Bath walking tour & city guide

The Roman Baths and the Abbey

The Roman Baths are one of the best-preserved Roman sites in northern Europe. Steaming, green water still fills the Great Bath, fed by a spring that has flowed for thousands of years at around 46°C. Walkways and a museum reveal the temple of the goddess Sulis Minerva and the ancient changing rooms and plunge pools.

Next door, Bath Abbey has a remarkable fan-vaulted ceiling and a facade carved with angels climbing ladders to heaven. Above the baths, the elegant Pump Room has served tea to visitors since the 18th century. The modern Thermae Bath Spa lets you bathe in the warm waters today, with a rooftop pool overlooking the city.

Georgian Bath

The Royal Crescent, a sweeping arc of 30 grand terraced houses completed in 1774, is the finest example of Georgian architecture in Britain. Nearby, the Circus is a perfect circle of townhouses, and the Assembly Rooms hosted the balls described by Jane Austen, who lived in Bath for several years.

Pulteney Bridge, lined with small shops on both sides like Florence's Ponte Vecchio, crosses the River Avon beside a graceful horseshoe-shaped weir.

Visiting tips

Bath is about 90 minutes from London by train, and compact enough to explore entirely on foot. It is also a gateway to the Cotswolds, with picture-perfect villages such as Castle Combe nearby. The Christmas market brings festive stalls to the streets around the Abbey.