2 day Bath Itinerary: A weekend in Bath england

Are you planning a trip to Bath England? Here’s the exact 2 day Bath Itinerary for you that I used for my recent trip to Bath! 2 days in Bath is perfect amount of time to explore this historic city! Read more about spending a weekend in bath to visit famous sights, and attractions of the city!

Bath is one of the most historic cities in England with its famous Georgia era golden stone architecture, steaming Roman Baths, afternoon tea, and many literature attractions. If you’re looking for spending 2-3 days away from London, a this 2 day Bath Itinerary is perfect for you.

Bath is perfect place to roadtrip around UK. There are so many amazing things to do in Bath, and its as I imagined – history, architecture, literature, art, and delicious food. I visited during autumn season, and it looked even more beautiful! I am glad I spent a weekend in Bath rather than a day trip from London.

So keep reading my two day 2 day Bath Itinerary to plan your weekend in Bath England. I will also include best things to do, where to eat, and stay. I will also include some alternate sightseeing options for you! You’ll love to explore this quintessential English charm that is designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Weekend in Bath Itinerary: How to spend 2 days in Bath

I started my weekend in Bath by arriving Bath at 10 AM from London. You’ll get GWR train from London Paddington to Bath. It’s really scenic train ride for 1 hour 20 minutes. I think this is one of the best option to get to Bath from London. Unless you arrive the night before, there is no way you can reach the city very early morning!

After arriving, we dropped our bags at the hotel where we stayed for a night, and then straight headed for the sightseeing to maximize our time in the city. I think you might have heard about Roman Baths, but the city is so much more than it!

Day 1 of 2 Day Bath Itinerary: historic Sites of Bath

10:30 AM – Walking Tour

I suggest starting your day with a walking tour lead by the Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides to learn more about Bath’s history. The tour is completely FREE and led by knowledgeable local guides. The walk is about two hours long and the guides will take you around, sharing about the history of Bath.

The tours run at 10:30 AM and 2 PM (Saturdays only at 10:30 AM). It leaves from the courtyards of Roman Baths (near the Pump Room). This tour is a great option to know about the city.

Alternatively, you can pay for a guided walking tour of Bath. This is best if you arrive late and want to do at your own convenience.

12:00 PM – Lunch at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House

After the walking tour, head over to famous Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House for the lunch! It’s very popular place but they have three dining rooms inside so you will get the seat very quickly. It was 10 minutes wait for us, but queue moves quickly!

Sally Lunn’s restaurant is in the house where Sally Lunn lived in the 1700s. It’s actually the oldest house in Bath, having been built in the 1400s. Today the Eating House is a restaurant with a small Museum in the basement.

Bath is home to a sweet bread called Bath Bun, and Sally Lunn is the baker who first started baking it in 1700s! Sally arrived in Bath as a French refugee, and established her own bakery as she was missing her home town delicacies!

The Bath Bun to me is kind of Hawaiian Bread I had in Oahu, with butter and flavors! But it was so warm, and unique in taste. You should really try it once!

There is also an another shop at the end of the street, The Bath Bun. They also claims to make better Bath buns! So you can give a try to both and decide which one is better!

1:00 PM – Visit The Roman Baths: Must visit in Bath Itinerary

After the lunch, it’s time to explore the most popular tourist attraction in Bath. And the reason you’re spending a weekend in Bath – The Roman Baths!

It is built on the site of England’s only natural hot springs which gave Bath its name. It dates back to around AD 60-70 when Romans Occupied Bath. During that time they discovered natural hot springs water in Bath, which they believed has healing powers!

They built a bathing complex around steaming waters, as well as a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva.

But during 5th Century, when Romans left Britain, the Roman Baths were ignored, and buried in the soil! And during 19th century, the roman structure were discovered again! Today, the Roman Baths is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most popular attractions of Britain.

The complex is very huge and there are lots of amazing things to see here. It’s not just about the thermal baths, but you can see lots of roman ruins at the museum.

The Most of roman Baths are underground as they are excavated. So when you enter the site, you will be guided down to all the sites. You’ll also get an audio guide during the tour. You’ll walk through the archaeological finds, see two different ancient baths, and even see the sacred hot spring where the hot water still flows at 47°C.

The site is well preserved with all the signs and plaques that explains the history, making the museum an immersive experience.

Top Tip:  You’ll need at least 1.5 hours to explore the Roman Baths. You might need more time if you want to read all the information as well as taking photos!  

Timings: Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. Check their official site for entry fees, and seasonal closures.

This is so far my favorite historic sites in UK, and you must add it in your 2 day Bath Itinerary.

2:30 PM – Marvel at Bath Abbey

Right beside Roman Baths, you’ll find Bath Abbey. But you’ll exit other side of Roman Baths, you’ll need to walk Abbey Church Yard to reach Bath Abbey. This majestic Abbey is wonderful example of Gothic Architecture.

It was built as a Benedictine Monastery in 7th century, and then there were several renovations done over time in the Abbey we see today.

As you step inside, you’ll find lots of towering pillars, stained-glass windows, and a fan vaulted ceiling. There are also lots of statues, carvings, and tombstones.

Allow at least 30 minutes to admire this beautiful architecture masterpiece. They’ll provide you a booklet of information so that you can learn more about history. 

You can also book the guided tower tour to see the upper parts of Abbey. You’ll need to climb 212 spiral steps to the abbey rooftop. You’ll see the bell, intricate details of carvings on rooftop as well as panoramic views over Bath to Roman Baths below.

This tour lasts 45-60 minutes, and need to book when you arrive at the Abbey. They do it on a first come first serve basis. 

3:30 PM – Browse the Bookstores

Bath is full of charming bookstores , and you should at least visit one bookstore if not browsing all of them! Just beside Bath Abbey on York street, you’ll find Topping & Co Booksellers of Bath inside the Friends Meeting House.

This store is heaven for book lovers. I loved browsing through different sections, reading few titles, excerpts etc. Their travel section is what I loved the most! You can easily spend hours here but half hour is good amount of time to have a look at the store and its book collections.

Another store you can visit near Bath station is George Bayntun bookstore, which features books, early editions, and collectibles.

4:00 PM – The Holburne Museum

From Bath Abbey, walk 12 minutes to your next stop. At the end of the Great Pulteney Street is the Holbune Museum. I really loved its entrance and the architecture on both the sides! It truly represents Bath Architecture!

The Holburne Museum was initially built as a Sydney hotel, but today it’s home to a collection of fine and decorative art. You’ll find treasures from Renaissance era to modern art. It houses more than 4,000 art pieces along with miniature ivory carvings, porcelain, and silver. The upper floor also features contemporary art exhibitions.

At the end of the visit, stop by their cafe that opens into Sydney Pleasure Gardens. The cafe is pretty aesthetic, and beautiful place to relax after long walk around the museum.

The Sydney Pleasure gardens are free to visit. It’s the oldest park and most beautiful park in Bath. It was frequently visited by members of the Royal family and, of course, the famous author Jane Austen who lived just opposite to it. You can take the Avon river canal path for a beautiful river walk in Bath.

Optional: If you don’t like to visit a Museum, there is another fantastic option for you. Located next to the Roman baths, book the exquisite afternoon tea at the Pump Room. The Pump Room was built in 1776 for visitors coming for Raman Baths. Since then, it has been a fashionable meeting place including Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Have a traditional Champagne afternoon tea (gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available) with sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, and exquisite cakes accompanied by music from the Pump Room Trio.

6:00 PM – Thermae Bath Spa

Unfortunately, you can’t bath at the Roman Baths. But if you like to soak into the famous Bath mineral hot waters, you can experience it at this Modern era roman bath- Thermae Bath Spa. It is UK’s only natural thermal spring spa, and the water contains 42 naturally derived minerals.

Thermae Bath Spa has taken the old historic buildings and transformed them with a modern glass structure. There are two separate spa areas – the main New Royal Bath and the smaller circular Cross Bath for small group hire. The hot mineral waters are derived from one of the tree springs at the Romans Baths- the Cross Spring, Hetling or King’s Spring.

But the Star attraction at Thermae Spa is the open air rooftop pool, where you can soak in mineral-rich steaming waters with spectacular views of Bath Abbey as well as Bath skyline. You can book a two hour session that includes towel, robe and flip flop hire. This steam and Spa room is most incredible things to do during your 2 days in Bath.

Optional: Thermae Bath Spa is adult only and if you’re traveling with kids, this will not work for you! So I suggest ending your day 1 of Bath Itinerary with a sunset walk to Bath Skyline. It’s just 20 minutes walk from the Holburne Museum. The walk is very scenic and gives spectacular views of Bath skyline. It is perfect spot to see a sunset in Bath.

7:00 PM – Dinner

After such a long day of walking, head back to the City center to have dinner. We wanted to eat spicy Thai food and stumbled upon a Sala Thai near our hotel.

We ordered soup, Pad Thai and starter on their early dinner menu. All the dishes were absolutely delicious.

Day 2 of 2 day Bath itinerary

8:00 AM- Explore the Beautiful Streets of Bath

Bath is known for its beautiful Georgian architecture. Also, the city is very walkable. Start your day early today to wander around the beautiful streets of Bath. Why early morning? because it’s perfect to capture before the day trip crowds starts taking over the beautiful places of Bath!

Few of my favorite streets in Bath are North Parade Passage, York street and Archway with Beautiful Abbey views in background, Bath street, Abbey Green, Union Passage, and St John’s Place.

If you love shopping, head over to George street and Milsom street for retail therapy. Most of them are very nearby and it will take 15-20 minutes to walk around. Bath is simply nostalgic and beautiful.

8:30 AM – Admire Pulteney Bridge

One of the most popular attractions to visit in Bath is Pulteney Bridge. This place is seriously beautiful, and one of my favourite places to visit for this 2 day Bath Itinerary. Not only can you see a really cool weir, but you also get an incredible bridge dating back to Roman times.

The bridge was built in the 1774 by William Pulteney to connect Bath to the other side of the River Avon. The bridge is elegant masterpiece of Georgian architecture with stunning arches on waterway.

Pulteney Bridge is one of only four bridges in the world that has shops across the entire bridge on both sides. Famously, it was also the filming location for Javert’s suicide in the 2012 movie – Les Misérables.

Take Photos of the Bridge from top at Bridge terrace with the views of weir, and river trail. I visited during autumn, and the colors were absolutely gorgeous. After admiring the views from top, head down into North Parade Gardens. The gardens are small but you’ll enjoy the iconic views.

After taking a stroll around garden, go back to the top, and cross the North Parade Bridge. The views from the bridge are absolutely beautiful! It is the perfect location to take photos of the bridge with river views, a must in your 2 day Bath itinerary.

At the end of the North Parade bridge, step down and continue the river trail to reach the bottom of Pulteney Bridge. You’ll get the spectacular views of the bridge and weir from here. Both the places are worth visiting because you get to see the bridge from a very different angle.

This circular walk will take 20-30 minutes time and it was one of my most favorite morning walk in Bath. At this time of the day, there will be almost No crowds at Pulteney Bridge, and you’ll surely love to start your day like this! This was surely highlight of my weekend in Bath.

9:00 AM – Breakfast at Pulteney Bridge Coffee

Once you finish your walk near Pulteney weir, climb the stairs and reach at the top of the Bridge! There are so many cafes and shops on the bridge! But I really wanted to visit Pulteney Bridge coffee shop. So we chose to have a breakfast here. The coffee shop is very small, but with elegant interior.

We waited for five minutes to get the table with the views of Avon river and Pulteney weir. The coffee shop opens at 8:30 AM and best is to arrive as early as possible! We ordered Pancakes, cakes and coffee, and it was really good. They also serves traditional english breakfast.

If you don’t get the table here, you can also visit the next door Poppy’s Bakery! They also serves afternoon with beautiful river Avon views!

10:00 AM – Royal Crescent & No.1 Royal Crescent

Start your day 2 of Bath Itinerary with a visit to most iconic landmarks of Bath – Royal Crescent. This is a really stunning part of the city! Bath is known for its Georgian architecture, and this is fine example of it!

The curved terrace of 30 townhouses arcs around a perfectly manicured lawn. The Royal Crescent was built in the 1776 with each townhouse having towering ionic columns, and intricate detailing on the outside. The buildings haven’t changed since then from outside!

Most of the homes are private residences, and many times these houses are used for shooting a film, like a Bridgerton, a popular Netflix series that was filmed in Bath.

If you want to learn more about the rich history of this houses, head to No. 1 Royal Crescent, a museum set within one of the townhouses. Inside you’ll find how wealthy Georgians lived, authentic furniture, elaborate bedrooms, servant quarters, and fascinating details of their everyday lives.

As you start the tour, and visit every room, you’ll hear audio conversions of the family living in the house. I really loved this audio part as it brought the house to life and made it feel like you were back in the early 1800s. I highly recommend visiting this museum to get a sense of life in Georgia era time!

Don’t miss beautiful views of Royal Crescent from the windows at the top floors of the Museum!

Quick fact: The Royal Crescent is one of many buildings made from the distinctive golden Bath Stone. It was quarried from nearby hills in Bath. It was first used by Romans and then later used for churches, bridges and houses around Bath.

There’s also a lovely Victoria Park outside for the picnic or relaxing. And you can even stay inside one of the townhouses at the Royal Crescent Hotel.

11:30 AM – Wander around The Circus: Best free things to do in Bath

After exploring Royal Crescent, head to the Circus. It is just 5 minutes walk from Royal Crescent and another impressive example of Georgian architecture.

The circus, with three sections of curved buildings forming a circle. It’s architecture is similar to the Royal Crescent. This is another beautiful place to visit in Bath with cobbled streets and stunning architecture.

Just few minutes walk from here, you can visit the Bath Assembly Rooms. It was hub for Bath’s social scene in 18th-century, with elegant rooms for tea drinking, cards and dancing. Today you can visit when not in use for events.

12:00 PM – The Jane Austen Center

If you love literature, you’ll love visiting the Jane Austen Center. This historic Bath attraction is located on Gay Street in Georgian townhouse, just 3 minutes walk from the Circus.

This place will tell you the story of famous author Jane Austen’s life in Bath through various exhibits and guided presentation. At the end of the tour, you’ll get a chance to dress up in period costumes, so it’s quite an immersive experience.

You can wander through the different rooms learning about the life of Jane Austen and her influence on modern times. I actually learned a lot about her at this place, and it was quite fascinating!

There is also a waxwork figure of her at the end of tour to take Photos! You can shop at the little gift shop selling a range of homemade gifts and toiletries. 

So, even if you only have a just 2 days in Bath, you definitely shouldn’t miss this place in Bath.

1:00 PM – Lunch at St John’s Place

After exploring the Jane Austen Centre, head to Saint Jonh’s Place. This gorgeous street is only about a 5-minute walk from the museum. There are so many al-fresco dining spots with outdoor sitting as well as aesthetic coffee shops. It’s really beautiful part of Bath, and really loved the vibes here!

2:00 PM – Make your way to Prior Park Gardens

After the Lunch, head towards Bath Railway Station, and board the Bus No. 2 Bath City from the Dorchester Street to Prior Park Landscape Gardens. It takes just 10 minutes in Bus, and it will drop you right outside the entrance!

Before my visit, I saw many photos of this place, and I knew I really want to visit this place! And I am glad I visited during autumn! It’s really worth visiting and lived up to my expectations!

The park is part of National Trust site, so if you have a membership, you’ll be able to get in for free. If not, you’ll have to pay a small entrance fee of £10 per adult. It remains open from 10:00 AM to 5 PM, but check for seasonal closures. During winter they have limited days of operation.

Once you pay your entry fees, the staff will explain you the routes. Take a photograph of the trail map, and then start your walking trails around the park.  

The route we took around the gardens

We decided to take one way loop and then exit from the other side of the gardens. From entrance we took right, passed through lovely pond, and then walked straight through beautiful path lined with trees.  

Next, came across an impressive building and some stunning views over the park and Bath in the distance. After admiring the top views, we continued our walk through towering trees!

We saw a board for Bath Skyline view trail. Continued our walk for 10 minutes, the path was uneven with lovely fall views. At the top I got the most spectacular views of Bath. It was very relaxing after the bustling vibe of the city centre.

From here, we continued going down towards valley for the next stop – beautiful Palladian Bridge. Surrounded by lakes, and beautiful scenery, Palladian Bridge was one of my favorite places we visited in Bath. It’s one of only four Palladian Bridges in the world and is so beautiful, and you must add this into your 2 day Bath itinerary!  

We walked around the lake, and took so many photos! The views here are like Postcard perfect!

After visiting the Bridge we stopped at the lakeside cafe to relax for a while. Then continued our way out from the exit near the cafe! Keep walking Church Ln road, and then turn left to narrow lane to exit the gardens. Then again turn left onto church street to reach Perrymead Bus stop. It’s easy 7-10 minutes walk. If you follow this route, you don’t need to walk uphill back to the entrance!

I think we spent around 1.5 hours around the gardens. However, you can easily spend more time, if you want to explore more trails.  

Pro Tip: There is NO Parking facility at the entrance. So if you’re arriving by car, you’ll need to park on the road at the bottom of a hill OR Park in the city and use the bus. I think getting the bus is good option looking to the hassle of uphill walk! And if you follow my tips on way back, you really don’t have to do any uphill walk!

4:00 PM – Cruise on River Avon

After coming back to the city, end your 2 day Bath Itinerary with cruising on River Avon. The tours starts at the Pulteney weir and takes around an hour! The cruises run when river levels aren’t high. The boat trips are run by Puleteney cruisers.

You’ll travel under Pulteney Bridge, countrysides, and then to village of Bathampton before returning to Bath. This is fantastic way to end your weekend in Bath.

6:00 PM – Train Back to London

And just like that your 2 days in Bath comes to end! Depending on your convenience, take the evening GWR train back to London Paddington!

More Than 2 days in Bath?

If you’re planning to visit bath for few days, there are so many places to visit nearby Bath.

Important Information to Plan your 2 day Bath itinerary

How to get to Bath

Bath Spa train station is around 1 hour 20 minutes by direct train from London. There are many frequent trains from Bristol, and around UK. From Bristol, it takes 12 minutes to reach Bath by train.  

If you’re driving, Bath is 13 miles from Bristol or 115 miles (around 2.5 hours drive) from London. Of course, this depends on where in London you’re starting from and the traffic you encounter along the way. Also note that Parking in the city center is very expensive!

Nonetheless, if you’re simply coming to Bath for a weekend, it’s better to use trains. From the train station, you can walk to the city centre just in 5 minutes.

How to get around During your 2 days in bath

Bath is very walkable city, and you really don’t need car to get around. Most of the attractions on this 2 day bath Itinerary is easily doable on foot from the hotel we stayed at.

On the second day, for a visit to Prior Park Gardens, use Public transportation which drops you right at the entrance. If you follow my tips, you even don’t need to walk back uphill! You can find the full listing of bus routes here Or simply find a bus route via Google Maps. You can use your contactless Card/ Phone for payment!

If you’re traveling with family, use UBER or taxis waiting outside the train station. You can also check out the Toot Bus hop on hop off sightseeing tour that covers all the major attractions of Bath.

Where to Stay for your weekend in Bath

Bath has so many wonderful hotels to stay. But if you’re visiting Bath during weekend, so look for the a convenient location in the city center as well comfortable room to rest after long day of traveling and sightseeing.

We stayed at luxurious Hotel Indigo. The hotel is just 5 minutes walk from Bath Spa station, Roman Baths and Pulteney Bridge. Everything is just walking distance from the hotel, and there is a bus stop right behind the hotel building. You couldn’t ask for the better location than this!

This boutique hotel is housed in an 18th Century building. But the decor is modern with pretty aesthetic look! It’s like traditional meets contemporary! I really loved their common sitting area with lovely design. The rooms were spacious, beautifully decorated as well as very well lit! The bed was huge and comfortable.

We got upgraded from Standard to King suite room, and I really appreciate that! We got soft robes, slippers, and the free minibar stocked with soft drinks, wine and snacks.

Oh, and what I loved most was claw foot bathtub of my dreams with beautiful tiles!! Everything in the room and hotel was just pretty aesthetic!! This is one of my most favorite hotel stay till date!

You can have a breakfast at the Brasserie Beau, which is part of hotel Indigo! Make sure to book a table when you check-in at the hotel! They’ll give you some discount as hotel guests. The ambience and decor is very excellent.

Since everything is so near, you can wake up early to see the the streets of Bath when its quieter in the morning! On second day, we got up early and wandered around the streets, admired the architecture and atmosphere of Bath with fewer crowd!

As you see in this Bath Itinerary, after having breakfast at Pulteney Bridge coffee, you can check out from the hotel and keep your luggage stored at the hotel. It’s just 5 minutes walk to the Bath Spa station from the hotel.

So, when planning your weekend in Bath – make sure stay at Hotel Indigo. You will not regret staying here! Check the availability and prices here.

Another great option to stay in Bath, and take into the Bath’s famous mineral waters – Gainsborough Bath Spa. As a hotel guests, you’ll be able to bathe in an exclusive mineral pool, an experience you don’t want to miss!

If you’re looking to splurge for your weekend trip to Bath England, then consider staying at the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa. This is the only hotel inside the famous and historic Royal Crescent.

Where to Store your Luggage in bath

If you’re staying at a hotel, you can usually store your bags at the hotel for no additional fee. This is what we did!

But if you’re coming here for a day trip, there are few stores near train station which can store the bags! I saw many sign boards outside the stores for it and so including this information here!

FAQs About Your 2 Day Bath Itinerary

Is Bath Worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely Bath is really worth visiting! It has stunning architecture, rich history as well as UK’s only thermal spa! The city is UNSECO World heritage site and known for its wealth of art, and literature!

Is Weekend in Bath Enough?

Yes, absolutely! I think 2 days in Bath is enough to see all of the main attractions of Bath. However, if you like to explore more outside the city, like Stonehedge, the Cotswolds etc, city of Bristol, and other amazing sites like Cheddar Gorge, Salisbury, and Wells. You’ll need more time to explore the nearby places!

So, weekend in Bath is enough to explore the main sights in Bath, but if you want to explore the surrounding countryside, you’re going to need much more time!

What is so special about Bath UK?

Bath is famous for its Roman Baths, stunning Georgian architecture, history, as well as known for its fashionable events since many centuries!

Final Thoughts on Spending 2 days in Bath

Overall, Bath is one of the best cities to visit in the UK. Before the trip I had really low expectations. but I really loved my time in the city, and would love to return to explore more sights of the city and surrounding areas.

So if you’re planning a weekend in Bath, I hope this guide help you to maximize your time in the city. The city of Bath is really beautiful, and you’ll surely enjoy your visit!

P.S: This post is in collaboration with Visit Bath – they provided a complimentary entrance to the attractions. Though our stay at Hotel Indigo was Paid by us. However, all opinions and reviews are my own.

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