: Check the Assembly Rooms’ schedule (they’re sometimes closed for events) and stand in the vast Ball Room to imagine Beau Nash’s regimented elegance. Browse Milsom Street and the lanes off it for independent shops—this quarter is being gently re-shaped to be more walkable and café-friendly.
• Midday: Take the long, theatrical promenade down Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum; linger in Sydney Gardens behind it—once a Georgian pleasure ground. Lunch here or along Pulteney Street; if the sun’s out, this axis is all about broad vistas and graceful symmetry.
• Afternoon: Amble east along the Kennet & Avon Canal (flat, peaceful, and lined with colourful narrowboats). Option A: swim at Cleveland Pools (check session times; colder months are for hardy souls). Option B (cool/wet weather): return for galleries or the Herschel Museum of Astronomy as an intimate indoor alternative.
• Evening: Book a Twilight session at Thermae Bath Spa; the rooftop pool at sunset with steam lifting into the night is peak modern-Bath romance. Follow with a relaxed late dinner—fine dining needs reservations, while smaller bistros and mews pubs are ideal if you prefer spontaneity.

Day 3: Hilltop crescents, landscapes and big views

Escape the centre for the terraces that climb the hills and the picturesque landscapes that frame the city. This is the day for long views, leaf-colour in autumn, and a sunset finale.

• Morning: Head up to Lansdown (bus or a steep walk) for Lansdown Crescent and the sweeping panoramas that put the city’s plan in context. Take your time—quiet residential streets reveal exquisite fanlights, ironwork and ashlar details.
• Midday: Bus or taxi to Prior Park Landscape Garden for valley views and a rare Palladian bridge—perfect picnic territory in spring/summer (National Trust; steep paths and steps). If mobility is a concern, stick to the gentler upper walks and bring sturdy footwear.
• Afternoon: Drop to the canal at Bathwick and stroll back towards town; pause at a canalside pub such as the George at Bathampton or wander through Sydney Gardens. If you skipped Cleveland Pools yesterday and it’s warm, a daytime dip here is wonderfully old-school.
• Evening: Climb to Alexandra Park for the best sunset panorama of Bath’s roofs, towers and crescents (bring a light jacket; it’s breezier up here). Celebrate your final night with a cosy Widcombe or Walcot pub, or opt for quiet romance at Bath Abbey’s choral evensong if timings align.

By Air

• Bristol Airport (BRS): ~32 km/20 miles. A4 Air Decker bus runs direct Bath–BRS (about 60–75 mins). By car/taxi 45–60 mins (traffic dependent).
• London Heathrow (LHR): ~160 km/100 miles. Fastest public transport via RailAir coach to Reading then GWR train to Bath Spa (about 1 hr 45–2 hr 15). Alternative via Heathrow Express/Elizabeth line to Paddington then GWR (about 1 hr 50–2 hr 20). By car 2–2.5 hrs.
• London Gatwick (LGW): GWR/Thameslink to Reading then GWR to Bath (about 2.5–3 hrs). By car ~2.5–3 hrs.
• Cardiff Airport (CWL): By car 1.5–2 hrs. Public transport via Rhoose/Cardiff and Bristol connections typically 2.5–3 hrs+.

By Train

• Main station: Bath Spa (central; next to the bus/coach station).
• Operator: Great Western Railway (GWR).
• London Paddington: frequent direct services; fastest about 1 hr 15 mins (typical 1 hr 15–1 hr 30).
• Bristol Temple Meads: 10–15 mins; very frequent.
• Cardiff Central: from about 1 hr 15 via Bristol.
• Reading/Swindon/Oxford: typically 45–90 mins (Reading/Swindon) and ~1 hr 30–2 hrs (Oxford) with a change.
• Salisbury/Southampton: about 1.5–2 hrs (usually via Westbury).
• Exeter: around 2–2.5 hrs with a change.

By Coach/Bus

• Bath Bus Station (Dorchester Street) is adjacent to Bath Spa rail station.
• National Express and Megabus link Bath with London (about 2 hr 45–3 hr 30), Heathrow (about 2.5–3 hrs), Bristol, Cardiff and other cities.
• Airport link: A4 Air Decker Bath–Bristol Airport (about 60–75 mins), early–late daily.

By Car

• From the M4: exit J18, then A46 to Bath (about 20–25 mins from J18).
• From Bristol: A4 east (about 30–50 mins).
• From the south: A36 via Warminster.
• Central parking is limited and expensive; use Park & Ride (Lansdown, Newbridge, Odd Down) for easy access to the centre.
• Clean Air Zone operates in central Bath (charges apply to certain vehicle types; check before travel).