The Best Things to Do in Bath, England: Roman Baths, Georgian Streets, Jane Austen & More

Looking for the best things to do in Bath, England? From the Roman Baths and the city’s honey-coloured Georgian streets to Jane Austen, thermal bathing, independent bookshops and a few Bath stops that are easy to miss—here’s what I’d genuinely prioritise for your first trip, from someone who’s returned to the city countless times.

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Before I knew the finer details of English culture, I knew Jane Austen.

Her novels had already filled my head from 3,000 miles away with assembly rooms, carefully judged introductions and people treating a walk across town like a major social event.

So when I first visited Bath after moving to the UK from the East Coast in 2016, parts of the city felt familiar before I’d even seen them.

Then I saw Bath for real—and was completely and utterly gobsmacked by the honey-coloured Georgian terraces, the way the city rises into the surrounding hills and the overwhelming charm of it all.

Then I fell in love with Bridgerton too. Bath had me from there.

In fact, for a moment, I even regretted not applying to the University of Bath! These streets could have been my everyday view instead of London buses and Tube platforms…but I digress.

Since then, I’ve returned countless times—on my own, with my mum, with friends and, as a full-time travel writer, even with Visit Bath. I’ve seen the city in spring, autumn and at Christmas, stayed at both of the hotels I recommend and, most of all, will always think of Bath as the place I take people when I want to impress them with England.

It has yet to let me down.

With that said, here’s all the best things to do in Bath that make it worth its reputation.

Shall we?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.

Quick Overview: The Best Things to Do in Bath, England

Short on time? No offence taken. Here’s my quick take on what to see, book, eat and save for a longer Bath trip.

First Things First: Why Is Bath SO Pretty? (A Little Bath History)

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a very interesting history that shows exactly how its beauty came to be—from its Roman spa and medieval wool town to its post-Dissolution decline, royal revival around the supposedly healing waters and rise as a centre of Georgian social life.

Originally, the Romans developed Aquae Sulis (aka Bath) around the natural hot springs. Centuries later, Bath’s wool and cloth trade helped restore the city’s fortunes, while the present Abbey was begun around 1499. After Henry VIII dissolved the monastery in 1539, the unfinished church was stripped and left roofless as Bath lost much of its medieval importance.

But the waters brought the city back. Mary of Modena visited in 1687 after struggling to produce a surviving male heir, and Queen Anne’s later visits strengthened Bath’s royal appeal. By the 18th century, Beau Nash was organising its social life while Ralph Allen and the two John Woods helped create the crescents, squares and broad Georgian streets you see today.

In other words, it was deliberately made beautiful to draw people in, and it’s worked to this day.

How Many Days Do You Need in Bath?

If you’re short on time, you can see Bath’s headline attractions in one day. Use my one-day Bath itinerary to keep your route focused around the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and one lovely food or museum stop.

For a first trip, I personally recommend two days in Bath. That’ll give you time to indulge in the main history of Bath, plus a spa session, museum, afternoon tea or dinner once the busiest day-trip hours are over.

If you stay for three days or longer, Bath becomes a very good base for the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe, Wells, Cheddar Gorge and Bristol.

Is Bath Walkable?

Absolutely. From Bath Spa station, the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge all sit within a very compact city centre.

The route becomes a bit hillier towards the Jane Austen Centre, The Circus and Royal Crescent, but you won’t need local transport for the main first-trip sights.

P.S. – Wear shoes you’re happy to walk along stone pavements and up hills in. If there’s one thing Bath loves, it’s a cobbled street!

20 Best Things to Do in Bath, England

1. Start With the Roman Baths

For your first adventure, begin where Bath itself began: the Roman Baths. The Romans developed Aquae Sulis around the thermal spring nearly 2,000 years ago, combining public bathing with worship around the temple of Sulis Minerva.

P.S. – Be sure to book your ticket in advance!

Inside, you’ll move around the Great Bath, Sacred Spring, temple remains and museum galleries. Look for the gilt-bronze head of Sulis Minerva, the curse tablets thrown into the spring and the Beau Street Hoard of Roman coins.

Just keep in mind you can’t swim here—the archaeological water isn’t treated for public bathing—so save that experience for Thermae Bath Spa.

Read my full guide to visiting the Roman Baths for all you need to know about tickets, timing and what to expect.

2. Go Inside Bath Abbey—and Climb the Tower

Directly beside the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey carries a very different chapter of the city’s history. King Edgar was crowned at an earlier Saxon church here in 973, while the present Abbey was begun around 1499 and later left roofless after the Dissolution.

Inside, look up at the pale fan-vaulted ceiling, then slow down for the stained glass and wall monuments.

You’ll sometimes find installations here too!

For a city view, book the Bath Abbey Tower Tour. The guided climb will take you up 212 steps, past the bells and clock face, before opening onto Bath’s rooftops and surrounding hills (not open on Sundays).

3. Have Afternoon Tea at The Pump Room

After seeing how Roman Bath used its waters, you can go upstairs and see how Georgian Bath socialised around them at The Pump Room Restaurant.

The neoclassical room has tall columns, chandeliers, high windows and live classical music. Bath’s fashionable visitors once came to drink the spa water, see who else had arrived and make themselves visible to the right people—in other words, exactly what Jane Austen observed in her books!

I had afternoon tea here and found the room itself as memorable as the food. It feels unmistakably tied to Bath rather than interchangeable with another polished hotel lounge. Book ahead and read my guide to the best afternoon tea in Bath for all my favourites (this is my #1 though).

4. Bathe in the Thermal Waters at Thermae Bath Spa

While the Roman Baths explain why people have come to Bath’s springs for centuries, Thermae Bath Spa is where you can actually get into the water.

The main spa combines the indoor Minerva Bath, an open-air Rooftop Pool and a Wellness Suite with steam rooms, an Ice Chamber, an Infrared Room and quieter relaxation spaces. The rooftop pool is the obvious draw, but their Wellness Suite gives you a full spa experience.

Views from the spa!

I found it 100% worth doing, particularly on an overnight trip when there’s no need to squeeze a spa session between several Bath attractions.

Read my full Thermae Bath Spa review for everything you need to know about the booking process, what to bring and who I think would enjoy it most.

5. Walk the Full Curve of the Royal Crescent

The Royal Crescent is the Bath view most people already recognise: 30 Georgian townhouses form one broad sweep of honey-coloured stone above the lawn.

Walk the full curve rather than taking one photograph and leaving, and notice all the details behind one of Britain’s most famous architectural compositions.

If you’re a big fan, you can even stay inside one of the townhouses at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa.

The Crescent is free to see and pairs naturally with No.1 Royal Crescent Museum, The Circus and Royal Victoria Park.

Come earlier in the morning for quieter photographs.

6. Step Inside No.1 Royal Crescent

No.1 Royal Crescent

The Royal Crescent shows you what Georgian Bath wanted to present to the world. No.1 Royal Crescent shows you what maintaining that polished life required.

The first house built on the Crescent has been restored and furnished as it might have appeared between 1776 and 1796. Upstairs, you’ll find drawing and dining rooms that follow the lives of wealthy residents who came to Bath for health, status and society; downstairs, the kitchen and service spaces will shift your attention to the servants whose work kept that life running.

I’d prioritise it if you want more history on the crescents than a photograph can give you.

7. Continue Through The Circus and Royal Victoria Park

From the Royal Crescent, walk a short distance to The Circus, John Wood the Elder’s circular Georgian set-piece. Here you’ll see three curved sections meeting around plane trees, with classical orders stacked across the façades and carved symbols worked into the stone.

Then cross into Royal Victoria Park, a 57-acre park opened by the future Queen Victoria in 1830.

Coffee stop: The Green Bird Café sits between The Circus and the Royal Crescent and is fab for breakfast, lunch or cake.

8. Follow Jane Austen Through Bath

Jane Austen was my original connection to Bath, so her version of the city has to be appreciated.

At the Jane Austen Centre, you can step inside her life, beginning with a live character introduction before moving through Austen’s years in Bath, her family, her writing and the Regency customs that shaped the world around her.

It’s deliberately interactive rather than overly academic, which I loved—with period clothing, writing materials and social rituals of the time shown throughout.

Afterwards, stay upstairs for afternoon tea at the Regency Tea Room, or follow my Jane Austen in Bath itinerary through Gay Street, Queen Square, the Gravel Walk, The Pump Room and Sydney Gardens.

9. Walk Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum

Cross Pulteney Bridge and continue along Great Pulteney Street for one of Bath’s grandest walks, filled with broad pavements, symmetrical terraces and a long line of pretty sights ending at the Holburne Museum.

Bath’s first public art museum holds paintings, silver, porcelain and decorative arts collected by Sir William Holburne and is well worth entering.

Bridgerton fans like me will recognise the façade as Lady Danbury’s house. If you’re truly keen, it’s included in my Bridgerton filming locations guide, or you can book a Bridgerton walking tour with music to make a day out of it!

10. Walk Along Pulteney Bridge and the River Avon

Pulteney Bridge crosses the River Avon with small shops built along both sides and is lovely for a walk.

From here, head towards Parade Gardens to see the bridge, curved weir and river together (the gardens also contain a small collection of historic pet memorials—very interesting!).

Then continue beside the River Avon and cross North Parade Bridge for another wide view towards the city centre. It’s one of my favourite walks in Bath.

11. Take a Boat Trip on the River Avon

Although Bath is easy to walk, a river cruise is a great way to get a beautiful, less hurried perspective on the city. This 30-minute scenic weir cruise is the best first-trip option and short enough to fit between sightseeing stops.

For something more celebratory, this Prosecco River Avon cruise is a dream: views and a tipple!

Read my guide to the best boat trips in Bath, England to compare your options.

12. Try a Sally Lunn Bun Inside Bath’s Oldest House

Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House occupies a timber-framed building widely regarded as the oldest house in Bath. Its namesake bun is large, light and somewhere between bread, brioche and cake, served with sweet or savoury toppings.

I tried both! The sweet bun works brilliantly with cinnamon butter, and the savoury versions are great for a fuller lunch.

After eating, you can also go down to the small cellar museum inside Sally Lunn’s. I’d aim for an early lunch or later afternoon stop here to avoid the busiest queues.

13. Browse Bath Guildhall Market

Bath Guildhall Market has traded in the city centre for centuries and remains one of the easiest places to break up the main sightseeing route (open 9am–5pm and closed on Sundays).

The covered market includes food, books, household goods, gifts and local stalls rather than one polished theme built for visitors, which is exactly why I love it.

My preferred move is to pick up a Cornish pasty, walk a few minutes to Parade Gardens and eat beside the River Avon with Pulteney Bridge in view.

P.S. – Carry a little cash as a backup for smaller traders.

14. Make Time for Bath’s Independent Bookshops

As expected, a city so closely associated with Jane Austen should have good bookshops. Topping & Company Booksellers fills a restored Bath building with tall shelves, reading spaces and more than enough reasons to abandon the claim that you’re only popping in for a look…

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights is more eccentric, with several rooms, lots of staff book recommendations and its very own Reading Spa—an appointment where a bookseller builds a personal selection around your tastes.

They’re also useful reminders that Bath isn’t only a collection of historic façades. Use my guide to the best bookshops in Bath to make a literary route out of it!

15. Choose One of Bath’s Smaller Museums

The Museum of East Asian Art

Once you’ve covered the Roman Baths and one Georgian interior, I’d choose a smaller museum in Bath like:

• The Museum of East Asian Art with ceramics, jade, metalwork and other beautiful objects spanning thousands of years.
• The Herschel Museum of Astronomy occupies the house where William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781 and holds lots of Caroline Herschel’s work.
• Victoria Art Gallery is Bath’s public art museum, close to Pulteney Bridge.
• Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is a lovely theatrical museum for Gothic-fiction fans.

One useful planning note: Fashion Museum Bath is fabulous but currently closed while its new home is developed; it’ll reopen in 2030.

16. Explore Walcot Street and Bath’s Artisan Quarter

North-east of the busiest visitor streets, you’ll find Walcot Street and Bath’s Artisan Quarter, with a looser, more independent edge.

Start with Landrace Bakery & Café for naturally leavened bread, pastries and local-grain baking, then continue along the street for vintage clothing, antiques and smaller creative businesses.

It’s a good morning route for a bakery breakfast and one of Bath’s smaller museums before continuing on to more central Georgian sights. There’s also a lovely Antique and Flea Market here on Saturdays.

17. Stop at One of Bath’s Best Independent Cafés

Where there are students, there’s bound to be a great café scene, and that couldn’t be truer in Bath.

Choose Colonna & Small’s if the coffee itself matters most. The influential speciality-coffee shop began in Bath in 2009 and is very local and loved.

Use Landrace Bakery & Café when you want bread or pastries as much as coffee, The Green Bird Café if you’re between The Circus and Royal Crescent, or Society Café for a city centre pause.

P.S. – Pop to my guide to the best cafés in Bath for more.

18. Make Dinner Part of Your Bath Trip

After your sightseeing and the day trippers have left, you’ll be privy to Bath’s sinfully underrated restaurant scene for dinner.

For wine and sharing plates, I’d look at Beckford Bottle Shop, part wine merchant and part bistro. The Circus Restaurant also works particularly well around the Royal Crescent and Circus route, serving ever-changing British dishes from a Georgian townhouse.

For seafood and fish and chips, save The Scallop Shell. For Bath’s only Michelin-starred option, book The Olive Tree. And for a central pub, try The Pig & Fiddle for local ales and savoury pub food.

P.S. – Read my guide to the best restaurants in Bath for more.

19. Take a Bath Walking Tour

Bath is straightforward to navigate alone, but its façades become much more interesting when somebody explains the money, ambitions and social rules behind them.

Personally, I recommend this guided Bath walking tour if you’re a first-time visitor; it’s an incredible introduction to the Roman, medieval and Georgian city.

For a more specific route, choose the Bridgerton filming-locations walking tour. And for an evening experience, you can take the Dark Secrets and Hidden Haunts ghost walk to learn about Bath’s stranger stories…

Use my guide to the best walking tours in Bath to compare the best options for your trip.

20. See Bath From Alexandra Park or the Bath Skyline

For one of the best panoramic views over Bath without committing to a long hike, walk up to Alexandra Park on the hillside south of the city centre. The route is steep, but the viewpoint opens beautifully across Bath Abbey, the Georgian terraces and crescents, and the green hills surrounding the city.

For a longer countryside walk, you can follow the Bath Skyline through meadows, woodland and farmland.

I wouldn’t squeeze the full Skyline route into a one-day visit if you’re also visiting the Roman Baths and Abbey. But it’s great for a second morning or longer stay (like two days in Bath).

Where to Stay in Bath

Staying overnight in Bath? Excellent choice. Use my one-day Bath itinerary or Bath weekend guide, then tuck yourself into one of Bath’s best hotels.

I’ve personally stayed at and recommend No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath for character, with individual rooms, playful objects, pantry treats and an on-site spa in three Georgian townhouses on Great Pulteney Street (they can also pick up your bags from the station).

Hotel Indigo Bath is also lovely and my top practical choice if you want to be near Bath Spa station (just a 5-minute walk), especially when you have lots of luggage, an early train or a short stay. Read my No.15 review, Hotel Indigo Bath review or wider guide to the best hotels in Bath before taking your pick!

Getting to Bath From London

The easiest route from London to Bath will always be a direct train from London Paddington to Bath Spa station. The station is right in the city centre too, so it’s super easy to walk straight to Bath Abbey or the Roman Baths if you’re on a day trip to Bath.

Read my guide to getting from London to Bath to compare train, coach, or car options. Or, for a day tour of Bath with all the transport handled, use my guide to the best Bath day tours from London.

What to Book in Advance in Bath

• Your Roman Baths ticket, especially for weekends and holidays.
• Your session at Thermae Bath Spa.
• Afternoon tea at The Pump Room.
• Your Jane Austen Centre ticket or a Bath walking tour.
• Your scenic River Avon cruise (or the one with Prosecco).
• Your hotel and any restaurant from my Bath restaurant guide, as they can book up quickly.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Bath, England

Bath is one of the places that made England feel extraordinary to me after I moved here.

Although I knew Jane Austen before I knew the city, Bath became so much more than a literary reference once I started returning.

It became a place I could move through Roman, medieval and Georgian history in the same morning, take my mum for afternoon tea, bring friends when I wanted to show them how beautiful England could be and still find a museum, bookshop or river walk I hadn’t given enough time to before.

For a first visit, prioritise the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and one experience that lets you participate in the city rather than only look at it—like Thermae Bath Spa, afternoon tea, a walking tour or a boat trip.

Then let the rest depend on what you love: Jane Austen, Bridgerton, museums, books, food or walking into the hills.

And perhaps creating your own new favourite Bath memories too…

Have the best trip.

Happy travels,

Candace x

FAQ: Things to Do in Bath, England

What Is Bath, England Famous For?

Bath is famous for the Roman Baths, natural thermal springs, Georgian architecture, the Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey and its connections to Jane Austen. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Bath for a First Visit?

Start with the Roman Baths, go inside Bath Abbey, see the Royal Crescent and The Circus, walk to Pulteney Bridge and choose either Thermae Bath Spa or afternoon tea at The Pump Room.

Can You Visit Bath in One Day?

Yes. Follow my one-day Bath itinerary and focus on the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent, The Circus and one food, museum or spa experience.

How Many Days Do You Need in Bath?

One day is enough for the headline attractions, but I recommend two days in Bath for a first trip. That’ll give you time for the central history plus a spa session, museum, afternoon tea or evening meal.

Can You Swim in the Roman Baths?

No. The Roman Baths are an archaeological site and the water isn’t treated for public bathing. Book Thermae Bath Spa if you’d like to bathe in Bath’s thermal waters (it’s lovely).

What Food Is Bath Famous For?

Bath is best known for the Sally Lunn bun, served sweet or savoury at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House. Bath buns, Bath Soft Cheese and afternoon tea are also associated with the city.

What Are Some Less Obvious Things to Do in Bath?

Look for the historic pet memorials in Parade Gardens, visit the cellar museum beneath Sally Lunn’s, book a Reading Spa at Mr B’s Emporium, explore the Museum of East Asian Art or browse Walcot Street.

What Are the Best Free Things to Do in Bath?

Walk around the Royal Crescent and The Circus, visit Royal Victoria Park, see Pulteney Bridge and the weir, follow the River Avon and climb to Alexandra Park for the view.

What Should Jane Austen Fans Do in Bath?

Visit the Jane Austen Centre, have afternoon tea at the Regency Tea Room or The Pump Room, walk along Gay Street and the Gravel Walk and continue towards Sydney Gardens. Or read my Jane Austen in Bath guide to make a full day out of it!

What Should You Book Before Visiting Bath?

Prioritise the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa, Pump Room afternoon tea, the Jane Austen Centre, your preferred walking or boat tour and any popular dinner reservation. For an overnight trip, book your Bath hotel early.

Plan the Rest of Your Bath Trip

Still planning? Here’s more of my Bath guides to help you decide where to stay, what to book and how to make the most of your trip.

Bath itineraries and planning

• The Best Things to Do in Bath, England: Roman Baths, Georgian Streets, Jane Austen & More
• 2 Days in Bath: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary (From a Frequent Visitor)
• One Day in Bath: The Perfect Day Trip Itinerary (With Map & Tips)
• How to Get from London to Bath: Train, Bus, Car or Tour?
• Christmas in Bath: The Perfect Festive Weekend Itinerary

What to see and do in Bath

• Bridgerton Filming Locations in Bath: A Self-Guided Walking Tour + Visiting Tips
• Jane Austen in Bath: Places to Visit, Her History & the Perfect Literary Day
• The Best Bookshops in Bath, England: A Literary Day Out for Book Lovers
• The Roman Baths in Bath, England: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit

Where to stay in Bath

• The Best Hotels in Bath, England: Where to Stay, From Georgian Townhouses to Spa Hotels
• No.15 by GuestHouse Bath Review: Is This Characterful Georgian Hotel Worth It?
• Hotel Indigo Bath Review: A Jane Austen-Inspired Stay Near Bath Spa Station

Tours, day trips and experiences

• The Best Walking Tours in Bath: History, Bridgerton, Ghost & Food Tours
• The Best Bath Day Tours from London: Stonehenge, Windsor, Lacock & More
• The Best Day Trips from Bath: Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Oxford & More
• Thermae Bath Spa Review: Is It Worth It? Everything You Need to Know
• The Best Boat Trips in Bath, England: Sightseeing, Prosecco Cruises & River Avon Views

Where to eat and drink in Bath

• The Best Restaurants in Bath: Where to Eat, From Local Pubs to Georgian Dining Rooms
• The Best Cafés in Bath: Coffee, Brunch, Bakeries & Beautiful Stops I’d Recommend
• The Best Afternoon Tea in Bath: The Pump Room, Jane Austen & More