The Roman Baths
Step into Bath's ancient heart: the Great Bath, Sacred Spring and Roman bathing rooms are a brilliant first stop.
Top tip
Book ahead at weekends and in the school holidays.
Explore Bath
The places we actually send people to.
These are the places we would tell a friend who was staying, each with the reason we like it. Where there is a particular steer, such as booking ahead, we have said so.
Guides
Five things worth reading before you come
Written properly, from living here. The parking one in particular will save you money whether or not you ever stay with us.
- 01Parking in Bath: an honest guideWhere to actually park in Bath: residents’ zones, the three Park & Ride sites, the central car parks, and why the house has free unrestricted on-street parking.
- 0248 hours in BathA two-day itinerary for Bath written by people who live here: what to see first, where to eat, and what we would happily skip.
- 03Walks from the doorFive walks and rides that start within a few minutes of the house: the canal towpath into Bath, the Railway Path, the Skyline, the Two Tunnels and Alexandra Park.
- 04Bath in the rainWhat to do in Bath when the weather turns: the Roman Baths, the Abbey, Thermae Bath Spa, the Holburne, and a long lunch worth staying for.
- 05Getting to BathHow to reach Bath from London, Bristol Airport and by road, and how to get from Bath Spa station to the house once you are here.
Recommendations
Where to go
Sightseeing
6Bath Abbey
A beautiful landmark at the centre of the city. Climb the tower for panoramic views across Bath.
The Circus & Royal Crescent
Walk from the Circus to the Royal Crescent for Bath's most iconic architectural views.
Thermae Bath Spa
A modern spa experience in the city centre, with naturally warm mineral-rich waters and a rooftop pool overlooking Bath.
Top tip
Worth booking well in advance. It fills up.
Pulteney Bridge & Weir
A lovely riverside pause, particularly beautiful in the softer light of late afternoon.
Prior Park Landscape Garden
An eighteenth-century landscape garden with the Palladian Bridge and long views back over the city.
Out & about
6Bath Skyline
For panoramic views, woodland paths and the Palladian Bridge. The Skyline route is best for a longer, rewarding walk.
Kennet & Avon Canal
A gentle waterside stroll through Bath, easy to take at your own pace. It is a flat 35-minute walk from the house into the city centre.
Top tip
The nicest way to walk into town, and the flattest.
River Avon & Newbridge
A peaceful riverside walk or cycle. The Boathouse is a natural place to pause.
Bristol & Bath Railway Path
A scenic, traffic-free route for walkers and cyclists, with plenty of scope to choose your distance.
Top tip
Starts a few minutes from the house, which is one of the reasons the garden is a good place for bikes.
Two Tunnels Greenway
An easy traffic-free walking and cycling route through former railway tunnels, including the atmospheric Combe Down Tunnel.
Alexandra Park
A short climb for the best free view over the whole city.
Cafés & afternoon tea
6Basil's Bakery
Locksbrook Road, Bath
A lovely local stop for daily-baked bread, pastries and treats, ideal for breakfast or a canal-walk picnic.
Top tip
The closest good thing to the house, and worth the walk on its own.
Café Lucca
A relaxed city-centre café for good coffee, a light lunch or a welcome pause between Bath sights.
Colonna & Small's
A specialist coffee spot for a beautifully made espresso or filter coffee in the city.
The Ivy Bath Brasserie & Garden
A lively brasserie in the heart of the city, lovely for lunch, dinner or a special afternoon tea.
Sally Lunn's
A historic Bath tea room, famous for its distinctive Bath bun and an especially characterful stop.
The Pump Room
Classic afternoon tea in one of Bath's most iconic Georgian settings, beside the Roman Baths.
Restaurants & takeaways
9Beckford Canteen
A welcoming Bath restaurant with seasonal British cooking and a relaxed, well-looked-after feel.
The Circus Restaurant
A polished city-centre choice for modern British dishes in a beautifully central setting, between the Circus and the Royal Crescent.
The Chequers
A traditional Bath pub with a smart, friendly dining room, and a good choice for a classic evening meal, close to the Royal Crescent.
Mai Thai
Chelsea Road, Bath
Flavoursome Thai dishes for an easy, relaxed night in after a busy day exploring.
Napulé Ristobar Pizzeria
16 Windsor Villas, Lower Weston, Bath
Neapolitan-style pizza and Italian favourites, ideal for a simple sharing supper.
The Oyster Shell
Classic fish and chips to take away, and a Bath favourite when supper at home is calling.
The Boathouse
A relaxed riverside pub beside the River Avon, ideal for a drink or a meal after a walk along the towpath.
Top tip
The natural turning point for the riverside walk from the house.
Colosseo Italian Restaurant
A warm, family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of Bath.
Pintxo de Bath
A lively Spanish tapas and sherry bar near the Theatre Royal, ideal for sharing plates.
Neighbourhood
4For families
A small children's play park is directly opposite the house. For a larger option, Royal Victoria Park is a short drive along Upper Bristol Road on the way into Bath: 57 acres including a large adventure playground, climbing frames, zip lines, a skateboard area and the Botanical Gardens. In summer, picnic beneath the Royal Crescent and watch the hot-air balloons rise in the evening.
Getting around
The 39 and X39 serve Newbridge for Bath city centre and Bristol. The 716 links Newbridge, Locksbrook and Lower Weston with the city centre. Uber is a convenient taxi option. Bath Spa railway station connects to Bristol, London and beyond.
Shopping
For basics, try Spar on Chelsea Road. Tesco is on Upper Bristol Road near Windsor Bridge. M&S Foodhall is on Lower Bristol Road, reached on foot via the small footbridge by Basil's Bakery on Locksbrook Road, or around a five-minute drive. Lidl on Lower Bristol Road is walkable along the towpath, and Sainsbury's is at Green Park Station.
Pharmacy
129 Newbridge Hill, Bath BA1 3PT
Jhoots Pharmacy, Newbridge Surgery, 129 Newbridge Hill, BA1 3PT. Telephone 01225 424401. Normally open on weekdays. Please check current opening hours before travelling.
The house
All of this from a house you can park outside.
A warm, characterful home in Bath’s historic riverside quarter. Free unrestricted on-street parking, a flat thirty-five minute walk into the centre along the canal, and room for four.