Plan your bath holiday

Stay at home and plan your dream Bath holiday for later in the year – here’s how

29 May 2020

The coronavirus pandemic may have postponed your visit to Bath, but it can’t stop you planning your dream break. In fact, now’s the perfect time to hit the internet and start putting together a wonderful weekend in Bath – even if you can’t actually live it until later in the year.

To help you start your planning, we’ve put together an essential guide to visiting Bath. It includes the best times to visit, where to stay, how to get to Bath and must-see attractions. So, for now, #stayathome and start dreaming. 

When’s the best time of year to visit Bath?

Bath is super popular in summer, when the days are sunny, warm and perfect for boat trips on the River Avon and picnics in Royal Victoria Park. But if you want to avoid the crowds and higher prices, consider visiting Bath in spring or autumn – or perhaps even winter, when you’ll get the city more to yourself. 

You can also time your visit to coincide with one of the many festivals and events in the Bath calendar. Some of the most popular include: 

  • Bath Bachfest – February
  • Bath Comedy Festival – March/April
  • The Bath Festival – May
  • Bath Carnival – July
  • Jane Austen Festival – September
  • Bath Children’s Literature Festival – September/October
  • Bath Mozartfest – November
  • Bath Christmas Markets – November/December. 

How to get to Bath

Bath is well connected by road and rail. If you’re travelling by train, you’ll arrive at Bath Spa Station, where there are regular high-speed services from London Paddington. Plus, the train station is just a short walk from all the attractions of the city centre. 

Coming to Bath by car? The city is just a short drive from the M5 and M4 motorways. And as an added bonus, if you stay at a Bath Holiday Rentals property, you’ll get free parking included with your accommodation. 

If you’re visiting Bath from overseas, Bristol Airport is under 20 miles away and regular buses connect the airport to Bath city centre. 

Best areas of Bath to stay in 

If you want to be in the heart of the action, stay in central Bath. The city centre is relatively compact, so you should be within an easy walk of most things you want to see. We’ve got absolutely loads of beautiful period properties for you to choose from in the city centre – check out our map to see them all.   

Among the most popular neighbourhoods with visitors to Bath are Bathwick, just on the other side of the famous Pulteney Bridge, and Walcot, a lively bohemian suburb near The Circus, Bath Assembly Rooms and Royal Victoria Park. 

10 things you must do during your Bath holiday  

There’s a huge amount to see and do in Bath, but here are the 10 attractions and landmarks you absolutely must find room for on your itinerary:

  1. The Roman Baths
  2. Bath Abbey
  3. The Royal Crescent
  4. Royal Victoria Park 
  5. Thermae Bath Spa
  6. Bath Fashion Museum
  7. Green Park Station Market
  8. Prior Park Landscape Gardens
  9. Pulteney Bridge
  10. Shopping in Bath’s Artisan Quarter – Walcot and London Road. 

Keep an eye on our blog for the lowdown on what’s happening in Bath, during the lockdown and beyond.