A Day Exploring the World Heritage Spa City

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Bath is a beautiful World Heritage Spa City located in the county of Somerset in the English countryside. It is famous for its Roman-built baths, medieval history and it’s stately Georgian architecture. Bath is absolutely stunning and I fell in love with its charm.

After spending two days in London, I took the train 2.5 hours to Bath and stayed for two nights there. During my first day in Bath, I took the opportunity to fully explore the city and immerse myself in authentic English culture. My second day was spent exploring the Cotswolds. (Click here to read my blog post on the Cotswolds.)

I traveled to Bath during October 2019 and found it to be a perfect time of the year to visit this stunning historical city. There were very few tourists, the weather was fair and I was able to do and see almost everything that was on my bucket list. When people travel to the United Kingdom, many visit the big cities in England such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc. What a lot of people don’t realize is how stunning the English countryside is and that there is so much more the country offers.

In this blog post, discover the top 10 experiences in the Roman city of Bath, England.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like.

Getting to Bath from London:

Since I started my United Kingdom trip in London, I flew into Gatwick Airport from JFK. I found AMAZING flight deals through Skyscanner and was able to use the points I accumulated through my Capital One Venture card to get a completely FREE flight (both to London and back home from Edinburgh). It was amazing and also my first-ever free flight!

After spending two days in London, I took the train via Rail Europe from Waterloo Train Station to Bath Spa Station. The train ride was around 2.5 hours and it was quite a relaxing ride. The views of the English countryside were picturesque! It felt like I was riding through a painting.

Other ways to get to Bath either from London or anywhere else in the country is by renting a car, taking a bus or even hopping on a short flight.

Where to Stay in Bath, England:

During my two nights in Bath, I stayed at the lovely Z Hotel, which was conveniently located in the heart of the city. The hotel offers 149 rooms and is a minute’s walk away from the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa, Bath Abbey and all of the wonderful restaurants and cafés the city boasts. I stayed in the Z Insider Queen room that had a comfortable queen bed and en-suite bathroom. The room was cozy, compact and perfect for a solo traveler like myself.

The staff at Z Hotel was friendly and accommodating. They were able to book me a day tour with a local Bath company to the Cotswolds for the next day. Z Hotel staff also provided me with great restaurant recommendations and helped me figure out how to get from Bath to Bristol Airport (for my flight to Scotland afterwards).

In addition to the wonderful rooms, convenient location and friendly staff, Z Hotel also had a great café called Z Café, where I enjoyed breakfast. They had all different types of hot beverages, a fruit platter, croissant selection, various breads, cereals and more!

Bath offers a wide selection of hotels to suit all budgets. They also offer hostels as well as a wide selection of Airbnbs options.

Top 10 Experiences in Bath, England:

Learn the History Behind the Roman Baths:

Prior to visiting Bath, I did not know that Great Britain (also known as Britannia and later Britanniae) was once governed by the Roman Empire. Just like myself, the Romans LOVED their bath time. During my time in Bath, England, I saw the beautiful Roman Baths, which are considered one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world.

The highlight of visiting the Roman Baths was seeing the Great Bath. It is a massive pool that was once used for public bathing and is lined with 45 sheets of lead and filled with hot spa water. During the Roman times, this area was a place to relax, warm up and socialize. For a lot of Romans, this space was the largest building they have ever entered in their life.

In addition to the Great Bath, there are also saunas, heated rooms and plunge pools. You could also check out the Temple Pediment, Temple Courtyard and the Sacred Spring and learn all about the Romans living in Great Britain during the first few centuries AD, including Roman Goddess Minerva.

Overall, visiting the Roman Baths was such a wonderful experience and the architecture was definitely something to admire. You cannot come to Bath and skip out on seeing this amazing place! It’s one of the main reasons why Bath makes for one of the best day trips from London.

Ps. I also recommend checking out The Pump Room Restaurant for either breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. It is absolutely beautiful in there and they will even have live musicians perform while you eat. You could also get great views of the baths.

Relax at Thermae Bath Spa:

Known as Britain’s original natural thermal spa, Thermae Bath Spa is the perfect way to relax and rejuvenate in the city of Bath, England. With only two days in Bath and one of those days visiting the Cotswolds, I unfortunately didn’t have the time to visit Thermae. (I did visit the thermal pools in Budapest though, which are very similar to Bath. Click here to read my blog post on Budapest.)

This amazing spa offers the New Royal Bath, which is the Main Spa at Thermae. It features a fusion of glass, stone, light and mineral-rich water. In addition, there is also the Open-air Rooftop Pool, Minerva Bath, a Wellness Suite, the Springs Café Restaurant and private spa packages such as massages.

Admire the Bath Abbey:

Another must-see when you visit Bath, England is Bath Abbey, which is a parish church of the Church of England and the former Benedictine monastery. This stunning Gothic church was founded in the 7^th Century and has undergone a few renovations over the past hundreds of years.

One of the top things to do at Bath Abbey is take the Bath Abbey Tour. You will walk up the 212 steps and see the ringing chamber, bell chamber, Bath Abbey’s vaulted ceilings and the clock face from the back. When you eventually get to the top, you could admire the breathtaking views over the city of Bath and the surrounding English countryside. You definitely won’t be disappointed!

Shop at Pulteney Bridge & Stroll through Parade Gardens:

One of the most picturesque areas in Bath is Parade Gardens and the Pulteney Bridge. The Parade Gardens is one of the most beautiful gardens in the United Kingdom and it offers 2 acres of picturesque sculptures, flora and views of the Pulteney Bridge. During the summer, the annual 3D floral feature is at the Parade Gardens and several concerts and weddings are also held here.

Similar to the Ponte Vecchio that goes over the Arno River in Florence, the Pulteney Bridge is also a bridge that offers high-end shops that span across the River Avon. Pulteney Bridge was designed in 1769 by Robert Adam and features some of the most stunning examples of Georgian architecture. A cool fact about this romantic bridge is that it was featured in the film Les Misérables during the suicide scene of Javert. It is definitely a magical site.

See the Best of Georgian Architecture at The Circus & Royal Crescent:

Two of the most iconic parts of Bath, England are The Circus and the Royal Crescent. Throughout the city of Bath, you will find a lot of circular and crescent-shapes squares. Just a short walk from Z Hotel is The Circus. Formerly known as King’s Circus, this beautiful area of Bath was designed by architect John Wood. His construction began in 1754, but John Wood died less than three months after the first stone was laid down, so his son completed the project in 1768. Nowadays, The Circus features three curved segments of Grade I listed townhomes. If you are looking at Bath from an aerial view, The Circus, along with Queen Square and Gay Street form a key shape.

Also designed by John Wood, the Royal Crescent looks very similar to The Circus and is situated a short walk away. This iconic landmark of Bath is located around a perfect lawn that overlooks Royal Victoria Park and also features Grade I terrace homes. A lot of notable and famous people have stayed in the homes of the Royal Crescent. It is home to a five-star hotel and was a popular location for films such as Jane Austen’s Persuasion and The Dutchess starring Keira Knightley. It is considered one of the most amazing examples of Georgian architecture in the UK.

Get a British Pub Experience:

Dining in the UK is absolutely fun, hearty and cozy because of their pub culture. No matter where you go in Great Britain, you could easily find a charming pub to relax, socialize and savor a delicious meal in. (British pubs are also housed in timeless older buildings. You could easily spot a pub from a distance away because of this reason. This is the same in Ireland as well.) During my time in Bath, England, I got to experience two great British pubs.

The Cork: During my day in Bath, I was so happy to have met up with Sarah Barthet of Dukes Avenue. Sarah lives in London, so it was so sweet of her to meet up with me in Bath! We had such a blast together and it felt like we had known each other for years. (That is what I love about Instagram and the travel blogging world. We are connected and are able to relate to each other in so many ways.) Sarah and I first met and caught up at The Cork, a pub located in the heart of Bath. We both enjoyed wine with vegetarian pad Thai here (yes, Bath has a lot of Thai food and restaurants). It was awesome!

The Raven: The most authentic pub I visited during my time in Bath, England was definitely The Raven. It was one of the recommendations by Z Hotel and I was so thankful I went there. One thing to note about visiting a pub at night in the UK is that they are very crowded with locals looking to have a good time. I was starving and in the mood for a hearty pie (here in the United States it is known as pot pie), The Raven was definitely the perfect place to suit my cravings. When I first arrived, it was very crowded and there were no tables open for just myself. The bartender told me that it was normal to just sit at any table, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing that (unfortunately here in the United States, that isn’t the norm). A friendly gentleman overheard the bartender and I talking, so he offered the table that he and his girlfriend were sitting at since it was rather large. It was very nice of him and I wasn’t expecting that! So, don’t be afraid to go to a rowdy pub alone at night because people are very friendly. That evening, I enjoyed British ale with a chicken and mushroom pie that had truffle in it. My meal came with chips (fries) and it was absolutely delicious!

Visit a Café for a Sweet Treat:

One of my favorite parts about being in the UK was visiting all of the charming cafés and savoring delicious shortbreads, buns and pastries with tea and/or a latte. Below are my favorite places to grab a sweet treat in Bath:

Society Café: With two locations in Bath (Kingsmead Square and The Corridor), Society Café is a quaint and lovely café to enjoy delicious baked goods and a hot beverage. I visited the Society Café in Kingsmead Square since it was the closest to Z Hotel and I had a delicious chocolate and caramel shortbread with a latte that did not disappoint.

The Courtyard Café: Another lovely café I visited during my time in Bath was The Courtyard Café. It is a beautiful space that offers baked goodies and hot beverages. At this wonderful spot, I got a delicious chocolate and peanut butter mini cake that was to die for with a cappuccino.

Fudge Kitchen Ltd: If you are a fudge lover, then you definitely have to make your way to Fudge Kitchen in Bath. They offer all different types of fudge and candies for you to enjoy or to even bring back home to your loved ones as a souvenir.

Savor a Delicious Meal or Drink:

Throughout the city of Bath are numerous restaurants that will not disappoint. From classic British pubs to Italian trattorias and Thai restaurants to Indian eateries, there are so many great places to choose from.

Martini Restaurant: As someone who’s ancestor originated in Italy, I LOVE Italian food. I was actually pretty surprised to see so many Italian restaurants in the UK, but it makes sense that a lot of Italians have moved to Great Britain since it is close enough to home. Prior to coming to Bath, I was recommended to check out Martini Restaurant if I wanted good Italian food and after enjoying a delicious dinner there, I have to say that it was amazing! I had linguine and crab meat in a light tomato sauce with cut up chili peppers. It was absolutely delicious with a glass of red wine. In addition, I also savored lemon pie as a dessert. Definitely come here if you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in Bath!

Circo Bar and Lounge: During my time with Sarah we visited Circo cocktail bar for some delicious beverages and snacks. This place was so cool as it featured a chic blend of old and new and also had a speakeasy vibe to it since there were a lot of hidden rooms and tables. I had a margarita and Sarah and her husband enjoyed the other amazing crafted cocktails Circo offers.

Enjoy High Tea:

One of the most memorable things to do during your time in England is experience high tea. This is a British tradition of drinking tea while sitting in high-backed chairs. During high-tea you are normally served finger sandwiches, cold cuts, vegetables, pickled fish, salads, pies, tarts, breads, teacakes, fruitcakes and more. Sarah and I were supposed to enjoy high tea during our time in Bath, but plans unfortunately fell through. If you have the time, definitely schedule a high tea in Bath! Below are a list of places you could get this experience in the city:

• The Bath Bun Tea Shoppe
• Regency Tea Room
• Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum
• Hands Georgian Tearooms
• The Bath Priory

Take a Day Trip:

During my time in Bath, I took a day trip to go see the Cotswold villages in the English countryside. It was absolutely breathtaking and definitely made me feel like I stepped out of a storybook. There are many other day trips you could take during your time in Bath. Below is a list of recommendations:

• The Cotswolds (This is what I did. It is an enchanting area with rolling green hills and beautiful stone cottages and historical sites.)
• Stonehenge (One of the 12 Wonders of the World!)
• Lacock (An adorable village where movies like Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey have been filmed.)
• Bristol (A colorful city known as the best place to live in Britain.)
• Cheddar Gorge (A natural landmark formed during the Ice Age.)
• Dyrham Park (A park where there are free roaming deer, similar to Nara, Japan.)
• Glastonbury (A stunning area where the famous music festival takes place every year.)
• Cardiff, Wales (The beautiful Welsh Capital.)
• London (The amazing capital of the UK.)

I hope you all enjoyed discovering the top things to do in Bath, England and reading about my experience from my lovely time there. If you have any questions about my time in Bath or general questions about my overall UK trip, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Basic Facts of the United Kingdom (England):

Currency: British Pound, UK and England Capital: London, Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time

*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.

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