Getting around in Bath – everything you ever wanted to know about public transport in the city

11 September 2020

Bath is a wonderfully compact city, with most of its main attractions packed into a vibrant and historic city centre. This makes it a fantastic place to explore on foot, either on your own or by joining one of the many walking tours in Bath. 

But if you do want other ways to get around in Bath, we’ve put together an essential guide just for you. 

How to get to Bath

First things first, here’s how to reach Bath by:

  • Road – Bath is just 10 miles from junction 18 of the M4 motorway from London, along with great motorway links from other parts of the country. As Bath’s roads can get congested at busy times, it’s best to use one the city’s Park and Ride services. Alternatively, book accommodation with Bath Holiday Rentals and you’ll get parking thrown in for free. 
  • Rail – The city is served by Bath Spa Railway Station, which is in a convenient city centre spot and has services running to and from London Paddington. 
  • Bus – Bath bus station on Dorchester Street (next to the railway station) has regular services to/from Bristol Airport and neighbouring towns and cities. 
  • Air – Bath’s closest airport is Bristol Airport, just 20 miles away and with a direct bus link (with a journey time of around 1 hour). Heathrow Airport is around 100 miles from Bath. 

Hop on, hop off tourist bus

If you’re visiting Bath for just a few days, one of the best ways to see all the sights (especially if it’s raining) is the open-top tourist bus. This is a hop on, hop off double-decker, with a 24hr ticket costing £17 per adult and £9.50 per child. You can use it as much as you like, hopping on and off at your choice of more than 38 stops throughout your visit. You’ll see all of the best sights, and learn more about Bath with the helpful multi-lingual audio commentary. 

On two wheels

Cycling in Bath is a fabulous way to see the city, whether you stick to the city centre or head out on dedicated, scenic cycle routes nearby. These include the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path, the Kennet and Avon Canal path, the Colliers Way or the Two Tunnels. There are lots of places to hire bikes, including Bath Bike Hire. 

By taxi

Need a ride home after a brilliant evening out in Bath? You’ll find a taxi rank at the railway station, as well as on Milsom Street, New Orchard Street and Orange Grove among other central spots. Popular taxi companies in Bath include Abbey Taxis, Bath Spa Taxi and Smart Taxis and Minibuses of Bath. 

Car hire

If you fancy exploring the countryside, towns and villages outside of Bath city centre, why not hire a car? There’s an Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Europcar and Hertz in Bath, so you can take your pick. 

And lastly, don’t forget that you can also see more of Bath by hitting the water! You can take a tour with Pulteney Cruisers or hire your own boat from Bath Narrowboats.