Your Guide to an Easy Day Trip to Bath from London

Take a break from the hectic pace of London and set out for a relaxing day trip to Bath immersed in science, culture, literature, nature, and spas. In just about two hours, you can ride the train from Central London to the romantic city of Bath! 

In this article, I’ll help you plan a day trip to Bath from London with suggestions on things to do, how to get there, and tips to make your day trip easy. Looking for more day trip ideas? See suggestions for a day trip to Stonehenge and Oxford from London too.

Why Take a Day Trip to Bath?

Bath has earned a profound honor—the only city in the United Kingdom to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. The whole city exudes history—from its founding by the Romans in the first century AD when Bath was revered for natural hot springs to becoming a wool industry hotspot in the Middle Ages to evolving into a posh spa destination popular with Georgian high society. 

It’s immediately obvious why modern-day Bath, England, is a popular location used by movie and television directors as an authentic backdrop for their productions set in Britain’s past. Have fun visiting the filming locations of scenes filmed for Bridgerton, Les Miserables, The Duchess, Sherlock, The Pursuit of Love, Poldark, Vanity Fair, Belgravia, and more. 

Things to do in Bath, England on a Day Trip

Below are my suggestions for planning a perfect day trip to Bath. In one well-planned day, you can see and do so much in this quaint yet vibrant city. Select from the various choices below to fill your time while making priceless memories. 

Kick Off the Day with a Sally Lunn Bun

The best way to kickstart your time-traveling adventure is to order breakfast at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House, located in one of the oldest houses in Bath. Sink your teeth into the iconic savory or sweet Sally Lunn bun. Sally Lunn, a French Huguenot, described the bun as a “large and generous but very very light bun; a little like brioche/French festival bread.” To see where Sally Lunn whipped up this secret scrumptious recipe in the late 1700s, descend the narrow stairway to the basement kitchen museum. 

Tour the Roman Bath

Next, head to the marquis attraction in Bath, the well-preserved Roman Baths. Learn how ancient Bath residents escaped the stresses of daily life in the Great Bath full of hot spa water and in steamy saunas. This massive complex features the picturesque Baths and an expansive underground museum which includes interactive exhibits, computer-generated reconstructions, and an audio guide. As you wander through the Baths, you will encounter actors dressed in historical costumes who help to set the scene.

Tip: Book ahead since the time slots sell out. 

Some highlights include archaeological finds from pre-Roman and Roman Britain, the bronze head of the goddess Sulis Minerva, the Beau Street Hoard collection of more than 17,000 Roman coins, and the Haruspex stone, which allegedly harnessed its power to interpret omens. A one-of-a-kind experience awaits—you can sip the legendary spa water from a fountain boasting forty-three minerals, which has been rumored for thousands of years to cure ailments. 

You can also take a guided walking tour of Bath that includes entrance to the Roman Baths.

Tea Time at the Pump Room

Craving a glamorous English tea and lunch straight out of 1800s high society? Step into The Georgian Pump Room of the Roman Baths. With former esteemed patrons such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, this grand dining room with its glistening chandelier, Corinthian columns, and live music, welcomes you to relax and indulge in breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. Sit back and sip your tea, nibble perfectly-prepared finger sandwiches and homemade buttermilk scones, and savor the tasty, sweets selection.

You will quickly see why Jane Austen wrote about the Pump Room in her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, declaring that it was the place where “every creature in Bath was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionable hours.”

Museum Hop

Bath offers so many worthwhile, entertaining, and educational museums. When it’s time to select the museums for the day, start by assessing your crew’s interests. We picked the No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, and the Jane Austen Museum.

We sought a day that combined all the highlights of Bath’s museum scene—history, culture, literature, and science. But mix and match in any way that pleases your family. 

No. 1 Royal Crescent 

As soon as you step into this museum set in a restored elegant Georgian townhouse, you’ll feel as if you are on the set of Bridgerton. No.1 Royal Crescent invites you to experience the fashionable life of Bath’s old-time residents and their staff as you tour rooms steeped with historic furniture, photos, and art. The museum’s interactive exhibits entertain by blending film with sound to recreate daily life in 18th-century high society. 

After you explore the museum, pause to marvel at the splendor of the Royal Crescent, an ideal example of Georgian architecture in Bath. Designed by famed local architect John Wood the Younger, the sweeping crescent of Georgian houses built from honey-hued Bath stone and lined with classical Ionic columns fronted by a vast sprawling lawn is incredibly photogenic, so make sure your camera is ready.  

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy 

This off-the-beaten-path museum is located inside an 18th-century townhouse nestled in a residential neighborhood. The exuberant museum docent narrated the story of the famed Bath and Royal Astronomer, Wiliam Herschel, known as “the greatest telescope maker of his day.”

In the museum’s backyard, you can stand on the exact spot where Hershel discovered the planet Uranus using a telescope. This museum is jam-packed with originals and replicas of telescopes, globes, planetaria, musical instruments, and so much other memorabilia from this age of discovery. It is a pretty out-of-this-world experience for young kids (and kids at heart) to visit! If you have young ones, inquire about the museum’s astronomy sessions and activities for children. 

The Jane Austen Centre 

For fans of British author Jane Austen, visiting the Jane Austen Centre is a highlight. The costumed tour guides breathe life into the famous Bath author’s past and make it so much fun to really learn about Austen, her family, and her literary career. This lovely centre invites you to don some period clothes, practice writing with a quill ink pen, and take selfies with a Jane Austen wax figure.

Enjoy a meal or afternoon tea on the top floors of the centre in The Regency Tea Room, decorated in deep jewel tones. We were wowed by the tower of splendid sweets, warm scones with clotted cream and seasonal jam, and delicate finger sandwiches that we snacked on during our delightful “Tea with Mr. Darcy.” Visiting the centre helps bring into focus the inspiration for the characters in Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility.  

Some Other Museums to Consider

• Bring on the chills at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, with the bonus of a basement escape room and a terrifying walk-through experience. 
• Discover rooms filled with fine and decorative arts at the Holburne Museum.
• Geek out on classic and contemporary art at the Victoria Art Gallery.  
• Explore the Museum of East Asian Art focused on East and South East Asian art and culture.

Wander, Shop, and Eat

As you stroll through the storybook town of Bath, there are some highlights to work into your itinerary. You will likely pass by most of them since the town is so petite. Here are three:

• Relish the view from Pulteney Bridge, with cute shops spanning both sides. 
• Admire the architectural beauty of the residential area known as The Circus.
• Ascend 212 steps to the top of Bath Abbey’s Tower to take in spectacular views of the city and beyond.

And, of course, shop! Bath is chock full of independent boutiques, restaurants at all price points, and well-known retail outlets. If your gang needs a serious shopping break, check out the sprawling complex at SouthGate Bath, with over fifty shops, restaurants, and cafés. 

In addition to the afternoon teas offered at the Pump Room and the Jane Austen Centre, Bath is home to a wide variety of tempting restaurants and cafés, serving everything from Michelin-starred gourmet dishes to simple, satisfying street food.

If you have Bridgerton fans in your group, you may want to continue a Bridgerton tour.

Get Active or Take a Dip

Bath has an adorable mini golf course, an 18-hole golf course, hot air ballooning, rowing, and cycling options. Consider taking a boat ride on the River Kennet and Avon Canal. Your family can also rent a canoe or try stand-up paddle boarding. 

If you have time, take a dip in the natural hot springs at the upscale Thermae Bath Spa. Relax and feel rejuvenated. Thermae offers all types of treatments, steam rooms, and a spectacular rooftop pool.

Tips for Visiting Bath

• Festivals: Check out the local festival calendar for events celebrating literature, music, and food. And if your visit is during the winter, meander through the Bath Christmas Market with its unique gifts and stalls packed with food and beverages.  

• Nightlife: Since we took a day trip to Bath, we returned to London before dinner. If you stay for the evening, stop by one of the city’s pubs and bars that offer live music, such as The Bell Inn and The Grapes. For cocktails, we heard that The Dark Horse and The Bath Distillery Gin Bar are worth checking out.

• Avoid the Crowds: Visits to Bath on weekdays will be less crowded than on weekends. 

• How to Get Around: While Bath is compact and easy to walk around, we enjoyed taking advantage of the Hop On Hop Off Bus. The Toot Bus provides an audio recording and headphones to guide you through Bath and its many landmarks, neighborhoods, and attractions. 

• How to Get There: We found it easy to take a train from Paddington Station in London to the Bath Spa Station. The trains leave often and take less than ninety minutes. Driving will take you approximately two hours. There are also many day trips from London that include stops in other places such as the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, or Oxford.

We filled our day in Bath with history, literature, science, scenery, nature, architecture, and delicious cuisine. This compact city is so easy to navigate and customize to your family’s interests. Bath is the ideal place for a relaxing and charming break from the hustle and bustle of London! 

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Editor’s Note: The author was provided with discounted and/or complimentary tours and meals so that she could try them and review them for your information. All opinions are her own. All images courtesy of Lisa Grabelle unless otherwise noted.

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