The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Why we like it: A five-star hotel on Beau Street, next to the Roman Baths, with a spa fed by Bath's thermal springs.
Duration2 nights
From London1 h 20 by train
Best timeApril – October · December
Budget€300–480 pp
StonehengeExcursion from £65
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening by train from Paddington and sleeping two nights in central Bath, without a car. Saturday is for the city; Sunday, for Stonehenge on a small-group excursion that leaves from Bath.
Friday
- 118:00Train from Paddington and arrival in Bath
One hour twenty from London Paddington. Drop your bag at the hotel, five minutes from the station, and stroll through the abbey square with the baths lit up.
Saturday
- 109:30Roman Baths first thing
The Great Bath, the temple and the museum with an audio guide. First slot bought online.
- 211:30Abbey and a bun at Sally Lunn's
The abbey, next door, and mid-morning the bun from Bath's oldest house.
- 314:00Royal Crescent, The Circus and No. 1
A walk up to the upper Georgian part and a visit to the house museum, Tuesday to Sunday.
- 417:30Thermal bath on the rooftop
Thermae Bath Spa at dusk, with the rooftop pool steaming. Over-16s only.
Sunday
- 108:30Excursion to Stonehenge, Avebury, Castle Combe and Lacock
A full day in a small group with Mad Max Tours, leaving from Bath. Stonehenge in the morning, the Avebury circle, where you walk among the stones, and two Cotswolds villages.
- 218:30Train back to London
On returning from the excursion, a quick dinner and a train from Bath Spa.
Bath can be seen in a day from London, but with two nights it changes: you bathe at night on the thermal rooftop without watching the train clock, and you have a whole day left for what almost everybody wants to see in the west of England, Stonehenge. Bath is 1 h 20 by train from Paddington and is the best base for reaching the stones without a car.
What does it cost?
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| London–Bath return train | Variable | Cheaper if you book a specific time |
| Roman Baths | From £23.50 | November and December 2026, midweek |
| No. 1 Royal Crescent | £16 | Under-18s free |
| Bath Abbey | £9 | The tower is extra |
| Stonehenge and Avebury excursion | From £65 | Check whether the entry ticket is included |
Where to stay
Without a car, in the centre. The Abbey Hotel Bath, on North Parade, is five minutes from the station and accepts dogs; the Premier Inn Bath City Centre, next to Kingsmead, is the budget option. If the getaway is a celebration, The Gainsborough Bath Spa, on Beau Street, has its own spa with thermal water and saves you the Thermae time slots.
Where to eat
Sally Lunn's for the bun and tea, every day from 10:00 to 21:00, with candlelit dinners that do need booking. The Scallop Shell, near the Royal Crescent, for fish and chips, open at lunchtime on Sundays too.
With children
The thermal spa does not admit under-16s: with children, swap Saturday's bath for the Bath Skyline, the National Trust hills, with a play area. The Roman Baths have a children's audio guide, and No. 1 Royal Crescent is free for under-18s.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Bath, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Bath
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Fly to London or Bristol and take the train to Bath
There are two gateways to Bath from Spain. London has direct flights from almost all Spanish airports, and the train to Bath leaves from Paddington in 1 h 20. Bristol, about 35 km away, has direct flights from several Spanish cities and is much closer; from there you continue by bus or taxi to Bristol Temple Meads station and by train to Bath. In Bath you do not need a car; for Stonehenge, there are day trips.
- Getting thereBristol (BRS), the closest airport…
- Getting aroundOn foot all over central…
- Where to sleepAbbey Hotel Bath, five minutes…
- ServicesBath Spa station, with trains…
Getting there
- Bristol (BRS), the closest airport to Bath
- London Heathrow (LHR), with a train to Paddington and from there to Bath
- Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN), passing through central London
- From London Paddington, GWR trains in 1 h 20
Getting around
- On foot all over central Bath
- A small-group day trip to Stonehenge and Avebury
- A hire car at Bristol airport, if you are going to tour the Cotswolds
Where to sleep
- Abbey Hotel Bath, five minutes from the station
- Premier Inn Bath City Centre, next to Kingsmead
Services
- Bath Spa station, with trains to London and Bristol
Train from Paddington and Bath on foot
Bath is small and easy to explore on foot: from the station to the abbey is five minutes and to the Royal Crescent a quarter of an hour. A car only complicates things, because of the traffic and how expensive parking is. For Stonehenge, an organised tour is better than trying to combine buses.
120–210 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepAbbey Hotel Bath, on North…
- Getting aroundGWR train from London Paddington…
- Where to eatSally Lunn's, for the bun…
- ServicesBath Spa station, next to…
Where to sleep
- Abbey Hotel Bath, on North Parade
- Premier Inn Bath City Centre, next to Kingsmead
- The Gainsborough Bath Spa, to sleep with thermal water
Getting around
- GWR train from London Paddington, 1 h 20
- The whole centre on foot
- Mad Max Tours for Stonehenge, Avebury and the Cotswolds
Where to eat
- Sally Lunn's, for the bun and tea
- The Scallop Shell, for fish and chips
Services
- Bath Spa station, next to Southgate
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights2
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Abbey Hotel Bath
Why we like it: A four-star boutique hotel with 65 rooms on North Parade, next to the abbey, with a tea room and bar. Five minutes from the station.
Premier Inn Bath City Centre
Why we like it: A chain hotel next to Kingsmead Square, five minutes from the Roman Baths and Bath Spa station, with breakfast and air conditioning.
The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
Why we like it: A five-star hotel at number 16 Royal Crescent, with a garden, a spa with a pool and afternoon tea, in the crescent of the Featheringtons' house.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Bath
Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House
What to order: half a Sally Lunn bun, with something sweet (cinnamon and butter) or savoury, and a pot of tea.
No bookings during the day, except the 15:30 tea; for dinner and groups of 12 or more, yes
The Scallop Shell
What to order: battered cod or haddock with hand-cut chips, or the grilled fish of the day; on weekdays at 16:30, the Fisherman's Tea.
Sunday lunchtime only, from 12:00 to 15:00 · book online
The Abbey Deli, the dressmaker's shop
What to order: the Modiste Afternoon Tea, with sandwiches, a scone with jam and cream, sweet treats and the house tea.
Afternoon tea by email reservation only, from 13:30 to 16:00, for 2 to 10 people, with a 50% deposit
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
If you prefer to drive on Sunday, hire a car for that day only: Stonehenge is a good hour by road, and buy your English Heritage ticket online before midnight on Saturday for the reduced price.
We'd skip it
Driving through central Bath on Saturday: slow traffic and expensive car parks. Arrive by train and get around on foot.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from London to Bath?
About 1 h 20 by train from Paddington; by car, around two and a half hours.
Can you get to Stonehenge from Bath without a car?
Yes, on a one-day small-group excursion that leaves from Bath.
How much does the getaway cost?
With the train, two nights in a central hotel, tickets, spa and the excursion, about €300–480 per person depending on the hotel.
Is December a good time?
Yes: Christmas market and the rooftop bath in the cold. Book the hotel in good time.