The Perfect Weekend Break in Bath Itinerary
If you’re looking for a walkable city that is steeped in history, filled with beautiful Georgian architecture, lousy with things to see and do, and home to some of the yummiest restaurants, you’re going to want to start planning your weekend break in Bath, England!
Bath often gets overlooked by visitors for nearby London. I myself visited London over five times before finally venturing anywhere else in England.
And while I still love London, I have to say that my 3 days in Bath were one of my best experiences in the UK – maybe even better than London!
For visitors who do remember to visit Bath, they often try to squeeze their whole visit into just an afternoon or quick day trip. But I don’t recommend doing that because there is so much to see, do and eat in Bath.
During my January 2023 trip to Bath, I spent a few nights solo in the city and never ran out of things to do. In fact, I could’ve spent a few more days to finish everything on my Bath to-do list!
Once I finally added Bath to my England itinerary, I completely fell in love with this charming and cozy city. And now I can’t wait to help you plan your perfect weekend break in Bath!
Keep reading for my full 3 day Bath itinerary. I’m also answering some Bath FAQs such as where to stay (one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at!) and what else to do if you have more time in Bath.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
And thank you to Visit Bath and Hotel Indigo Bath for supporting my visit to Bath. While some of my experiences and accommodation were complimentary, all opinions below are my own.
Bath weekend break map
Bath city break: Day 1
11:00 am: Arrive in Bath
Start your weekend break in Bath by arranging transportation so that you arrive in the late morning, around 11:00 am (so leaving from London 1.5-3 hours before that, depending on whether you take the bus, train or drive).
Head to your hotel and check-in early or drop off your bags if your room isn’t ready yet. Bags down, you’re now onto your first stop: Lunch!
12:00 pm: Lunch at Sally Lunn’s
Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House is an institution in Bath. Built in 1482, it’s one of the oldest buildings in the city and was where French refugee and baker Sally Lunn invented the original Bath bun in the 1680’s.
This bun, known as the Sally Lunn bun, was so delicious that it’s now famous worldwide with copycat versions found around the world. In fact, it’s believed Jane Austen even enjoyed these buns based on one of her letters.
Of course, the original recipe is a secret and is attached to the deed of the house. Meaning if you want an authentic Sally Lunn bun, you have to have it at Sally Lunn’s house in Bath.
But what the heck is a Sally Lunn bun? Well, they’re kind of hard to describe.
For starters, they’re giant. I ordered the Sally Lunn 2 course High Tea which comes with half a savoury bun (served with smoked salmon), half a sweet bun (served with clotted cream and jam) and a pot of tea, and I couldn’t finish it all.
While I like that the bun can be eaten with both sweet and savoury toppings, I enjoyed the sweet version better and would opt for just that one next time.
There’s much more elaborate bun dishes (you can get buns served as French toast, bread pudding or with sandwich toppings and stews on top) and even non-bun options on offer (but don’t bother with those).
Bonus: The Sally Lunn Blend Tea was also delicious!
Because these buns are so well known, expect a bit of a line up around lunch time. Luckily there’s seating across three floors, so you should get a table pretty quickly.
If you’re really short on time, you can buy a bun to go from the basement museum and gift shop, where you can also see the original oven.
2:00 pm: Free walking tour of Bath
After you’ve had your fill of Sally Lunn’s buns, it’s time to head over to the Roman Baths and join a free walking tour.
These tours happen almost daily at 10:30am and 2:00pm (plus 6:00pm on select days in the summer) – click here to confirm times for your dates. They take about two hours, don’t require advanced reservation and, as stated, are completely free.
In fact, unlike most free walking tours in Europe, these guides don’t even accept tips!
I love going on a walking tour in a new city. It’s such a great way to learn about the history of a place, get a feel for how the city is laid out, and figure out what sights or restaurants you want to visit.
And because Bath is such a small city, two hours of walking covers almost all of the main sights.
You’ll start in front of The Pump Room where your guide will share some of the city’s history with you pointing out the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey (all visible from your starting point).
From there you’ll visit one of three natural hot springs in Bath, and then it’s onto the heavy hitters: Queen’s Square, The Royal Crescent and The Circus.
Walking along the same path as Jane Austen’s characters in Persuasion, you’ll make your way to The Royal Crescent where Bath’s glitterati used to pretend they had escaped to the country.
With the green fields in front of them, they enjoyed countryside views but were still only a quick stroll from the centre of town.
Then it’s onto The Circus, a circle of townhomes the same size as Stonehenge, and where Nicolas Cage (among many other famous English people) once lived!
Lastly, you’ll walk along Pulteney Bridge and see the horseshoe dam that holds back the rushing water, as well as the bridge Russel Crowe jumped off of in Les Miserables (spoilers!).
From there it’s a bit more town history before you wrap up your tour back in front of The Pump Room.
4:00 pm: Quick visit to Bath Abbey
Your tour ends right next to Bath Abbey, so why not pop in? You will have already learned that the Abbey has been a holy site in Bath since 675 AD and was where the King of England, King Edgar, had his coronation in 973 AD.
When I visited Bath Abbey in 2023 it was free to enter, but now you’ll need to purchase a ticket at the Welcome Desk or online in advance. Click here for current ticket prices.
Like many churches in Europe, it’s definitely worth a walk through Bath Abbey to admire the beautiful stained glass windows, fan vaulted ceiling, chapels, memorials and more.
When I visited, there was a display of colourful tapestries telling the creation story, which were very impressive.
If you’d like to learn more, you can take a guided Tower Tour where you’ll climb the 212 steps up the Bath Abbey Tower and learn more about the church’s history. Check current tour prices and book here.
Note that if you do decide to take a tour, you may need to change up my weekend in Bath itinerary to accommodate the extra time spent at the Abbey.
4:30 pm: Tour the Roman Baths
After you’ve been wowed at Bath Abbey, head next door for your tour of the Roman Baths, my favourite site in Bath.
Note that the Roman Baths are open until 6:00 pm and last entry is at 5:00 pm, so don’t spend too long at the Abbey if you want to fit this in too!
Arriving at 4:30 pm gives you the perfect amount of time to visit, plus fewer crowds to deal with than if you had arrived midday.
As you’ll have noticed on your free walking tour, you can see part of the Roman Baths from outside for free. Many people told me before visiting Bath that there’s no point paying to go in since you can see it for free.
To this I say – clearly you haven’t been to the Roman Baths! There is so much more to this place than just the one bath you can see from outside.
With your audioguide (available in 12 languages and with special kid-friendly narrators), you’ll journey around the complex learning about the history of Bath in Roman times. You’ll discover what the city used to look like, walk over ancient ruins, learn about the goddess Sulis Minerva, and meet other important characters from Bath’s history.
Book your ticket to the Roman Baths in advance so you don’t miss out! Click here to book your entry ticket with an audioguide.
But my favourite part was walking around the different baths (and not just the one bath you can see from outside!). In each bathing room, your audioguide or an accompanying video explains how the room was used and what it used to look like.
I saw the pillars that were used to provide steam to the hot room, the deep tub in the cold pool, and the sacred spring where no one was allowed to swim. There were even employees dressed in character outfits to help set the scene.
And because I visited near closing hour, I was often the only person in these bathing rooms!
The last stop on your self-guided tour is a chance to drink the water from the hot springs. Having been warned that it was disgusting, I braced myself for the worst.
But honestly? It wasn’t that bad. A bit mineral-heavy for my taste, but totally drinkable.
PS: Big fan of Roman Baths? You can visit the Baths of Constantine in Arles, France!
6:30 pm: Dinner at Noya’s Kitchen
With a full afternoon of sightseeing under your belt, it’s time to head to my favourite restaurant in Bath, Noya’s Kitchen.
This incredible Vietnamese restaurant is popular, so make sure you book in advance. They have a rotating menu and often host cooking classes, so double check that they’re open when you’re in town.
When I visited, I ordered their chicken curry and it was so good! Honestly, I considered missing my train from Bath to London the next day in order to have it again for lunch!
It was incredibly flavourful and the portion was so generous, especially for only £15. I wish I had had enough room to order appetizers, as they looked great too.
I highly recommend booking at Noya’s Kitchen for at least one meal in Bath, if not more!
Sleep at Hotel Indigo
End your first full day in Bath at Hotel Indigo, a perfectly located hotel that seamlessly combines historic Georgian architecture with modern style and service.
Bath city break: Day 2
9:00 am: Breakfast at Same Same But Different
On your second day in Bath, head out to Same Same But Different for a casual start to the day. This local cafe serves simple breakfast options in a cozy environment.
Or, if you’ve opted for hotel breakfast, enjoy that instead!
10:00 am: Visit The Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
After breakfast, it’s time to embrace Bath’s literary history. You can do so by visiting both The Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, as they’re right next door to one another!
With the three hours I’ve allotted for these visits, that should be plenty of time to explore both (unless you get lost in Mary Shelley’s dungeon or the Jane Austen gift shop).
Start with The Jane Austen Centre, as it opens at 10:00 am (Mary Shelley’s doesn’t open until 11:00 am). Tours leave every half hour, but there’s a video, activities and a gift shop to keep you busy if you arrive early.
Tours are led by a character from one of Austen’s novels, dressed up in perfect Regency attire, of course.
The tour starts with a history of the Austen family and their connection to Bath. You’ll learn that Jane was one of eight children and visited Bath often before moving to Bath with her family when her father retired.
After her father’s death, Jane, her mother and her sister lived in a few different houses in Bath before eventually moving out to the countryside. You probably passed a few of the Austen family’s old addresses on yesterday’s walking tour!
After the Austen family history, you’ll head downstairs to see portraits of Jane and then be left to guide yourself through the rest of the museum. It’s not a very large museum, but you can tell a lot of care went into making it as much fun for Janeites as possible.
You can watch a film about important places from Jane’s life and novels in Bath, look at Regency era artifacts, take photos in Regency costumes, try your hand at a quill and ink, and see some memorabilia from the movies.
In fact, Emma Thompson visited in 2021 and donated a bunch of photos and items from her 1995 movie, Sense and Sensibility.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to The Jane Austen Centre here!
For a completely different literary vibe, head a few doors over to Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein. This museum is set over a number of floors and is self-guided, with lots of information to read along the way.
And it is spooky!
Visiting by myself on a Wednesday morning in January, I was practically the only person in the museum. While I usually love having tourist sites to myself, I desperately wanted a companion.
Let’s just say they do a very good job of creating an authentic scary atmosphere that had me afraid to walk into some of the rooms. I looked so terrified that one of the employees I ran into on the stairs had to assure me it was just sound effects (but some of the props moved too!).
Despite my fears, I really enjoyed Mary Shelley’s. There was a ton to learn and they really did a great job creating an experience for visitors. It was fascinating to learn about Mary’s early life and how she got interested in galvanism (using electricity to stimulate life).
I also had no idea that Mary’s marriage was so scandalous, as she got together with her husband when he was married to another woman and expecting a child with her.
In fact, Mary’s relationship continued to be scandalous as her husband was also interested in Mary’s sister, with the three of them living together for years, while said sister also had a baby with Lord Byron!
The museum goes on to explain how Mary’s book, Frankenstein, wasn’t received very well at first and that her original version was very different from the story we know today.
It was interesting to see how the book was developed and changed for different stage and screen adaptations, and how Frankenstein became such a well known character in pop culture.
The final part of Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is the basement but unfortunately I can’t tell you anything about it because I was too terrified to visit!
The employees told me the dungeon (aka the basement) was the actual scary part of the house and seeing as just the regular floors freaked me out, I figured I should skip it. But hopefully you’re braver than me!
There’s also an escape room and mystery game (additional cost for both) you can enjoy at Mary Shelley’s.
Get your tickets to Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein here!
1:00 pm: Afternoon tea at the Regency Tea Rooms or The Pump Room Restaurant
All of that literary learning must have worked up your appetite! So for lunch on day 2 in Bath, let’s enjoy an afternoon tea.
Two of the most highly recommended afternoon teas in the city are at The Pump Room Restaurant (next to the Roman Baths) or the Jane Austen Regency Tea Rooms, which is conveniently located on the second floor of The Jane Austen Centre.
In fact, if you held onto your ticket to The Jane Austen Centre, it gets you a discount at the Regency Tea Rooms!
Speaking of afternoon tea, check out my review of Pendray Tea House in Victoria, BC!
3:00 pm: Relax at Thermae Bath Spa
After a lovely afternoon tea of scones, sandwiches and drinks, continue relaxing with a visit to Bath’s premier spa, Thermae Bath Spa. This is the main spa in Bath and the best way to enjoy the natural hot springs.
Unfortunately when I visited in January 2023, the spa was closed for renovations. But I’ve heard wonderful things about it and definitely intend to book in on my next visit to Bath.
You can enjoy one of the steam rooms, feel invigorated in the ice chamber, relax in the celestial room, or add on additional services, like massages and facials.
6:30 pm: Dinner at Jars Meze
Float, serene-like, from the spa to Jars Meze, a family-run Greek restaurant in one of Bath’s narrow alleys. This is one of my favourite parts of the city and reminds me of the small alleys full of restaurants you’d find in Melbourne.
Jars Meze features home-style Greek classics served in small plates, so you can try a few things. While I enjoyed my meal there, I think it would be more fun to go with a large group so you can sample more items.
I did also find the meal a bit on the pricy side, especially compared to other meals I had in Bath. But overall, I still think it’s worth a visit!
Sleep at Hotel Indigo
After another big day in Bath, enjoy one more relaxing bath in your Hotel Indigo suite before falling asleep on their comfy beds!
Bath city break: Day 3
9:00 am: Breakfast at your hotel & check out
Sadly, it’s the final of your 3 days in Bath. But before you catch your bus or train back to London (or wherever you’re heading to), make time for one last exploration.
First, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel (Hotel Indigo offers both a hot breakfast a la carte menu and a well stocked continental buffet) and check out of your room.
Ask the front desk staff to hold your bags while you go explore, as you can easily pick them up on your walk to the train or bus station.
10:00 am: Final exploring in Bath
With one final morning to explore Bath, the choice is yours! There’s still lots to discover in Bath such as:
Option 1: The Holburne Museum
Discover Sir William Holburne’s impressive art collection, as well as visiting exhibits, in this beautiful home that serves as Lady Danbury’s house in the TV series Bridgerton.
(PS: Lots of Bridgerton is filmed in Bath. You can even go on a Bridgerton walking tour if you’re a big fan!)
I enjoyed an hour or so strolling around the floors and seeing all of the paintings and artifacts on display. Sadly, I visited one day before the Alberta Whittle exhibit, which looked very cool from what I could see being set up!
Option 2: No. 1 Royal Crescent
See what life was like in 18th Century Georgian Bath at this townhouse museum. I love walking through historic homes like this and seeing how people used to live.
Sadly, this museum was closed during my visit but it’s definitely on my must-visit list for my next Bath trip.
Option 3: Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath
If you’re short on time or feel inspired after yesterday’s literary adventures, pop into this charming bookstore and pick up a new read.
I found the staff to be very knowledgeable and the collection is vast, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a good book for the train ride home.
Option 4: Prior Park Landscape Garden
If the weather is nice, why not spend your final morning in Bath strolling through Prior Park? This park is outside of the city centre but has beautiful gardens and bridges that make it worth the journey.
If you’re visiting off-season, check opening times as, unfortunately, the park was closed during my visit to Bath.
For even more ideas on how to spend your final day in Bath, check out my suggestions for more things to do in Bath below!
1:00pm: Pick up lunch for your train or bus ride back to London
With your weekend in Bath drawing to a close, it’s time to collect your bags from your hotel, pick up lunch, and board your train or bus out of Bath and onto your next stop in the UK.
If you stayed at Hotel Indigo Bath, both the train and bus station are just a five minute walk away. Along the way you’ll pass lots of options for easy to-go lunches such as YO!, Marks & Spencer or Pret a Manger.
With a wave, that concludes your perfect 3 days in Bath!
Where should you stay in Bath?
Most of Bath’s must-see sights are located in the historic city centre, so you’ll want to stay in a central location during your weekend in Bath. Luckily, there are lots of hotels, hostels and apartments to suite any style and budget.
While in Bath in January, I had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Indigo Bath and I highly recommend it.
Located just a few minutes’ walk from both the train and bus stations, as well as major sights like Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House, this 18th Century Georgian building is the perfect place to stay in Bath.
Not only is the location unbeatable, but the style, service and stay were pretty perfect too. Every space, from the hotel rooms to the hallways, was thoughtfully designed and featured a really funky old-meets-new vibe that I loved.
Even the lobby bathrooms had a separate seating area, cool floor tiles and a wacky insect art piece!
The staff members I interacted with were extremely kind and went out of their way to ensure I had a great stay.
Once in my room, I was delighted with the huge shower and tub (I got to take a bath in Bath!), comfy bed and USB charging ports (so helpful!). And the breakfast, featuring both hot dishes on an a la carte menu and a fully loaded continental buffet, is not to be missed.
Book your stay at Hotel Indigo Bath here!
Is it better to stay in Bath or Bristol?
If you only have a couple of days to visit Bath, I would recommend staying directly in the city to get the full experience.
While it’s only 15 minutes on the train (or 30 minutes by car) from Bath to Bristol, part of the appeal of a Bath weekend trip is walking around the city at night or in the morning when the day trippers are gone.
How to get to Bath from London
Most people visit Bath from London, since it’s an easy day trip or weekend break. You can travel from London to Bath by bus, train, car or day tour.
- Bus from London to Bath: 2.5 – 3.5 hours (most affordable)
- Train from London to Bath: 90 mins (fastest)
- Drive from London to Bath: 2.5 – 3 hours
Or take a London to Bath day tour! This is a convenient and stress-free way to visit Bath. You’ll only get a few hours in the city, but you can also combine Bath with some other sites nearby.
- Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London
- Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London
- Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip from London
For a full breakdown of the different travel options, and which one is best for you, check out my post on how to get to Bath from London.
Only have time for a Bath day trip?
While I definitely think Bath deserves at least two nights – with enough to do in the city to fill 3-4 – I understand that time is limited and you might only be able to squeeze in a Bath day trip.
In my opinion, the must dos on a Bath day trip are:
- Free walking tour to see the city’s scenery and learn its history
- Tour of the Roman Baths
- Visiting the Jane Austen Centre or Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
- Eating at Sally Lunn’s and/or Noya’s Kitchen
Check out my full Bath day trip itinerary so you can make the most of your time in Bath!
More things to do in Bath, England
Want to spend more than just a weekend break in Bath or need ideas for more things to fill your itinerary? Great! There’s so much to see and do in the city that you could definitely spend 3+ nights there.
Here are a few more Bath itinerary suggestions for your stay:
Go shopping! Bath has so many cute boutiques and stores that any shopper would love to spend time in. A few stationary and homeware stores definitely caught my eye. Stroll up and down Stall Street and Union Street to get your fill.
See a show. Check out what’s playing at the Theatre Royal Bath during your visit. I had my eyes on The Nutcracker and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but sadly didn’t make it out to either.
Explore more of Bath’s culinary scene. I got to try some great restaurants during my three days in Bath but, of course, couldn’t eat at them all.
Some that are on my list to try next time include: The Raven, Thai Balcony, Bath Green Park Station, The Cornish Bakehouse, Saracens Head Pub, Beckford Canteen, The Scallop Shell, Landrace Bakery, Swoon Gelato, Dough, and Chez Dominique.
Treat yourself to a full spa day. Why limit your time at Thermae Bath Spa to just a few hours? Make a day of it with a spa package or series of treatments and enjoy the pampering you deserve!
Visit more museums and galleries. While I included a few museums and galleries in my Bath weekend break itinerary above, there are lots more for you to discover.
Consider checking out the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Victoria Art Gallery, Museum of Bath Architecture, Museum of Bath at Work, Bath Assembly Rooms, or Fashion Museum Bath (closed until 2030). As always, check opening times before you visit!
Visit a nearby city: Head out on the train to a nearby city like Bristol (15 minutes), Salisbury (55 minutes) or Oxford (90 minutes). All of these make excellent DIY day trips from Bath thanks to easy train connections!
Go on day trips from Bath: Some day trips from Bath are easier to do by tour operator, as the public transport options get too long and complicated. Popular options include day trips to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, or both!
Wrapping up: Is Bath, England worth visiting?
Absolutely! If you can’t tell already, I loved my visit to Bath. It felt like walking back in time and had the perfect English charm I was searching for.
It was incredible to explore this historic city and get a completely different experience to nearby London. Plus with so much to see and do no matter your interest, Bath won’t disappoint!
I hope I’ve convinced you to put Bath on your UK itinerary and given you lots of ideas to fill your days in this beautiful little city.
I know I’m definitely planning a return trip to Bath. I can’t wait to visit all of the places that were sadly closed while I was there, eat at all of the restaurants I missed, go on a day trip or two, and introduce my husband to one of England’s most charming cities!
OMG! It was riveting to read about your Bath experience and all the options you offer for a day trip or more. I was hanging onto every word as I sped through each paragraph…looking forward to what was next, but loving everything I read. It’s incredible I also didn’t think beyond London, UK. Not that I didn’t know all the other cities exhisted, but had not heard much about them and no one better than you to recommend a visit to a travel destination. I love how easy you make it with the different modes of transposrtation options including the time and costs, and even within the city, what is the best way to get around.
I love that Bath is a very walkable city, and I wholeheartedly agree, there’s nothing like walking a city to really get to know all the nooks and crannies and not miss out on the feel/atmosphere of a city.
Your hotel sounds so wonderful, and the decor, spectacular! A great mix of old and modern.
I can’t wait to plan a trip to Bath and perhaps take in another city in the UK since London has been my one and only stop so far, 3x.
As usual, you make it so easy to read and follow and I am super excited about Bath and know you will be heading back there with Colin as soon as you can. ❣
Aw thanks, Moo! Yes, we’ll have to go back to Bath and discover more of the UK. You’d love it!
Oh, Riana, now I want to go to Bath! This is a perfect travelogue for a visit and I enjoyed reading the itineraries and about the must sees. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us.
Thanks, Kellye! I hope you enjoy Bath one day!
It’s been a few years since I last visited Bath, but I would love to visit again.
I hope you get to!
I loved reading your article thank you! You’ve help me greatly in my decision to spend 5 days in lovely Bath, and include a day trip around the Cottswalds villages (Mad MaxTours) and another day to catch a train to Salisbury and hop on the bus to Stonehenge. However, you’ve got me worried about visiting the Frankenstein House!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Donna. I hope you have an amazing time in Bath, Salisbury and the Cotswolds. I’m sure you’ll be braver than me visiting the Frankenstein House!