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Bath, England, is one of many beautiful cities in the UK that has been on my radar for quite some time.
So going there was such a thrill and a dream come true for me. Known as one of England’s most romantic and picturesque cities, I can now see why.
Its beautiful Georgian buildings, rich history, and natural hot springs from the Roman era make Bath, England, a pleasant city and its city centre that is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Hence, Bath offers something for everyone, regardless of interests—history, nature, or just unwinding.
However, Bath, like a lot of other cities in the UK, has a reputation for being pricey.
Well, the good news is? In this Bath, England guide—I did the work for you.
So you may use it to plan your trip and enjoy this beautiful city without breaking the bank.
Best Tips for Visiting Bath, England, on a Budget
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I share the best cheap travel tips for visiting Bath in this post, so you can get the most out of your trip without spending a lot of money.
This is a budget-friendly travel guide to and around Bath. It includes ideas for free and cheap things to do and see, as well as cheap places to stay in great areas.
How to Get to Bath, England, on a Budget from London
First, let’s talk about where Bath is and the best way to get there from London, which, as of this writing, I think is by bus.
The city of Bath is the capital of the English county of Somerset.
It is located in the southwest of England. It’s not too far from London, and it’s close to Bristol and Wales.
A day trip to Bath from London is a great idea since it’s not far away.
But spending a day or two, as we did, is what I would suggest if you want to explore it freely.
Getting to Bath, England, by Train
The fastest way to get from London to Bath is by train. You’ll be in Bath in just over an hour and a half.
The London Paddington train station is where most of the trains go to get to Bath Spa’s main train station.
The UK train price, on the other hand, is known to be the most expensive in Europe.
Just one-way train tickets from London to Bath cost more than £40 or $50 at the time of writing.
If you decide to go this route, I suggest that you try to book ahead of time, but don’t expect prices to drop too much.
You could also book your trip through Trainline and look for deals and savings there.
Also read: The Seychelles island on a budget
Getting to Bath, England, by Bus
Buses are the best and cheapest way to get from London to Bath.
This is what we did, and I highly recommend it if you are a budget traveller or just want to save money.
Also, driving through some of the UK’s countryside and towns is kind of an adventure, at least for me.
Coaches (buses) travel throughout England, with many departing from London Victoria coach stops. Among the few options are Megabus and National Express.
If you live in the south-west of London or the county of Surrey, you could also take the bus from Heathrow Airport to Bath.
We did this instead of going to Victoria Station, which would have cost more money, of course.
You can get the cheapest bus or coach travel in Europe by using FlixBus.
One-way bus tickets from London Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 to Bristol (Bond Street North) cost only £10! In all honesty, this was a complete bargain for the UK!
Then, take the X39 bus from Bristol’s coach station to Bath for £2.
This should take 2 hours and a half or less, depending on traffic, in total from London to Bath, which is reasonable.
Getting to Bath, England, by Car
Last but not least, you can drive to Bath from London by going west on the M4 highway. You could also take a day trip by bus that goes to three towns, such as Bath, Windsor, and Stonehenge.
Other ways to Get to Bath, England.
Where to stay in Bath, England, on a budget?
When you go to Bath, England, you should plan where you’ll stay so that you don’t spend too much on your stay.
You don’t have to do this if you’re just going to the city for the day.
It’s pretty pricey in Bath, as I said at the beginning of the post.
Please don’t think it will be easy to find extremely cheap accommodations here!
If you want to find cheap places to stay in Bath, my best advice is not to look in the centre.
Bath isn’t a very small city, but keep in mind that you can get around on foot and that most of the best sights are close to each other.
We stayed at a lovely, cosy place with green touches and a backyard—Near Major Attractions, for example. The property is in the north of Bath’s Upper Town area, which is not in the centre.
The Royal Crescent was less than 1 km away.
The beautiful botanical gardens and Royal Victoria Park were both just a short 5-minute walk away.
The price of £80 a night for this place to stay close to the main sites was well worth it for what we were looking for.
It was also our wedding anniversary trip. I would highly recommend it!
Find Budget-friendly accommodation here!
Budget-friendly Attractions and free things to do in Bath
Even though Bath, England, might look like an expensive place to visit, there are many things to see and do there that won’t cost a lot of money.
Not only that but many of the best sights can be seen for free!
The city is also pretty easy to get around on foot, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money.
That being said, buses are also cheap if you take public transport.
Free Things to Do/See in Bath, England
#1: Explore Royal Victoria Park (a hidden gem)
This beautiful park is great for lunch or a slow walk in the afternoon.
Alex (hubby) and I walked through this garden on our first afternoon in Bath and sat on a few of the benches to watch people go by.
It took us two hours to get from London to Bristol by bus, so we had to keep moving to avoid getting “bus lag.”
We also got to Bath earlier than planned, and our hotel was only five minutes away.
We had to check in at 4 pm, so this lovely park where we could stay outside in the fresh air helped us a lot.
Luckily, the nice weather made the park’s beautiful trees, gardens, and walking paths even better.
It was a nice way to start our anniversary trip to Bath.
This is a lovely spot to unwind after a day of sightseeing, with a stunning view of the Royal Crescent.
#2: Wander through The Circus and Royal Crescent
You have to see these two famous Georgian buildings while you’re in Bath.
A beautiful park is in front of this huge Royal Crescent-shaped building.
John Wood, the younger, planned and built this large building.
You can find out more about these two great works of art here.
You can enjoy the beauty of these places for free by taking a slow walk
through them. You could pay to see the No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum if you want to see inside these curved homes. These two are pretty close to each other.
Also, depending on the time of year you visit, you may see a lot of tourists taking the more famous “Bath postcard” picture at the Royal Crescent.
#3: Walk along Pulteney Bridge
One of the most well-known bridges in Bath is the Pulteney Bridge.
This beautiful bridge over the River Avon is lined with shops and bars.
In between steps, take a moment to enjoy the sound of the water and the view of Bath Abbey.
While walking on it, it does look like any other street.
But you won’t know that was a bridge until you walk down the Grand Parade.
This is one of the few bridges in the UK where people live. You can see a lot of similarities between it and the Rialto Bridge in Venice and the Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence.
Even better, it makes a nice background for a boat ride down the River Avon.
It is a very beautiful place, with the bridge in the background and the Pulteney Weir.
We visited during the day, but it was pouring a lot (one of the cons of visiting off-season), so we didn’t have time to fully enjoy it.
#4: Soak in the city views at Alexandra Park
Overall, you’ll see that the city of Bath has a lot of big green areas where you can relax.
Say, the Parade Gardens, which you will have to pay £2 to get into.
That’s why we didn’t go there. But, of course, you should go if you don’t mind spending some money.
However, Alexandra Park on the south side of Bath is the best place to see the city views.
The bad news is that it’s up high on a hill, so you’ll have to walk a long way to get there.
But when you do, the views are truly amazing. I also think you should wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable.
The park is near Bath Spa station, which is the city’s main train station, and the main bus station is about 300 feet from it.
For day trips by train, consider stopping at this park at the end of the trip.
#5: Admire the Jane Austen Centre from outside
Another place you might love is the Jane Austen Centre, if you are a big fan of hers.
But it’s important to note that the centre is not free to enter.
It was beautiful outside, and we took some photos and videos with Meeter/Greeter Martin Salter.
Salter meets people who come to the Jane Austen Centre to honour the famous Regency author.
He is England’s most photographed man.
Budget-friendly tours & attractions in Bath, England
Going on a free walking tour is one of the best cheap ways to see Bath.
Several companies offer walking trips with a guide that include the Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent, among other things.
Usually, these tours last for two hours and teach you interesting things about Bath’s past and buildings.
On the other hand, you could take a walking tour or take your self-guided walking tour, which is what we did.
This is very helpful because we generally look up walking paths when we plan our trips.
Additionally, most places to stay offer city guidebooks.
We were lucky that the place we were staying had one that was meant for walking trips.
Roman Baths
Without a doubt, the Roman baths are the best thing about baths.
Then you might be wondering if it’s worth visiting there. I would say without a doubt!
Even though it can be pricey to get into the Roman Baths, students, older people, and families can often get savings.
Explore this interesting historical site for an afternoon and learn about how the Romans used to unwind in their fancy bathing complex.
You should spend money on this one. Also, you can buy tickets at the Roman Baths or online at their official website.
Bath Abby
Bath’s other famous attraction is the Bath Abby, next to the Roman Baths.
From the outside, it resembles other large Gothic churches in Europe.
Even if you don’t like churches, this square is great to hang around in, especially when musicians and performers play.
You could, however, go in for £7 if you didn’t mind.
I thought that was a bit pricey, but I did go in anyway.
Overall, it’s pretty nice, and it’s lighter than most churches I’ve seen. The layout is pretty much the same as in most cathedrals.
Bath Abby is very important, though, because it’s thought to be the first church in the country to formally crown a king.
It’s known as one of the nicest churches in the UK.
PRO TIP:
Bath has a lot of museums, hot spring spas and most of them cost money to get into. Overall, I think the places listed above are worth the money, especially if you are on a tight budget. If money isn’t an issue, you can go to any museum that interests you, though.
Budget-friendly dining options in the city of Bath
While Bath is famous for its beautiful architecture and rich history, it also has some great, relatively cheap dining choices for tourists as well as locals.
Within this beautiful city, there are many inexpensive cafes and restaurants where you can grab a quick bite or take your time with a meal.
A popular way to eat in Bath on a budget is at one of the market stalls, like the ones at the Bath Guildhall Market, which sell tasty meals at fair prices.
There are many street food sellers all over the city, selling everything from freshly baked pastries to gourmet sandwiches.
Some of Bath’s pubs serve cheap lunch and dinner, so go there if you’re hungry for a hearty meal without spending much money.
There are a lot of pubs that offer cheap traditional British food like fish and chips or bangers and mash.
Another cheap option for a meal would be to just get fast food from places like McDonald’s or Burger King.
These are the only choices for budget travellers. In fact, on our last day, we had Burger King.
Where to eat in Bath on a budget
If you’re on a budget but still want to try foreign food, Bath has several ethnic restaurants that serve tasty food at fair prices.
There are cheap places to eat all over the city, whether you want Italian pasta, Indian food, or Thai stir-fry.
We had a Turkish dinner at Cappadocia Mediterranean Restaurant on our first night, and our anniversary dinner at Ponte Vecchio, an Italian restaurant with a view of the Pulteney Bridge, was great.
Although it should be noted that Ponte Vecchio wasn’t cheap, I would still suggest it as a great place to eat Italian food.
The Bath, Bun
Lastly, don’t miss the chance to eat breakfast or lunch at one of Bath’s many cafes or bakeries.
You might wish to try a special food item that is scarce anywhere else in the world!
Knowing about this while planning this trip fascinated me. Of course, this was the first item on our list of foods to try. Okay, enough with the rambling!
This unique dish is the “Bath bun”, a sweet variation of the French brioche bun with less butter, lighter, and larger. Plus, only two places in the city of Bath do them.
The Bath Bun and Sally Lunn’s. You can choose which one you want to try.
We decided to eat at the Bath Bun because we didn’t need to make a reservation, and, if I’m being honest, the price was fair for a tourist spot.
They make their version of the bath bun and put fruit and crystallised sugar on top of it.
It costs £8 and comes with jam, cream, and tea. I enjoy this bun; it’s fresh and tastes great.
The restaurant has a traditional English afternoon vibe, which is delightful.
Either way, you’ll find plenty of good, affordable options.
Day Trips from Bath, England
There’s a lot to see and do in Bath, England, but if you want to see more of the country, there are a few towns and villages close by that are worth a day trip.
These are some of the best day trips you can take from Bath:
Bristol—If you want to experience a bigger city, Bristol is only a short train ride or a cheap (15–20 minute) ride on bus X39 from Bath.
This lively city has a lot to offer tourists, such as museums, art galleries, shopping areas, and things to do on the water.
Sadly, we were only able to catch a glimpse of the coach station from the bus to Bath as we were wandering around.
I’m sure I’ll want to explore it properly on my future trip around England.
OTHER DAY TRIPS FROM BATH, I'D RECOMMEND!
Travel Guide to Bath, England: Tips for saving money
To be honest, if you don’t carefully plan your budget trip to Bath, England, in 2024, you’re in for a miserable time.
Just so you know, Bath isn’t a cheap place to visit.
Most things will cost more than they do in London, in this lovely city. It could be even worse based on when you go.
Luckily, we went when prices are usually lower, not during the busy season.
But this shouldn’t stop you from going, especially if you are travelling on a budget.
As suggested above, travellers can enjoy everything this old city has to offer without spending a lot of money.
I hope I’ve inspired you to plan your trip to Bath with my recommendations.
Happy exploring!
xx
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