Bath

Bath offers plenty of history whether you’re interested in seeing cathedrals, Jane Austen’s home, and, of course, the famous Roman baths. In this town you can indulge in luxurious hot springs and spas and high end restaurants if you want. But while the city has a lot of luxury to offer, there are many free things to do here than make it a a great day trip from nearby Bristol but, frankly, since it is expensive, unless you are really into spas, I would simply visit here as a day trip instead of staying over. The biggest draw to the city are the ancient Roman Baths and they don’t take too long to see!

Typical Costs

• Hostel Prices: You can stay at a comfortable hostel in Bath for about $22 USD per night for a dorm bed.
• Budget Hotel Prices: Hotels start at $81 USD and go up from there. Bath isn’t exactly a budget destination so don’t expect a lot of deals.
• Average Cost of Food: You can eat fish and chips for about $12 USD; meat pies and other lunch items are also the same. Restaurants here are very expensive so expect to spend about $40 USD or more for a nice sit down meal. You can eat a week’s worth of groceries for $80 USD.
• Transportation Costs: If you’re staying within the city limits, it’s best to walk or take the bus. A one day bus ticket costs $11 USD. However, since the city is pretty small, you are better off walking everywhere and using the money for attractions.

Top Things to Do

• The Roman Baths – These Roman baths are what makes Bath famous and draws the majority of people to the city. The Romans used this area as their spa retreat many centuries ago. You can visit the ruins of the old bath houses, see amazing Roman construction and engineering, and listen to a great audio tour by famed travel writer Bill Bryson. It was one of the highlights of my trip to England. And if you are near Bath, make the trip out to visit this amazing historic site. It’s very interesting. Read more about the Roman Baths tour.
• Bath Abbey – This church is famous for its unique and interesting Gothic architecture. It was built in 1499 and is extremely popular so visit during the morning to beat the crowds. I was impressed by how well preserved it was as well as its grandeur.
• Victoria Art Gallery – This important city gallery contains 600 oil paintings and over 5,000 pieces of art of other mediums. Like all national museums in England, this museum is free to enter.
• Royal Victoria Park – The biggest park in Bath has a golf course and botanical garden. It’s a great place to have a picnic and during the summer months, you’ll find a lot of people playing sports in the park.
• Pulteney Bridge – Pulteney Bridge is one of the most beautiful and romantic bridges in England and people come from all over to take picturesque, romantic photos of the town and river from it. The views are really stunning thought the crowds really annoying.
• The Jane Austen Exhibition – Bath has a permanent collection of Jane Austen memorabilia. She used to live her and now her home is museum. If you are a literary fan, they do a great job giving you information about her live and works. Admission costs $11 USD.
• The Royal Cresent – This is a collection of homes completed in 1774. It is the first of the eight cresents and remains unique in its’ shape and design. The exterior of the homes is easily admirable, but you can tour the inside of one home, as well.
• Walcot Street – This is considered Bath’s, ‘Camden Town’. It is very bohemian and filled with ‘bargain’ antiques in many of the shops. On the weekends, there is an open air market. You can find an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants here. It also makes for great people watching.
• Hershel Museum of Astronomy – This is an awesome museum to check out if you are interested in the history and science of astronomy. The house is where William Hershel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 as well as has the world’s most powerful telescope from that time.
• Cricket Clubs – Checking out a cricket game on Saturdays or Sundays can be great fun. It’s a popular sport in England and, though games can go very long, learning about the English love of cricket will teach you something about English culture.
• Take a hot bath – In the heart of Bath is the Thermae Bath Spa, just one block away from the original Roman Baths. This is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural hot waters so if you want to experience what the Romans felt, head over here. However, the spa is not cheap so if you are on a tight budget, skip it. Just go home and take a hot bath.

Budget Tips

• Eat at the pubs – Bath has some delicious but expensive restaurants. Eat cheaper meals at the pubs and taverns. You can get a cheap pub meal for $12 USD as opposed to $32 USD meal (or more) at a restaurant.

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