An Introduction to Bath

Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England, situated 97 miles west of London. The city was founded in the valley of the River Avon around naturally occurring hot springs where the Romans built baths and a temple, giving it the name Aquae Sulis. It became popular as a spa resort during the Georgian era, which led to a major expansion that left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture crafted from Bath Stone. There is much to see and do in this small, accessible city. The Roman Baths, the Abbey and the exquisite 18th Century Pulteney Bridge are just a few of the city’s historic sites. The city centre also enjoys a vast array of shops, restaurants and pubs.

Activities of Interest in Bath

The Spa city of Bath is most famous for its Roman Baths, where visitors can see the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The city itself is a museum of Georgian architecture, the most impressive example being the famous Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1775, an arc of thirty Grade I listed houses arranged around a great lawn. The magnificent 18th century Pulteney Bridge is one of only three bridges lined with shops in the world.

The city centre has a wide range of boutique and high street shops, restaurants and bars and is easily accessible on foot.

Getting to Bath

Bath has excellent rail and road links from London. If travelling by car it is within easy reach of the M4 and M5 motorways. High speed trains operate to Bath from most major cities, taking just 90 minutes from London Paddington. National Express Coaches depart regularly from London Victoria. If flying, Bristol Airport is only 15 miles from Bath with scheduled flights from most UK and European cities. 

By Road

Bath is located just 10 miles from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which runs direct from London and Heathrow. There are also excellent motorway links from the North and Devon and Cornwall via the M5 motorway, whilst Wales is just a short drive west on the M4.

If you require car hire during your stay, please click here.

By Rail

High speed trains operate to Bath from most major cities, taking an average of just 90 minutes from London Paddington and Waterloo. Bath Spa train station is located in the centre of Bath, just a short walk from Bath's shops and attractions. Bristol Temple Meads, just 15 minutes away by train, is also a major hub for travel to all other parts of the country.  For information on timetables visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

By Bus / Coach

National Express provides good-value coach travel linking all major towns and cities in Europe. Frequent services run from London Victoria Coach Station, London Heathrow and London Gatwick to Bath. For information on timetables visit www.nationalexpress.com.

By Air

Bristol International Airport, just 20 miles from Bath, is one of Britain's fastest growing airports, serving over 200 destinations worldwide. For further information on the airport visit www.bristolairport.co.uk.

The Bristol International Flyer express coach service picks up passengers outside the airport up to every 15 minutes, from 03.05 to 23.45, 7 days a week. The coach drops passengers at Bristol Temple Meads train station, where you can catch one of the many frequent train services into Bath. The complete journey time from Bristol International Airport to Bath is approximately 60 minutes. A combined ticket for the Bristol International Flyer and onward rail travel to Bath can be purchased online at http//www.thetrainline.com or separate tickets can be purchased on the day aboard the Bristol International Flyer for coach ticket and at Bristol Temple Meads train station for train ticket.

Travelling to Bath from Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport serves over 180 destinations worldwide and is just 100 miles east of Bath on the M4 motorway. A regular National Express coach service goes direct from the airport to Bath. This complete journey time from Heathrow Airport to Bath is between 120 and 180 minutes. Alternatively, a Heathrow Express train service runs between the airport and London Paddington train station where you can then pick up a direct train service to Bath Spa train station. This complete journey time from Heathrow Airport to Bath is approximately 135 minutes.

Travelling to Bath from Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the UK serving over 220 destinations worldwide. The airport is located in South London, approximately 140 miles east of Bath. You can take a train from the airport to Reading train station where you can pick up a train service to Bath Spa train station. This complete journey time from Gatwick Airport to Bath is approximately 180 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch a National Express coach from Gatwick Airport via Heathrow Airport to Bath. This complete journey time from Gatwick Airport to Bath is approximately 270 minutes.

The city of Bath has attracted visitors since Roman times. It is famed for its curative waters, for which the city is named, along with its spectacular Georgian architecture, magnificently displayed in the famous Royal Crescent. Around Britain's only hot spring, the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water. See the water's source and walk where Romans walked on the ancient stone pavements. The extensive ruins and treasures from the spring are beautifully preserved and presented using the best of modern interpretation.

Begun in 1499, Bath Abbey is the last of the great medieval churches of England. The West Front is unique as it depicts the dream that inspired the Abbey's founder, Bishop Oliver King, to pull down the ruined Norman cathedral and raise the present building on its foundations. Over the past twelve and a half centuries, three different churches have occupied the site of today’s Abbey. The present Abbey church founded in 1499, ruined after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by order of Henry VIII, was completed in 1611. Worship has taken place on the site of today's Abbey for over one thousand years and continues to this day with services taking place throughout the entire week.

Bath became the leading centre of fashionable life in England during the 18th century. It was during this time that Bath's Theatre Royal was built, as well as architectural developments such as Lansdown Crescent, the Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge.

One of Bath’s most famous inhabitants was Jane Austen and Charles Dickens was a frequent visitor, setting much of Pickwick Papers there. Britain’s youngest Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, is said to have visited the Baths to remedy the gout that plagued him most of his life.

The University

The University of Bath received its Royal Charter in 1966. It has established a strong reputation in teaching and research, being consistently placed as one of the top elite universities in national university league tables.

Famous Alumni

Alex James: member of band Blur, Neil Fox: radio DJ and TV presenter known as "Dr Fox", Sean Li: Hong Kong film actor, Russell Senior: formerly of the band Pulp, Chuck Pfarrer: American screenwriter, novelist, former US Navy SEAL, Edward Lowassa: former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Yang Jiechi: Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Sir Stephen Gary George Dalton: Chief of Air Staff, RAF, Justin King: CEO of Sainsbury's, Stewart Till: Chairman of United International Pictures and Millwall FC, Bob Wigley: former Chairman Merrill Lynch, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Sir Julian Horn-Smith: former COO of Vodafone, Sheila Forbes: Principal St Hilda's, Oxford and Deputy Chair, British Library, Doug Altman: founder and Director of Centre for Statistics in Medicine and Cancer Research UK Medical Statistics Group, Matt Stevens: Bath and England rugby union player, Amy Williams: Olympic gold medalist, Marcus Bateman and Adam Freeman Pask,Great Britain Rowers.