GETTING THERE
By train
First Great Western (www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk) operates a fast service between London Paddington and Bath Spa (from 1hr 30 mins) and Bristol Temple Meads (1hr 45 mins). These run twice an hour Monday to Saturday (less frequent in the later evening) and every hour on Sunday. Generally, the earlier you book your tickets, the cheaper they will be. South West Trains operates less frequent services to Bath from London Waterloo, which are generally cheaper but take longer (around 2 hrs 15 mins). For all rail enquiries contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.nationalrail.co.uk).
Bath Spa Station is to the south of the city centre (an eight-minute walk from the Abbey). It has a taxi rank and is close to the city’s bus station.
By air
The nearest airport is Bristol (north of the city, near the junction of the M4 and M5 motorways). The airport (tel: 0871 334 4444; www.bristolairport.co.uk), 20 miles (33km) from Bath, has undergone significant expansion over the past decade and is still growing, serving an ever-wider set of destinations. A regular shuttle bus operates between the airport and Bristol city centre and Bristol Temple Meads railway station, where you can catch trains to Bath (about 1 hr in total). Alternatively, you can take a taxi to Bath (about 45 mins). London’s Heathrow Airport (www.heathrowairport.com) is 100 miles (160km) east of Bath near the M4 motorway. National Express Coaches run direct services from the airport to Bath (about 2 hrs, 30 mins), or you can catch the Heathrow Express to London Paddington and catch the train to Bath. This is a quicker (2 hrs 15 mins) but more expensive option.
By car
Bath lies within easy reach of both the M4 and M5 motorways, making it easily accessible from London, Wales and the Midlands. However, the lovely countryside around the city can make slower ‘A’ roads more attractive options, in particular the A4 across the Wiltshire Downs and the A46 which winds through the Cotswolds from Stroud and Cheltenham.
By coach
National Express runs a direct coach service between London Victoria bus station and Bath every 1–1½ hours, as well as services from many other towns and cities. The journey from London takes about 3 hours (tel: 0871 781 8178; www.nationalexpress.com) but is cheaper than the train. The coaches arrive at Bath’s bus station on Dorchester Street, close to the railway station and a short walk from the centre.
The city’s narrow streets are not especially traffic-friendly.
APA/Corrie Wingate
GETTING AROUND
Public transport
Though unlikely to be necessary in the city centre, buses can be useful for making short trips to sites such as Beckford’s Tower, Prior Park, the American Museum at Claverton and nearby villages, or further afield to Bristol and Wells. The main bus company in Bath is First Group (tel: 0845 606 4446; www.firstgroup.com) and there is an information point at the main bus station in Dorchester Street. You can buy a ticket as you enter the bus (having change helps), and returns are cheaper than two singles. There are off-peak fares and special offer tickets available.
The open-top bus tours (www.bathbuscompany.com), which offer an all-day hop on and off service, can be a useful way of getting around and seeing the main attractions. The guided tours (charge), which aim to be entertaining as well as informative, set off from High Street (opposite Parade Gardens). Disabled access.
Going green
Bath and North East Somerset Council (tel: 01225 394041; www.bathnes.gov.uk) runs a park-and-ride scheme, so if you’re based just outside the centre, you can leave your car on the outskirts and take a bus into the heart of the city. There are three park-and-ride locations: Lansdown in the north of Bath; Newbridge to the west; and Odd Down in the south. Parking is free and you pay for the bus journey to the city centre.
There are some cycle paths in Bath but not enough to offer consistently safe cycling around the city. The canal towpath offers a better alternative where possible and there is an excellent cycle path to Bristol. The council is to spend more money to improve the safety and facilities for cyclists in the city.
The hop-on, hop-off buses offer an easy way to see the sights.
APA/Corrie Wingate
If you’re a member of the City Car Club’s car share scheme (tel: 0845 330 1234; www.citycarclub.co.uk) in another part of the country, you can use your card to book and pick up a vehicle from one of about a dozen different locations in and around the city centre. Many of the vehicles are Toyota Prius hybrids.
Trains
Trains to Bristol Temple Meads (not Bristol Parkway, which is some way from the city centre) leave from Bath Spa Station throughout the day and take about 15–25 minutes depending on the type of train. Contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.nationalrail.co.uk). Look out for special passes that offer all-day travel on First Group trains and buses.
Driving
When Bath was growing at an alarming rate in the 18th century, it wasn’t designed with the combustion engine in mind. As a result, Bath has an uneasy relationship with the motor car and driving within the city can be a chore, marked by confusing one-way systems, traffic jams and eye-watering parking charges. If possible, leave the car at home or at your hotel. The city centre is compact and most attractions can easily be reached on foot.
Parking is available all over the city, with a dozen or so car parks, but there is limited on-street parking and it’s often restricted (some of it valid only for residents, so read the signs carefully as Bath’s traffic wardens are very assiduous). Illegally parked cars will be clamped or removed. The main car parks are at Avon Street, Charlotte Street, Walcot Street, the Podium shopping centre, Broad Street, Manvers Street, the Sports Centre, Sainsbury’s (Green Park) and the Southgate centre.
Car rental
It is worth hiring a car if you want to explore the countryside and villages around Bath outlined in the tours. Rental firms include Enterprise (tel: 01225 443311), Europcar (tel: 0871 384 9985), Hertz (tel: 0843 309 3004), Kingsmead Motors (tel: 01225 402234) and National Car Rental (tel: 01225 481898).
Taxis
Taxi ranks are found at Bath Spa Station, Orange Grove (next to the Abbey), Milsom Street and Henry Street. It is wise to book in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings. Firms include Abbey Taxis (tel: 01225 444444), V Cars (tel: 01225 464646), Orange Grove Taxis (tel: 01225 447777) and Widcombe Cars (tel: 01225 422610).
Bike hire
Bath By Cycle (3 George’s Place; tel: 01225 807881; www.bathbycycle.com) offer traditional and electric bikes for adults and children. The Bath and Dundas Canal Company (tel: 01225 722292; www.bathcanal.com) has adult and children’s bikes, plus tagalongs, buggy trailers and child seats. The towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal offers easy, safe cycling, and there is the wonderful Bath to Bristol cycle route. The Two Tunnels Greenway enables cyclists to complete an almost level circular 13-mile (21km) route, with a 1-mile (2km) long tunnel ride.
FACTS FOR THE VISITOR
Disabled travellers
Though a Georgian city centre doesn’t lend itself to access for the disabled, the council does operate a blue badge scheme for disabled car drivers. Designated bays are available in most city-centre car parks and on the streets.
Navigating the city’s historic streets.
APA/Corrie Wingate
Shopmobility (3–4 Manvers Street; tel: 01225 481744; Mon–Thu 8.30am–5pm, Fri–Sat 8.30am–4.30pm) hires out manual or powered wheelchairs and electric scooters for nominal cost; formal ID is needed for first registration. It is possible to hire manual wheelchairs overnight. It also offers an escort service, if you prefer a companion on your trip, which is open to people with a sensory or mobility impairment.
Wheelchair-accessible cabs are available from Abbey Taxis (tel: 01225 444444), Somerset Taxis (tel: 01761 411234) and V Cars (tel: 01225 464646).
Emergencies
Police, ambulance, fire brigade: 999 (for emergencies only).
Bath Police Station, Manvers Street; tel: 101; www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk.
NHS Walk-in Centre, Riverside Health Centre, James Street West; tel: 01225 478811; daily 8am–8pm (no appointment necessary).
Bath’s main hospital with a casualty unit is Royal United Hospital, Combe Park; tel: 01225 428331.
Opening hours
Standard business hours are 9am–5.30pm, though some shops won’t open until 10am and may close at 6pm. Shops offer late-night shopping on Thursday (normally until 6.30pm, but until 8pm in the run-up to Christmas). On Sundays, most shops are only allowed to open for six hours (usually 11am–5pm). Though most museums and sights in Bath are open year-round, many attractions in the countryside are open only between March and October or have restricted opening times in winter. Before planning a trip, be sure to check the opening times of the sights you want to see.
Guildhall Market.
APA/Corrie Wingate
Tourist information
The Tourist Information Centre is located in Abbey Church Yard. The staff can help with a wide range of enquiries about both Bath and the surrounding area, and offer a room booking service. Information, tel: 0906 711 2000 (50p a minute); accommodation, tel: 0844 847 5256. Opening hours Mon–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm, Sun 10am–4pm.
Left luggage
Neither the railway station nor the bus station offers left luggage facilities. However, Backpackers, a friendly hostel at 13 Pierrepont Street (tel: 01225 446787), a couple of minutes’ walk from both stations, will store baggage for around £3 an item. You do not need to be staying in the hostel to use the service.
ENTERTAINMENT
Theatre and cinema
Bath’s main venue, the Theatre Royal (tel: 01225 448844, www.theatreroyal.org.uk), runs a varied selection of comedies and dramas (some appearing before their West End bow), musicals, ballet and opera. The smaller Ustinov studio next door has more experimental work while the egg theatre shows productions for children and families.
An old-fashioned post box.
APA/Corrie Wingate
Housed in a former cinema, Komedia (22–23 Westgate Street; tel: 0845 293 8480; www.komedia.co.uk/bath) is a leading live entertainment venue with a mix of comedy, music and cabaret shows. Every Saturday night, it hosts the popular Krater Comedy Club. It is also home to The Arts Café, serving Fairtrade coffees and teas, and meals using local produce.
There’s a multiscreen Odeon cinema (James Street West; tel: 0871 224 4007; www.odeon.co.uk) showing the latest blockbusters. For more arthouse fare and other offerings, try the excellent Little Theatre cinema (St Michaels Place; tel: 0871 902 5735; www.picturehouses.co.uk).
Nightlife
With its large student community, Bath has a lively club and bar scene. Moles (14 George Street) is a Bath institution, having been around since 1978. Among the bands to have played there are Blur, The Cure, Eurythmics, Manic Street Preachers, Massive Attack, Oasis, Pulp, Radiohead, The Smiths, and The Killers. It was voted the country’s best venue for upcoming bands in the UK in 2013 (Music Blog Awards). Not bad for a little club. The building also houses a café and a music studio. Po Na Na (8 North Parade), an underground club with a Moroccan interior, is another popular nightclub. The Common Room (2 Saville Row) is a stylish bar for relaxing, drinking cocktails or dancing until late.
Bath also has a fabulous range of pubs. The Star on the Paragon is a classic traditional old boozer; the Old Green Tree at 12 Green Street, with its lovely oak panelling, is another classy pub; the Bell Inn on Walcot Street is a good music venue, popular with Bath’s alternative scene; the Coeur de Lion in Northumberland Passage is Bath’s smallest pub; the Pig and Fiddle on Saracen Street is popular hangout for students, and rugby fans and football; the Raven on Queen Street does a great pie and a pint; and the White Hart in Widcombe is a winner, especially for its lovely grub.
Gay and lesbian
There is not a prominent gay scene in Bath. Nearby Bristol has one of the largest LGBT communities in the country with a flourishing nightlife, centred on the Old Market Quarter. Worth checking out are the Pineapple pub (37 George Street; www.omgbristol.ning.com). Also popular are Queenshilling (9 Frogmore Street; www.queenshilling.com) and the Old Market Tavern (29–30 Old Market Street; www.omtbristol.com).