Booking choice: Stonehenge and Bath with a guided walk, from $93 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Bath is small, walkable and packed with sights, which is exactly why free time disappears. Reviewers who felt rushed had usually tried to fit in two museums and a sit-down lunch.
This plan assumes about three hours from the coach drop-off.
The quick answer
Spend 90 minutes in the Roman Baths, then walk up through the Circus to the Royal Crescent (about 15 minutes), come back past the shops to Pulteney Bridge, and eat on the move. Skip a second museum unless you skip the Roman Baths. Note your coach's meeting time and spot before you set off.
What should you prioritise in Bath?
The Roman Baths first, then a free walk to the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge.
The Roman Baths are Bath's one unmissable ticketed sight: the Great Bath, the temple courtyard, the hot spring and an excellent museum. Everything else on a short visit can be enjoyed from the street for free.
Want a guide to show you round first? This day includes a guided walk in Bath.
Check dates for Stonehenge and Bath with a guided walkHow long do you need at the Roman Baths?
About 90 minutes, ideally two hours with the audio guide.
Book the entry option with your tour or a timed ticket in advance; tickets on the day cost £2 more. The Baths close at 6 PM from spring to autumn and at 5 PM in winter, with last entry an hour earlier.
Can you swim in the Roman Baths?
No: the Roman Baths are a museum, and the water is not for bathing.
Bath's thermal water is open to bathers at the Thermae Bath Spa, a modern spa a few minutes away. A session takes a couple of hours, so it rarely fits a coach day.
What is the best short walking route?
Roman Baths, Abbey, Milsom Street, the Circus, the Royal Crescent, then back down to Pulteney Bridge.
- Bath Abbey, beside the Roman Baths.
- Up Milsom Street and Gay Street.
- The Circus, a ring of Georgian townhouses.
- The Royal Crescent, about 15 minutes' walk from the Abbey.
- Back down to Pulteney Bridge and the weir.
Where should you eat?
Grab something to go: a pasty, a Sally Lunn bun or a sandwich, and eat by the river or in a square.
A sit-down lunch in a busy restaurant can take an hour of your three. If you want a proper meal, make it the one big thing you do besides the Roman Baths.
More time in Bath: this tour gives about three hours there, with your Stonehenge ticket included.
Explore Bath, Stonehenge and the countrysideIs the Jane Austen Centre worth it on a day trip?
Only if you are a real fan and skip the Roman Baths; doing both is a squeeze.
One tour listing includes Jane Austen Centre entry as an option, and reviewers who did both the Roman Baths and the Austen Centre said they had no time left for the city. Austen fans can also walk past her former home at 4 Sydney Place.
What do you see if you skip the ticketed sights?
Plenty: the Abbey, the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and Parade Gardens are all free or cheap to see.
A transport-only ticket plus a free walk is a perfectly good Bath afternoon if you are on a budget.
How do you avoid missing the coach?
Set a phone alarm 20 minutes before the meeting time, and note the exact pick-up spot.
Tours leave on schedule and reviewers report coaches leaving latecomers behind. Bath's hills slow you down on the way back from the Royal Crescent.
Ready to plan your afternoon in Bath? Check dates for the tour with a guided walk.
Check dates for Stonehenge and Bath with a guided walkFrequently asked questions
How long do tours stay in Bath?
About 2.5 to 3.5 hours on most Stonehenge and Bath day trips; three-stop tours with Windsor give less.
Is Bath walkable?
Yes, the centre is compact, but the walk up to the Royal Crescent is uphill.
Can I stay in Bath and not return on the coach?
Not as standard. The listings here return to London, so ask the operator before booking; you would then make your own way back by train.
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Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Stonehenge & Bath with a Guided Walk
- Coach with Wi-Fi and USB charging from Victoria Coach Station (8:30 AM)
- Expert guide and a personal audio headset
- Panoramic drive and guided walk in Bath
Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip with Entry Options
- Air-conditioned coach from Victoria Coach Station (departs 8:15 AM)
- Expert guide on board, with facts about both sites on the way
- Stonehenge, Roman Baths or Jane Austen Centre entry, if you pick that option
Bath, Stonehenge & the English Countryside
Stonehenge ticket in the price and an early start
