Itineraries for Your Trip to Bath
2 Days in Bath for First Timers
The first time I visited Bath, I fell in love. How could I not? From its honey-colored, Georgian–era buildings to its ancient Roman Baths —and even its modern-day Thermae Bath Spa, which lets visitors paddle in the same steamy waters that those ancient Romans once enjoyed—this small city is a UNESCO-listed jewel in southern England.
But those highlights are only the beginning of Bath’s charms. If you’re lucky enough to have two days in town, you can do everything from immersing yourself in its literary history (Jane Austen is a hometown hero) to sailing along the River Avon with a glass of bubbly. Here’s the perfect two-day Bath itinerary for first-time visitors.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Roman Baths.
England is known for its showers, and Bath is no exception—bring an umbrella, solid shoes, and warm layers.
Once you’ve hopped off—and after you’ve paused for a spot of afternoon tea at one of the city’s charming tearooms—it’s time for a closer look at what Bath has to offer. On a 2-in-1 tour, you'll get to admire highlights such as the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge, and Bath Abbey, and you’ll visit the Roman Baths, a well-preserved ruin whose history dates back more than 2,000 years.
After an early pub dinner, steel yourself: You’ll discover a side of Bath that only comes out after dark when you set off on a spooky ghost tour of the city. Bath has thousands of years of history—which means thousands of years of uncanny happenings, macabre events, and haunted encounters. Learn about it as you take a new perspective on its famous sights.
After stopping in one of Bath’s bakeries for a hearty breakfast (Pro tip: The bacon sandwich at Landrace Bakery is unbeatable), start your morning on an edifying note with a literary Bath excursion. Jane Austen is one of the city’s most famous former residents, and on a small-group walking tour, you’ll follow in the novelist’s footsteps as you learn what 19th-century life in Bath was like.
After stopping in one of Bath’s bakeries for a hearty breakfast (Pro tip: The bacon sandwich at Landrace Bakery is unbeatable), start your morning on an edifying note with a literary Bath excursion. Jane Austen is one of the city’s most famous former residents, and on a small-group walking tour, you’ll follow in the novelist’s footsteps as you learn what 19th-century life in Bath was like.
After a long day on your feet, there’s only one thing to do: Take a relaxing cruise along the River Avon, accompanied by prosecco, to toast your adventures. You’ll admire a new perspective on this most picturesque place and capture Bath’s photogenic angles as you go. Once you’re back on dry land, follow those previous insider tips to book a send-off dinner to remember.
