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The façade of Bath Abbey, with the carved angel laddersJulian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0

What to do · Bath

Bath Abbey and its tower

Church and tower · 45 min · £9 adult · tower tours need booking

InformationFrom £9 adult
From
£9 adult
Duration
45 min
Season
All year · closes at times for services
Who it's for
All ages; the tower involves stairs

The abbey stands right next to the Roman Baths, in the square where the street musicians play. Inside, the nave has a stone fan vault and large windows; outside, the west front has carved angels climbing up and down ladders.

Entry costs £9 per adult and £5 per child aged 5 to 15, with a 10% family discount; you can buy online or at the door. The tower tour is booked separately and climbs spiral stairs to the bell chamber and the roof, with a view over the baths. It is a working church and closes at times for services and events: check the opening-time changes on its website before you go.

As a familyWith teenagers

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

The façade of Sally Lunn's on North Parade Passage© Sally Lunn'sThe oldest house in Bath

Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House

Café · Bath · €€€€

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 little square of Abbey Green, in the centre of BathChris debian · CC BY-SA 4.0The Modiste from Bridgerton

The Abbey Deli, the dressmaker's shop

Café · Bath · €€€€

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
The dining room of The Scallop Shell, with blue banquettes and decorative fish on the wall© The Scallop ShellFish and chips and seafood

The Scallop Shell

Restaurant · Bath · €€€€

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

To stay nearby

The Bath-stone Georgian façade of the Gainsborough, with columns© The Gainsborough Bath SpaSpa hotel

The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Thermal water in the hotel · Beau Street · Five stars

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.

A standard room at the Abbey Hotel with a patterned headboard© Abbey Hotel BathHotel

Abbey Hotel Bath

North Parade · 65 rooms · Dogs welcome

Dogs welcome

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.

The restaurant at the Premier Inn Bath City Centre© Premier InnHotel

Premier Inn Bath City Centre

Next to Kingsmead · Moderate price · Air conditioning

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.

Itineraries

Features in these plans