free walking tours of bath

The Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides

Free walking tours of Bath

Our regular daily walks take place every day, except Christmas Day. For regular daily walks, click here . Bookings do not need to be made for these walks - just turn up and go. From May 2nd, we also offer evening walks starting at 6.00pm every Tuesday and Thursday.

From Thursday, May 2nd we are running our Pulteney Estate walks, every Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 11.00am. For more details please click here . Bookings do not need to be made for these walks - just turn up and go.

Bookings can now be made for our 2024 Special Summer Walks Programme. For full details of the walk topics, dates and how to book a place click here for details. Booking is essential for these walks.

Learn more about Bath..

Bath is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Europe. Come and find out why!

We exist to provide free historic walking tours for individuals and non-commercial groups to give people an understanding of how Bath has developed, its rich history and architecture, and why it has been awarded two inscriptions by UNESCO.

• We do not accept tips or gratuities
• Established in 1934
• Our badge is worn by Mayor’s Guides – please check – other “free” tours expect tips!

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These daily 2 hour tours are free and they’re organised by the tourist office in Bath. You don’t need to book, just check out the tour times at the sign board outside the Roman Baths in Abbey Churchyard. Our guide was brilliant. He knew so much about the history of the place and explained it all in compelling way. The tours take in all the highlights of the centre of Bath including the Abbey, the Circus, the Royal Crescent, the Assembly Rooms and many other historic buildings and sights. The guides are volunteers and do not accept tips, although they definitely deserve them! This is an extract from our free Bath City Guide .

There’s quite a lot to see just in the Abbey Churchyard and around half an hour of our tour was spent here before we moved on. The best thing about the Mayor of Bath Honourary Guides who lead the tours is that they point out things you probably wouldn’t have noticed even though they’re right under your nose. For example the ancient doors of Bath Abbey (pictured above) have a story to tell in the carvings.

After this our tour visited most of the main sights in Bath stopping at cobbled and historic streets along the way. We strolled along the historic Gravel Walk which featured in Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ and allows a view of the rear of some of the most impressive houses in Bath. The big highlight for us was the trip inside the Bath Assembly Rooms, which was part of the tour we were on. It’s worth pointing out that the tours do vary depending on which guide is leading them and access to the Assembly Rooms is not always possible.

Tours operate daily, starting at 10.30am and at 2pm although there is no afternoon tour on a Saturday.  From May to September addition tours operate on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7pm. No pre-booking is necessary for individuals, but groups of 12 or more should prebook at least 4 weeks in advance by calling the Mayor’s office (number below).

TOUR MEETING POINT & CONTACT

Tours meet at the signboard outside the Pump Room in Abbey Churchyard.  They are organised by the Mayor Of Bath’s office

Tel: +44 (0) 1225 477411 Fax: +44 (0) 1225 477408

MORE ON BATH WALKING TOURS

Bath Walking Tours – VisitBath.com Bath Hop on, Hop off, Bus Tour – An alternative tour of Bath Bath Guide Books  – Amazon.co.uk

BACK TO…BATH CITY GUIDE

Free Walking Tour Bath

Free Walking Tour Bath takes you in a captivating journey through the enchanting streets of Bath. Discover the timeless beauty of this historic city, renowned for its stunning Georgian architecture, Roman heritage, and natural hot springs. Our expert guides will lead you through the city’s hidden gems and iconic landmarks, sharing tales of its fascinating past. Join this amazing free walking tour in Bath for an immersive experience that unravels Bath’s rich history and culture, all while taking in the breathtaking scenery that makes this city a true gem of England.

General information

From Monday to Friday: 15:00 hrs / 17:30 hrs

Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 hrs / 13:00 hrs

Free Walking Tour Bath – Itinerary

Free Walking Tour Bath starts at the Rebecca Fountain, located adjacent to the historic St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church. We will delve into the intriguing history and noteworthy details surrounding this ancient Anglican place of worship.

Subsequently, we shall pause briefly in front of one of England’s most time-honored dining establishments, where you will have the opportunity to unravel the fascinating narrative behind the city’s signature dessert.

Read more...

Our third stop on this journey will take us to the exterior of the age-old Roman baths, bearing the moniker ‘Aquae Sulis,’ with their origins tracing back to the Celtic era.

Continuing our exploration, we will tread in the footsteps of these historically significant waters, as we visit the external facades of The Cross Bath and Thermae Bath Spa, two operational wellness centers that persistently harness the therapeutic qualities of Bath’s mineral-rich waters.

Venturing further into the city’s most ancient precincts, our path will lead us to the Royal Theatre and the former Mineral Water Hospital, an institution established in the eighteenth century and generously funded by affluent benefactors, its therapeutic thermal springs attracting numerous patients.

We shall navigate the very streets that the renowned author, Jane Austen, once called home, culminating in our fourth and final stop: the world-renowned Royal Crescent, arguably the most distinguished example of Georgian architecture in the United Kingdom. As Bath free tour reaches its conclusion, we will cross the picturesque Pulteney Bridge, returning to the starting point, the Abbey.

A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s Free Walking Tour in Bath

Today I want to share my free walking tour in Bath with you. This beautiful historic city in the UK is the perfect place to discover on foot. With its golden stone buildings, elegant crescents, Roman Baths, exciting shopping streets, and bucolic waterways, there’s a lot to see on a self-guided Bath walking tour. My route and map will show you the main highlights of the city and take you to some of the less-explored places locals love.

Free Walking Tour in Bath

From the eye-catching architecture of the Royal Crescent to the riverfront scenery on the Avon, Bath is one of the best cities in England .

Home to some of the most well-preserved ancient Roman remains in the world and an abundance of Jane Austen sites , the city is one of the most exciting places to visit in Britain .

But it’s not just about the history. Whether you want to browse the best shops in Bath or walk across the famous Pulteney Bridge, the city has something for everyone.

No matter if you’re here on a Bath day trip , a weekend trip to Bath , a tour , or a visit to Bath and the Cotswolds , you’ll be able to discover a lot in this part of Somerset.

I’ve visited Bath many times. Each trip has revealed more of the highlights and secret spaces. I’ve also taken many guided tours of Bath . They’ve shown me some of the best places in the city. If you’re interested, you can book one here .

I hope my free walking tour in Bath helps you enjoy getting to know the city as much as I have. It’s one of the most magical places to visit in the UK .

If you want more ideas, you can find lots of additional routes and maps in the popular book A-Z Bristol & Bath Hidden Walks: Discover 20 Routes In and Around the Cities . You can get it on Amazon here .

My free walking tour in Bath starts on Pulteney Bridge. It’s centrally located, so it’s easy to get to from the train station, bus stops, hotels (including my favorite hotel in the city ), and on foot from other places in town.

You can look around and do some shopping before you start your walk, or head off when you arrive (you’ll be back later in the tour, so you can always shop then).

Whatever you decide, start your self-guided walking tour of Bath by heading to the west side of the bridge and turning left to go down Grand Parade. You’ll take in the River Avon and its unique weir on your left and beautiful heritage buildings on your right.

Soon you’ll reach Parade Gardens, a riverside park in Bath. You can spend some time exploring it, or continue your walk by following Grand Parade along the green space until you reach Terrace Walk.

When you get to it, veer right and head down Terrace Walk, keeping right to get onto to North Parade. When you arrive at North Parade Passage, turn right to go down it.

This street is home to famous places like Sally Lunn’s, a tearoom and restaurant that’s housed in one of the oldest homes in Bath. It’s famous for its buns, so you can stop for one if you want to try this local specialty.

Whatever you decide, as you make your way down North Parade Passage don’t miss the beautiful North Parade Buildings on your left or the many good restaurants and shops around you.

When you reach the end of North Parade Passage, you’ll find yourself in Abbey Green. Featuring a large tree surrounded by pretty shops and cafes, it’s a great place to spend some time exploring. It was also a Bridgerton filming location.

When you’re done, continue your free walking tour in Bath by heading out of Abbey Green on Abbey Street. You’ll see the Roman Baths and get a great view of Bath Abbey as you reach York Street.

When you get there, veer right and walk into the square by the church. You can explore for a while and go inside the abbey if you want to, or continue your self-guided walk by turning left on Abbey Churchyard and going past the Roman Baths .

This famous site is worth seeing from the inside, and you can take a break from the walk to tour it if you want to.

You can also stop for a meal or snack next door at The Pump Room. It featured in Jane Austen novels like Persuasion and Northanger Abbey .

Even if you don’t want to eat, it’s worth taking a peek inside the famous Georgian building. It was the social heart of Bath for centuries, and you can taste the famous waters from the fountain inside.

When you’re done, you can continue down Abbey Churchyard and go under the beautiful colonnade to get to Stall Street. When you arrive, turn left and walk to Bath Street.

Turn right on Bath Street and admire the beautiful columns as you make your way to where it meets Hot Bath Street. When you get there, veer right to stay on Bath Street, then turn left along Chandos Buildings.

Walk through the narrow passage and admire the greenery as you make your way to Westgate Buildings. When you arrive, turn right and walk up the street, admiring the historic Bath Stone architecture on either side of you as you go.

When you reach the intersection with Westgate Street and Saw Close, keep straight to get onto the latter. You’ll see more columns and historic buildings here, and you’ll pass the Theatre Royal.

When you reach Barton Street, keep straight and make your way along it as you walk up to Queen Square. When you arrive, you can go into the green space and rest your legs, or walk along it and continue straight as it becomes Gay Street.

You’ll pass The Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein as you make your way up to The Circus. They’re right next to each other and you can stop to visit one or both if you want to.

The Circus is one of the most beautiful places in Bath. A historic ring of grand Georgian townhouses designed by architect John Wood, the Elder, it was built the mid-18th century.

Spend some time admiring the buildings here before exiting The Circus by taking a left on Brock Street. At the end of it you’ll find yourself in one of the most famous places in Bath: the Royal Crescent.

This stunning half-moon row of 30 terraced houses is situated on a green. Designed by John Wood, the Younger, it’s one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the United Kingdom.

Take a while to walk around and admire the scene, then continue your free walking tour in Bath by retracing your steps down Brock Street until you reach Margaret’s Buildings, a pedestrianized lane.

Turn left on Margaret’s Buildings and soak up the colorful shops and cafes as you make your way to Catharine Place. This is a good spot to stop for a meal, snack, or drink if you need a break. I particularly like The Green Bird Cafe.

When you reach Catharine Place, keep straight to walk up it and admire the green space on your left. When you get to the end, turn right to walk down Rivers Street. There are more pretty historic houses here.

Follow Rivers Street until it reaches Brunswick Place. Turn right on Brunswick Place, admiring Christ Church in front of you. Make sure to look behind you to see the pretty intersection with Julian Road, too.

When you get to the next street, you have two options for continuing your free Bath walking tour. One is to turn left onto Belvedere, head up the hill, and turn right on Camden Crescent.

You’ll be rewarded with beautiful houses and views of the city from near where Camden Crescent meets St Stephen’s Road.

The other option is to turn right on Belmont and walk down the hill, then turn right on George Street (if you choose the first option, retrace your steps and follow the second option when you’re done).

Walk along George Street and admire the cafes, then turn left on Milsom Street.

Milsom Street is packed with shops. It’s easy to spend time popping in and out of them as you make your way down to Old Bond Street. There are more shops to browse when you get there, and they’ll lead you down to Upper Borough Walls.

Turn left on Upper Borough Walls and make your way along the street. You’ll see cute places like Good Day Cafe, which are great for tea and cake.

Turn right on Union Passage and follow the skinny alley to Northumberland Place. Turn left and browse your way down to High Street.

When you reach it, you’ll be across the road from the Bath Guildhall Market. If you want to, you can pop in and explore the stalls and cafes in this 19th-century covered market.

If not, continue your free walking tour in Bath by turning right and admiring the facade of the Guildhall and the view of Bath Abbey. When you reach The Corridor, turn right and walk through the shopping arcade until you get back to Union Passage.

When you do, turn left and walk down the skinny lane to Cheap Street. Turn left there, then veer slightly right to stay on it as it becomes Orange Grove. You’ll pass lots of restaurants as you go.

When you find yourself in front of Alkmaar Gardens (also called Orange Grove), take in the obelisk. It was designed by Beau Nash to commemorate the Prince of Orange’s visit to take the waters in Bath in 1734.

Continue your Bath walking tour by following Orange Grove out to Grand Parade and walking along it as it curves left to Pulteney Bridge. Designed by architect Robert Adam in the Palladian style in the late 18th century, the bridge has shops all along it.

When you arrive, cross Pulteney Bridge (and shop while you go if you want to). You can either end your free walking tour in Bath here, or continue it by going down Argyle Street.

If you choose the latter, you’ll pass shops and the Laura Place Fountain. Keep straight when the road becomes Great Pulteney Street, and make sure to take in the elegant Georgian buildings as you make your way down to The Holburne Museum.

You can visit the museum, which was the city’s first public art gallery (and Lady Danbury’s house in Bridgerton ), or continue your free walking tour in Bath by turning left down Sydney Place and entering Sydney Gardens where it meets Beckford Road.

This Grade II-listed green space is the oldest park in the city of Bath, and it’s the only remaining 18th-century pleasure garden in the UK.

You can explore the gardens for as long as you want to. It’s worth walking over to the Kennet and Avon Canal while you’re there. There are beautiful bridges and a towpath you can follow.

When you’re done, make your way back out of the park and retrace your steps down Great Pulteney Street and Argyle Street to get back to Pulteny Bridge. Your free walking tour in Bath ends where it began.

Bath Free Tour Details and Map

Time: 1.5 to 3 hours (depending on time in the markets, shops, and museums, and whether you do the optional parts of the walk)

Map of the first half of the walk: https://goo.gl/maps/LaNhxwPNhJnEQgbs8

Map of the second half of the walk: https://goo.gl/maps/eUVQeYZEFa5xVyhR8

Map of the optional last part of the walk: https://goo.gl/maps/9qQcxaUEtkHnM6kz7

Further afield: The Cotswolds , Wells, Wiltshire , Painswick

Best Free Walking Tour in Bath

I hope my self-guided walking tour in Bath has made you want to get out and discover this amazing place and its world-class sightseeing highlights. Bath is one of the best cities in the UK and there are a lot of great places to see here.

If you want more ideas, you can take a look at my blog post with all my city walks in the UK . It will show you fun routes you’ll enjoy in other parts of the country. Happy walking!

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Take a free walking tour of Bath with a local

Bath, somerset.

Let the Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides show you the city of Bath with free daily walking tours.

Bath is a city bursting with Roman and Georgian heritage, and what better way to learn all about it than in the company of a knowledgeable, local guide. 

On the walking tours you’ll discover some of Bath's most celebrated landmarks, including the The Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge, as well as streets of beautiful Georgian townhouses, charming cobbled alleyways and the city's abundance of parks and gardens.

Starting from outside the main entrance to the Pump Room in the Abbey Church Yard, the Mayor’s Honorary Guides offer free walking tours which last approximately two hours. The tours run daily throughout the year and are a great introduction to Bath’s fascinating past and impressive collection of Grade I listed buildings.

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Take in breathtaking views on the Bath Skyline Walk

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31 best free things to do in bath that you can’t miss [2024].

In the words of our girl Jane Austen, “Oh! Who can be ever tired of Bath?”.

She’s right; Bath is full of things to do, and even though people on a shoestring tend to write it off as being too expensive to visit, it doesn’t have to be.

Like, at all.

In fact, there are so many free things to do in Bath that you’ll probably struggle to fit all of them into a single weekend!

So from art galleries and museums to walking tours and fudge tasting, here are the 31 best free things to do in Bath.

1. The Royal Crescent

Address: Bath BA1 2LR

Let’s kick off this list of the best free things to do in Bath with one of the city’s most famous sights, shall we?

If you hadn’t already gathered by now, you CANNOT visit Bath without wandering down the Royal Crescent .

This iconic 500-metre-long architectural landmark is made up of thirty terraced houses and is 254 years old.

At the very least, you’ll want to pitch up for a picnic or coffee on the lush grass out front but if you are willing to splash the cash (or have a generous relative), you can stop by at The Royal Crescent Hotel for an afternoon tea at £39.50 per person.

On your way back you’ll pass The Circus, up next.

2. The Circus

Address: Bath BA1 2EU

Just a few streets from the Royal Crescent is The Circus .

The Circus is made up of 33 Georgian houses designed by John Wood the Elder in 1768 to mimic Stonehenge’s layout (it’s only two metres shorter in diameter!).

I mean, if you couldn’t tell from the photo above, it’s named the third prettiest street in the country for good reason!

As such, The Circus is fantastic for a quick Instagram snap, and it’s especially beautiful in the winter when the residents have their Christmas trees up.

They’ve got their bauble theme nailed down!

3. Bath Abbey

Address: Bath BA1 1LT

Phone number: 01225 422462

It’s worth visiting Bath just to see Bath Abbey , and that doesn’t even include its gift shop!

Built in the 7 th century and famous for its fan vaulting (read: pretty ceilings), Bath Abbey is a must-visit attraction.

Entry is free but the wardens do ask for a donation on the door.

As with all religious buildings, there are numerous services throughout the week so plan your visit accordingly.

The Abbey closes at 2 pm on a Sunday (5 pm every other day), so ensure you’re there early if you’re on a weekend jolly to Bath.

Be warned: there can be big queues too, so factor this into your timings.

4. Pulteney Bridge and Weir

Address: Bridge St, Bath BA2 4AT

It’s a bit dark, granted, but Pulteney Bridge is where they filmed Javert’s suicide in Les Misérables.

So if you’re a Les Mis fan, you can’t miss this stop.

If, however, you’re more interested in a magnificent weir with a Georgian bridge to match, Pulteney Bridge is your place.

A hotspot for tourists on weekends, it can be hard to get close enough for a proper look but it’s worth holding your place to take in the view of the weir.

To get a better view, head across the bridge towards The Paragon and follow the steps down to the viewing platform on the other side.

You’ll then be able to look up at the bridge and see Bath’s famous rugby pitch, The Rec , too.

5. Walk the Bath Skyline

Address: Bath BA2 6EN

The Bath Skyline walk is a six-mile round route that, quite frankly, feels like entering another world.

With immense views across the Historic City of Bath (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site , duh) and miles of meadows, valleys and woodlands, it’s bliss.

Kick off the walk at Bathwick Hill at the entrance to Bathwick Fields and follow the National Trust signs from there onwards.

You’ll finish at the top of Bathwick Hill – factor in at least twenty minutes for photo opportunities. Honestly.

6. University of Bath

Address: Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

Phone number: 01225 388388

If you’re at a loose end, it’s well worth travelling up to Claverton Down to visit the University of Bath which was built in 1971.

A hub for Team GB athletes in training, the Training Village is worth a nosey (you might just see a famous Olympian!) and the lake outside the University library is a gorgeous coffee spot.

Bath is the highest university in England, so once you’ve scaled the hill, a cheap panini from one of the sandwich stands is quite the reward.

Come on, you can break the ‘free’ rule for a panini, right?

7. Guildhall Market

Address: High Street, Bath BA1 4AW

Phone number: 01225 460808

Bath’s only indoor market, the Guildhall Market , is the city’s oldest shopping venue and is home to twenty very unique stalls.

From a sweet shop to leather goods to Skoobs’ famous bookstore, there are loads to browse.

Most vendors have been trading there for over thirty years and pets are very welcome.

8. Kennet and Avon Canal Path

Address: Kennet and Avon Canal Path, Avon BA2 6QU

The Kennet and Avon canal connects Bristol to Reading so of course, much of it runs through the heart of Bath.

With locks every few metres and narrowboats passing through every few minutes, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t cover off at least some of the canal path.

If you’re looking for a long walk along the canal, start at Pulteney Bridge and walk for twenty miles , finishing at the famous Caen Hill lock flight at Devizes.

On this route, you’ll pass the Avoncliff Aqueduct , Sydney Gardens and Dundas Wharf – all perfect stops for a brew and view.

If only the drinks were free, ey?

9. Little Solsbury Hill

Address: Solsbury Lane, Batheaston, Bath BA1 7JQ

Solsbury Hill looks pretty unassuming to the naked eye but the view once you reach the top is immeasurably beautiful… no wonder Peter Gabriel poured his heart out in his song Solsbury Hill !

The top of the hill is home to an Iron Age fort which used to be manned by ‘warrior farmers’.

Cool, huh? When I’m older I want to be a warrior farmer.

10. Sham Castle

Address: Golf Course Rd, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 6JG

Sham Castle is a castle-front that was erected by Ralph Allen in 1762 (to get a better of view of the city from his townhouse, obvs).

Not only is Sham Castle a super stop after scaling Claverton Down Road (it’s really steep!), but as Ralph hoped, the view is breathtaking too.

11. Bath Christmas Market

Address: Stall Street, Bath BA1 1QH

So this might only be one of the best free things to do in Bath at a certain time of the year, but it’s too good not to include, okay?

Each and every year, Bath’s magical Christmas Market pulls in thousands of people to the city; and rightly so as it’s so Christmassy it HURTS.

With hundreds of sprawling stalls (manned by truly lovely people), fairy lights everywhere and Glühwein on every corner, Bath Christmas Market is a must.

In my opinion, it’s as good if not better than many European Christmas market bigguns like Strasbourg and Brussels. There, I said it.

As so many people come flocking, it’s vital that you plan your visit before you arrive.

Your best bet is to park at Charlotte Street car park or Manvers Street car park or see here for other travel options.

12. Victoria Park

Address: Marlborough Ln, Bath BA1 2NQ

Just metres away from the Royal Crescent, Royal Victoria Park is a haven on a hot day with its botanical gardens and bandstand.

There’s a café, mini-golf course and the Great Dell Aerial Walkaway too so you can make an afternoon of it.

Additionally, an open-air ice rink opens in November each year, but you’ll need to book in advance.

13. The Holburne Museum

Address: Great Pulteney St, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4DB

Phone number: 01225 388569

Bath’s Holburne Museum is home to two floors of fine art displays and exhibitions, as well as embroidery, gems and portrait miniatures.

The museum itself is a Grade I listed building with a beautiful garden and it does a great job at tracing the history of Bath as an artistic and fashionable spa city.

And on the second floor, you can find the works of Sir Thomas William Holburne himself, who founded the museum in 1893.

It’s important to note that entry to the Holburne Museum is only free between 3 pm – 5 pm on a Wednesday and from 5 pm – 9 pm on the last Friday of the month.

Plan your trip wisely so you don’t miss out!

14. Milson Street

Address: Bath BA1 1DB

Milsom Street is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful streets in the city, so of course, it deserves its place on this list of the best free things to do in Bath.

Built in 1762 by Thomas Lightholder (that surname is a flex in itself), it’s now home to lots of luxe shops including Jolly’s (a special edition House of Fraser flagship built especially for the city of Bath), Milsom Place , which pulls together a whole array of quirky pop-up shops, and The Ivy , if you fancy a bougie lunch.

Admittedly, all of these places require you to part with some pennies but who said you can’t window shop, right?

15. Beazer Maze

Address: Spring Gardens Rd, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6PW

If you’ve got thirty minutes to kill, Beazer Maze makes a great stop as it’s just two minutes from Pulteney Bridge.

It’s a stone maze designed by labyrinthologist, Randoll Coate , in 1984 (one of the best maze designers in the world, apparently).

In the middle of the maze is a Roman mosaic of a pretty grumpy-looking guy, but you must stop to say hi.

If you don’t, he might curse you or something. Maybe.

16. Henrietta Park

Address: Henrietta Rd, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6LY

If you’re game for some greenery, Henrietta Park is a great place to head.

The seven-acre park boasts a rose-covered pergola, yards of colourful flower beds and a Sensory Garden for little ones.

The park is a five-minute walk from Pulteney Bridge and it’s open all year; however, the Memorial Garden of Remembrance (for George V no less!) is locked between dawn and dusk.

17. Bath City Farm

Address: Kelston View, Whiteway, Bath BA2 1NW

Phone number: 01225 481269

Putting the ‘baa’ in Bath, Bath City Farm is one of the best free things to do in Bath if you’re an animal lover.

With goats, pigs, sheep and chickens, Bath City Farm perfectly mish-mashes rural with the city.

There’s also a nature trail, a café, a garden shop (where they only sell local produce) and an outdoor amphitheatre.

Admission is free, but they do encourage donations. (I say, do it for the baby goats!)

The farm is closed to the public on Mondays and Sundays, and opening hours are 10 am – 4 pm.

18. Alexandra Park

Address: Bath BA2 4RE

You’re looking for ANOTHER panoramic view of Bath?!

Fine, Alexandra Park it is.

Alexandra Park sits atop Beechen Cliff so makes for a prime view of the city, including an up-close view of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths .

To access the eleven-acre park you’ll need to climb quite a number of steps, so do consider this if mobility is an issue (or you’ve gone a little too hard on Bath’s famous fudge).

For more great views, you can head to one of the many rooftop bars in Bath – you’ll just have to pay for a drink for the privilege of a view!

19. Green Park Station

Address: Green Park Rd, Bath BA1 1JB

Phone number: 01225 787910

Green Park Station is a disused railway station in the heart of Bath that’s now filled to the brim (no seriously, it’s chocca) with market stalls.

There are spaces to shop, eat and work so whatever you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it at Green Park.

What’s more, loads of local traders are up for a chat, and all of the produce that’s sold there is sourced locally. Win, win!

20. Victoria Art Gallery

Phone number: 01225 477233

Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery is a treasure-trove for paintings, sculpture and art exhibitions.

If you want to visit one artsy place in Bath, I recommend that it’s this one.

The rooms in which the works are found are amazing in themselves but even better, each month the gallery curators hold a free after-hours tour where you can see behind the scenes.

Entry to the museum is free but exhibitions are paid for – regardless, you need to book a time slot before visiting.

The gallery is closed every Monday.

21. Bath Artisan Market

Address: Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HA

Phone number: 07825 684778

Bath’s Artisan Market takes place on the first Saturday of each month and what a dream it is.

Found on Queens Square, the Artisan Market calls itself “Bath’s biggest and friendliest market” and actually, they’re right.

There are rows and rows of local crafts, independent businesses, street food and occasionally live music which only adds to the atmosphere.

For me, a non-negotiable has to be the Bath Soft Cheese stall; it’s epic. Dairy Lea who?

22. Fudge tasting

I don’t think you’ll need much convincing on why fudge tasting is one of the best free things to do in Bath.

But in short, Bath knows what it’s doing when it comes to fudge.

I encourage you to pop into the following fudge shops: Fudge Kitchen , Roly’s Fudge and San Francisco Fudge .

Whether you’re buying or not, you’ll be offered tasters and you’d be silly to pass on them.

I can guarantee the sugar hit will be delectable, but I can’t guarantee that you won’t be tempted to splurge!

23. Join a walking tour

Address: Join the tour just outside the Roman Baths at the ‘Free Walking Tours Start Here’ sign

For a free walking tour of Bath, look no further than The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides .

The walk takes around two hours and covers the rich history of the city, including stops at Abbey Churchyard, Queen Square, the Royal Crescent and the Circus.

Each tour is circa 2 miles/3km and includes a gradual incline of around 100 feet.

Tours take place every day of the year excluding Christmas Day at 10.30 am, and 2 pm Sunday to Friday, and 10.30 am on Saturdays.

You must book at least 24 hours before your tour kicks off.

24. Two Tunnels Greenway

Address: There’s no official address for tunnels. Head east along the Upper Bristol Road in the direction of the city, and then take the first right (Brassmill Lane BA1 3JE) then on to the river towpath. Lastly, following signs, cross the green steel footbridge over the river.

If you’ve got time on your hands and energy in the bank, a walk along the twelve-mile Two Tunnels route is one to consider.

A lot of the path is on an old disused railway line and the highlight is, of course, the twin tunnels that you can walk or cycle through.

The Combe Down tunnel is the longest walking tunnel in the UK at a modest 1,672 metres.

It has an interactive light and sound installation too, so it’s definitely one to tick off the bucket list.

Once you’ve headed out of the city, the Tucking Mill Viaduct will come into view, followed by the Dundas Aqueduct, Midford Castle and the Devonshire Tunnel Portal.

I recommend stopping for a pub lunch at the six-mile mark: The Cross Keys is a stellar choice (BA2 5RZ).

Lots of people choose to cycle this route, so if you want to hire a bike, head to the Green Park Bike Station .

25. Parade Gardens

Address: Grand Parade, Bath BA2 4DF

You can find the Parade Gardens  just a few metres down from Pulteney weir.

The Parade Gardens have a stunning view of both the river Avon and Bath Abbey so if you’re in need of a pit stop, take it here.

And the best bit is that throughout the summer you can hear bands playing at the bandstand .

26. Jane Austen’s Bath

If you’re a Jane Austen stan (don’t tell me I’m not down with the kids), you’ll know that Jane Austen spent much of her time in Bath and referenced the city in several of her books.

So that you can trace Austen’s steps around the city and see some of the places she lived, the kind people at Visit Bath have put together a free audio tour of ‘Jane’s Bath’ .

It takes around ninety minutes but feel free to pause if you want to stop for tea.

(Jane’s favourite tea was Lapsang Souchong, so if you really want to get into character, head to Green Rocket to taste it. I just can’t promise that it’ll be free!)

27. Bath Carnival

Address: Procession begins at The Forum, Avon, 1A Forum Buildings, Bath BA1 1UG

Each year, Bath comes alive with its annual Bath Carnival which describes itself as ‘Bath’s biggest free party’.

Thousands of people take to the streets in colourful outfits to celebrate the city and raise money for important community causes.

The sea of headdresses and huge skirts brings an electric Caribbean energy to the city – you can’t miss it!

As well as the carnival procession, there’s a whole roster of events including live music, stage performances, craft workshops and costume making sessions.

Be there! You won’t regret it.

28. Bath Street

Address: Bath BA1 1QN

You guessed it; Bath Street is where the famous Thermae Bath is found in Bath.

Situated at the Pump Room, the historic bath bubbles up from the ground reaching temperatures of 46°C, and although you can’t quite see it from Bath Street itself, the street alone is beautiful enough to make up for it.

The long-cobbled street is flanked by glittering Georgian pillars that just scream romance.

It promises a postcard-worthy photo, and it’s a great background for a selfie!

There’s a reason Bath is one of the best UK city breaks for couples , after all.

29. Bath Aqua Glass Shop

Address: 105-107 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BW

Phone number: 01225 319606

If any shop is worth a peruse in Bath, it’s this one.

Bath Aqua Glass  is an independent glass company that does all of its glassblowing on-site, resulting in lots of unique pieces of jewellery and gifts for sale that’s fresh out of the studio.

Additionally, there are glassblowing demonstrations at 11.15 am and 2.15 pm Monday to Friday and at 2.15 pm on a Saturday.

Window shopping, quite literally.

30. St John’s Church

Address: South Parade, Bath BA2 4AF

Phone number: 01225 464471

Bath Abbey sets the standard high, but St John’s Church in the centre of Bath is almost as beautiful.

With stunning stained-glass windows and the highest spire in Bath (standing at 222 feet high), you really must pop by if you’re in the vicinity.

However, make sure to check on Mass and Confession times before rocking up.

31. Palladian Arch

Address: York Street, Bath BA1 1NQ

Last but by no means least on this list of the best free things to do in Bath, we have this beautiful Palladian arch.

Just beside the Roman Baths, you can find a stunning decorative arch that was once used to carry water to a new spa (this plan was masterminded by Major Charles Davis in 1889 but didn’t last long).

Nowadays, the arch is a gorgeous reminder of how they used to pump hot water around the city.

And maybe, more importantly, it makes a great shot to make your friends and family envious of your trip.

So there you have it: 31 amazing free things to do in Bath!

It’s safe to say that if you want to do Bath on a budget, it’s certainly possible.

But which of these free things to do in Bath are you going to try out first?

Please let me know in the comments below!

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Self Guided Bath Walking Tour (12 Places Not To Miss!)

Last Updated on 12/03/2023

The city of Bath in Somerset, England is renowned for its incredible Georgian architecture. Many tourist from all over the world flock to Bath to admire this truly unique city. Here is the perfect Bath walking tour if you want to see all of the top architectural sights on a short visit.

In this guide you will discover the top things to see in Bath and how you can explore them on a self-guided Bath walking tour. This post outlines directions for the walking tour and incudes historic information about the sites, plus additional optional stops.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more  here .

Bath Walking Tour

Bath is a city that is renowned for its striking Georgian architecture. And if you visit the city, you don’t want to miss spotting some of the most incredible and inspiring buildings Bath has to offer. This self-guided Bath walking tour will take you through the city on foot so that you can see the best sights in a short space of time.

The tour will take you approximately 1 hour to complete, however, there are some additional, optional stops highlighted on the route if you want to fill a whole day in Bath. As you will be on your feet, make sure to wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget your camera!

The tour starts in the centre of Bath in Abbey Churchyard (BA1 1LY). If you would like a great audio tour to narrate your route, Visit Bath have a wonderful free World Heritage Audio Tour that you can download to accompany your journey.

12 Unmissable Things To See In Bath

Here are the top 12 unmissable things to see in Bath. These are the sights you’ll be visiting on this Bath walking tour. So grab your audio guide and get ready to explore!

Roman Baths

• Thermae Bath Spa and Cross Bath

Queen’s Square

The king’s circus, the royal crescent.

• Assembly Rooms

The Paragon

Milsom street, pulteney bridge, great pulteney street, grand parade, bath walking tour: the sights.

If you’ve only got a few hours in Bath, here is a self guided Bath walking tour so you can see the main sights. The route includes some recommended bonus attractions if you have more time in the city. The walking tour will take you approximately 1 hour to complete.

To begin the tour, head to Abbey Churchyard (BA1 1LY).

Start your tour facing the ornate West front of the Abbey. The Abbey was the heart of the medieval city. In the late 9th century, King Alfred built medieval Bath over the original Roman city, so there is very little evidence of the Roman inhabitants today.

The Bath Abbey that you see today is a Tudor Abbey that was rebuilt in 1502. It was one of the last Abbey’s built in England before the dissolution of monasteries.

Services still take place in the Abbey today throughout the week. You can go inside the Abbey to admire the impressive stained glass windows and incredible vaulted ceilings. You can also take a tour up the tower to see Bath from above!

Before you move on to the next stop on the tour, be sure to glance over at The Pump Room . It was a popular place to be seen in the 1790s, and was where you came to take the natural spa waters for your health. You can still try a glass of spa water from the fountain today.

With your back to the Abbey, walk towards Stall Street then turn left. Follow the street until you reach the entrance to the Roman Baths on your left and the large UNESCO seal on the floor.

The Roman Baths in Bath is one of the finest thermal spas of the ancient world. It was built about 2000 years ago around England’s only hot springs. If you have time, you can enter the Baths and enjoy audio guides and interactive displays, following in the Roman’s footsteps.

Outside the Roman Baths you will see a brass UNESCO symbol on the floor. The city of Bath is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This is due to the creative genuis of the architecture in the city.

If you stand with your back to the Baths and look down Bath Street, you can see a good example of this. Almost all of the buildings in Bath are built using the yellow Bath stone, which was considered a prestigious building material and gives the city a cohesive look.

With your back to the Roman Baths, walk straight ahead down Bath Street, until you reach The Cross Bath at the end.

Thermae Bath Spa and The Cross Bath

The Cross Bath was a popular venue to swim in the healing hot waters during the 18th Century. Today, it stands across the road from its more modern counterpart, Thermae Bath Spa . This building was built between 1999-2003 and is an example of a modern building in the middle of the historic city.

Before you move on, take a look at the building behind the Cross Bath. This is St John’s Hospital and it is an early example of palladianism architecture in Bath. It was built by the architect John Wood the elder. He was the first architect to introduce the palladianism style to Bath and it defined the way the rest of the city would look.

With The Cross Bar on your left, stay with the curve of Bath Street. Pass by The Little Theatre and continue on to Westgate Street. Turn left on Westgate Street and follow the road as it becomes Saw Close, Barton Street and ultimately Gay Street. Turn left into Queen’s Square, a square park with an oblisk at the centre.

Queen’s Square was the first great development by John Wood in the city. It began in 1729 and was completed in 1736.

Queen’s Square was designed as four rows of terraced houses around a central square garden. The goal was to make a row of terraced houses look like a country house as a means of attracting the wealthy to stay in the city.

Optional stop: The Herschel Museum of Astronomy is located just a short walk from Queen’s Square. It is dedicated to the many achievements of brother and sister William and Caroline Herschel, who were celebrated astronomers and talented musicians. William discovered the planet Uranus in 1781. Find it at 19 New King Street, Bath BA1 2BL.

Leave Queen’s Square via the same way you entered. Continue to follow Gay Street uphill until you reach The Circus.

The King’s Circus or simply, The Circus, as it is known, is an impressive and imposing set of three crecent buildings built to create a central circle. It was a creation undertaken in 1754 by John Wood and completed by John Wood the younger after his father passed away.

The design of The Circus echoes the colosseum, with its three tiers. It is another example of the palladianism architecture design in Bath. However, The Circus is also inspired by ancient British architecture including druid stone circles such as Stonehenge, which is indicated by the acorns along the top of the buildings.

Exit The King’s Circus via Brock Street, one street to the left of where you entered. Follow Brock Street until you reach the Royal Crescent.

The Royal Crescent is possibly the most iconic building in Bath. This sprawling crescent-shaped building is fronted by a beautiful park. This sweeping building was designed and built by John Wood the younger between 1757 and 1765.

Although built by John Wood the younger, the concept was likely created by his father. The idea was to create a row of terraced houses that felt like a country house. Unlike The Circus, this building is far less enclosed and feels like a stately home with a sprawling lawn, rather than an inner city appartment.

This building was designed for the wealthy who would visit for ‘the season‘. They would normally stay for a couple of months each year and could rent an entire house or a series of rooms.

Optional stop: No. 1 Royal Crescent has been restored to reflect what a Georgian house would have looked like during 1776-1796. You can book a ticket to take a glimpse inside and get a taste of how Bath’s wealthy visitors lived.

From Royal Crescent, return back down Brock Street, then take the far exit from The Circus, Bennett Street. Shortly after you leave The Circus, enter the pedestrian square on the right to find the Assembly Rooms.

Optional stop: As you exit The Circus on Bennett Street, you will pass the Museum of East Asian Art . It is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the art and culture of East and South East Asia. Their impressive collection consists of nearly 2,000 sets of objects.

The Assembly Rooms

As the city expanded, Bath required new assembly rooms. The Assembly Rooms were a place for social entertainment such as dancing and live performances. They were originally built by John Wood the younger, but were bombed during the second world war so have experienced significant restoration.

Optional stop: Inside the Assembly Rooms you will find the Fashion Museum . It features a world-class collection of contemporary and historic dress. Discover the evolution of fashion through the ages in these beautiful displays.

Return onto Bennett Street and follow it to the end where you turn left onto Lansdown Road. Cross the road and take Guinea Lane on your right, then turn right again onto The Paragon.

Optional stop : You can add a slight detour to your route to visit the Museum of Bath at Work . This museum tells the story of Bath’s working class at the centre of industry. It includes displays on Victorian ironmongers and engineering works, a soft drinks factory and even the story of mining that famous Bath stone.

The Paragon is an imposing row of 21 Georgian town houses built between 1768-1775. This road was one of the key entrance and exits into Bath, and it really sets the scene for visitors when they arrive in the city.

One building that really stands out on The Paragon is The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel. It is one of the few buildings in Bath in the gothic revival style. The Countess of Huntingdon was a Methodist who built the chapel as a means of eradicating sin from the city she felt had become far to decadant.

Optional stop: Inside The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel you will find the Museum of Bath Architecture . This museum delves into the history of Bath’s Architecture from the Romans, right through to modern structure and explores how they have been designed to complement each other.

Continue to follow the Paragon as it curves to the right, and cross the road onto George Street. Here, take the first left onto Milsom Street.

Shopping was a popular Georgian pastime. Laid out in 1761, Milsom Street was a key commercial area of the Georgian city, giving the wealthy visitors an opportunity to enjoy some retail therapy. Shoppers could pick up their essentials from milliners, drapers, and dressmakers, or visit a library of portrait artist.

Follow Milsom Street to the end and continue on as it becomes New Bond Street and curves to the left. When you reach Northgate Street turn right, then take the first left onto Bridge Street to reach Pulteney Bridge.

Optional stop: Victoria Art Gallery is a free public gallery that houses Bath and North East Somerset’s collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. It houses over 1500 objects of art including a collection of oil paintings from British artists dating from 1700 onwards. It is located on Bridge Street (BA2 4AT).

There are very few buildings in Bath that were designed by architects who didn’t hail from the city. Pulteney Bridge is one of them though! It was designed by architect Robert Adam and is one of the very few bridges of its type in the country.

Pulteney Bridge is a rare example of a bridge with shops along either side. If you were stood on the bridge, it would be easy to think you were just on any regular street! Across the bridge is the new expansion to the city and the start of the neoclassicist architecture that began to develop in Bath.

Cross Pulteney Bridge, continue straight down Argyle Street and continue straight ahead at Laura Place to find yourself on Great Pulteney Street.

Optional stop: as you cross Pulteney Street, take the stairs down on the right-hand side. It will bring you out into the recreation ground. It is another great green space in the city to unwind and it gives you another beautiful view of Pulteney Bridge.

Great Pulteney Street is a wide street that was designed for promenading. These buildings reflect the newer style of architecture in the city; they are cleaner with fewer columns or decorations. However, they also mark the end of inner city development in Bath.

As the years went on, people were now wanting to live in Bath, rather than just visit. And residents wanted detached or semi-detached properties with gardens, rather than terraced houses.

Great Pulteney street was designed by Robert Adam as a set of streets for new area town, however it was built by Bath architect Thomas Baldwin. It was complemented by Sydney Gardens at the far end, a pleasure garden for daytime walking and evening entertainment such as fireworks.

Optional stop: you cannot help but spot Holburne Museum as you walk down Great Pulteney Street. This grand building sits at the far end of the street at the entrance to Sydney Gardens. It is home to the personal collection of Sir William Holburne, Bath resident and avid collector of silver, paintings, glass, porceline, furniture and more. As you pass, you can pop in and admire the grand collection in person.

Retrace your steps back down Great Pulteney Street, across Pulteney Bridge and take the first left onto Grand Parade, alongside the river.

This final stop on the tour is an opportunity to admire the landscape surrounding Bath. As the middle classes grew in Bath, they wanted to have detached and semi-detached houses and their own land. This saw the townhouse terraced buildings die out, to be replaced by urban villas on the hillsides surrounding Bath.

Bath is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites to incorporate the whole city. The main reason for this is due to the unique way that Bath seamlessly incorporates the surrounding landscape.

Bath Walking Tour: Know Before You Go

When you visit Bath and take this Bath walking tour, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. Here are my top tips for visiting Bath:

• Wear comfortable shoes! There is a lot of walking and Bath is a hilly city so you’ll spend a lot of time walking up and down hills. I learned the hard way and left with some pretty impressive blisters!
• Car parking in the city is expensive and gets busy. If you are travelling by car, arrive early to avoid disappointment. We parked in Avon Street Car Park (BA1 1UF) which was only a short walk from the city centre.
• When you end the tour on Grand Parade, follow it along the river and past the park to discover Dr Gelato . This impressive ice cream store has a great range of classic and experimental flavours. Make sure to try out their charcoal cone!

For more Bath inspiration for planning your trip, check out these resources:

Guided Tours of Bath

If you want to see even more of Bath following your self-guided tour, a guided tour from a local expert is a fantastic way to learn the hidden secrets of a city!

Bath has a wonderful selection of guided tours for you to try. Each one will show you a different aspect of the city – whether it is the dark, haunted back street or a fascinating stroll through the history of Bath.

Here are the best guided tours of Bath for you to enjoy:

• City Walking Tour with Optional Roman Baths Entry
• 1.5-Hour Walking Tour with Blue Badge Tourist Guide
• Bath Guided Ghost Tour
• City Sightseeing Bath: Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Short Orientation Walking Tour
• Ghost Hunters Silent Disco Guided Tour
• The Bad of Bath Walking Tour

Where To Stay In Bath

If you want to spend more than one day exploring the city, here are some great accommodation options for your stay.

Things To Do Near Bath

If you are planning an extended visit to the area, here are some of the other things to do near Bath to get the most out of your visit:

• Beckford’s Tower : is an impressive gold topped tower just outside of Bath. It offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
• Cotswolds villages: Bath sits on the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This region is made up of beautiful countryside and quaint villages that have a storybook feel. Read this guide to discover the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds .
• Castle Combe: when it comes to pretty Cotswold villages, Castle Combe takes the crown. In fact, Castle Combe is often described as the prettiest town in England! Read this guide to discover the perfect way to spend a day in Castle Combe.
• Malmesbury: this pretty market town in Wiltshire is your quintessential English country town. Complete with historic market cross, grand Abbey and sprawling gardens, it is well worth a visit to admire Malmesbury’s charm. Read this guide to discover the top things to do in Malmesbury.
• Dyrham Park: this stunning country house set in ancient deer park is a beautiful place for a gentle stroll. Dyrham Park is maintained by the National Trust and is just a short drive from Bath.

So if you are visiting Bath, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it using the pin below so you can visit these top sights on your trip!

Have you visited Bath? I’d love to hear about your visit! Let’s connect on  Instagram  and send me a DM and tell me what you loved most about this fascinating city!

Until our next adventure,

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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.

70 thoughts on “Self Guided Bath Walking Tour (12 Places Not To Miss!)”

I loved my trip to Bath two years ago, it’s such a magical city to walk around on foot. This is a fantastic guide that hits up all of the main attractions!

I’m so glad you like the guide! It is an incredible city and you definitely see the best of it on foot!

This post has brought back so many wonderful memories. Bath was one of my first solo travel trips when I decided I really needed to see more of my home country. I definitely should go back!

Bath is such a great city for a first solo trip! There’s definitely a lot to see and do there, I think you could easily fill multiple trips to Bath and still not see it all!

I’ve been to Bath before but missed a lot of great things to see. This guide is so detailed. I’ve saved it to refer back to when I get to visit again. Thank you so much!

There is so much to see in Bath, I think it definitely takes more than one trip to take it all in! I’m already dreaming of going back to see more of the city! I hope you’re able to visit again soon!

We are adding so many spots to the UK driving trip we want to plan. This self guided walk through Bath sure will give us a great look at the beautiful Georgian architecture. At the speed we go taking pics, we would probably need to plan more than one hour for sure. We would certainly want to see the inside of the Royal Crescent to see how the wealthy lived. Probably good to stay in Bath and do some day trips from there.

Haha I know what you mean about taking pictures! I faff for ages taking photos! i think we were speedier than usual because we met my brother while we were there and he didn’t have the patience to hang around while I took hundreds of photos! Bath is definitely a great place to stay while exploring the area. It’s really close to the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Oxford and plenty of other great places to see. A UK driving trip sounds wonderful! I hope you have an amazing time!

I have been to Bath, but I missed many of these places so need to go back for sure! Thanks for this useful list, well done! 🙂

What a great excuse to go back! There is definitely a lot to see in Bath, I think it takes more than one trip to really take it all in. I’m already dreaming of going back for another visit. I hope you get back there someday soon!

What a great and comprehensive tour! Looks like a beautiful spot to explore 🙂

I’m so glad you like the tour! Bath is such an interesting city and the architecture is stunning!

I loved Bath so much! Whilst the entry fee to the Roman Bath is rather expensive, there are so many amazing spots to visit for free which is amazing! I’ve never tried a walking tour though that’s one thing I should try next time i visit a new place. I also totally missed that ice cream place, so that’s another reason to return 🙂

I was gutted because unfortunately the Roman Baths were closed when we visited due to Covid restrictions so that’s my excuse to go back! And for the ice cream…the charcoal cone was surprisingly delicious!

Bath is so beautiful. I didn’t get a chance to do many of these things especially the spots outside of bath. Thanks for the tips 🙂

It’s such a beautiful city! I could have spent much longer there! There is definitely a lot more than I managed to see! The surrounding area is so beautiful too, it’s hard to pick what to see when you’re so spoiled for choice!

This is so detailed!! Thank you so much. With this article I’d definitely be happy to do a self-guides tour 👏🏽

Thanks Elyse! I’m so glad you like it! I hope you get an opportunity to take a self-guided Bath walking tour soon!

I visited Bath a couple years ago but haven’t been able to go since – but with this post, I’m sure I’ll find a whole bunch of new things to see and do!!

Bath is a beautiful city isn’t it? There’s so much to see and do…I’m itching to go back too!

I visited Bath for 1 day only so I indeed missed most of these! I will pin your post for my next visit, thank you so much!

There is so much to see in Bath isn’t there! I’d love to go back too so I can see more of the city! Thanks for reading!

Bath looks like an awesome spot to visit! I’d love to check out some of these spots one day. Thanks for sharing!

Bath is such a beautiful city! I’d love to go back because many of the museums weren’t open when we visited due to the restictions. It would be nice to spend more time admiring the city, but it was lovely to walk around and take in all of the beautiful architecture! I hope you get an opportunity to visit soon!

It’s been so long since I visited Bath. I was a kid and probably not the best age to appreciate how truly beautiful a city it is. I’d love to go back now and explore and this is such a helpful guide to see all the major sites and everything that makes the city unique

I think I visited Bath as a kid once but I have no memory of it at all. It is definitely a city that we appreciate more as adults! I hope you get a chance to go back and see the sites!

I always thought Bath, was just the name of the hot springs there. I didn’t realize it was the name of the whole town! I also didn’t realize it was so close to the Cotswalds. We visited that area back in 2016, but went straight from the Cotswalds to Oxford. I would love to go back and tour this UNESCO site!

Ooh you will have been super close to Bath if you went from the Cotswolds to Oxford! It is a really beautiful city and well worth a visit. What a great excuse to come back and visit! I hope you get an opportunity to visit soon!

I love the idea of a walking tour… great opportunity to get your steps in!

Yes! You’ll definitely hit your daily step goal with this one! It’s such a walkable city and it is the best way to see the beautiful architecture!

I am really looking forward to visiting Bath someday and this post will be so helpful in planning our trip. Thanks!

I hope you get an opportunity to visit someday soon, Bath is such a beautiful city!

All I can think of is pride and prejudice! Lol thanks for sharing!!! This is a great walking guide!!

Haha! There are several Jane Austen tours in Bath too if you want a true Pride & Prejudice experience! I’m so glad you like the guide, thanks for reading!

I’ve heard so many good things about Bath! I’ll definitely reference this when I visit one day!

It’s a beautiful city, I definitely recommend visiting when you’re in the area! I really want to go back and spend more time there! I hope you have a wonderful visit when you go!

I appreciate your walking tour guides, so detailed with historical snippets included. A couple of photographs are particularly eye-catching: the one of The Pump Room with Bath Abbey in the background, and the second one of Pulteney Bridge. Awesome!

I’m so glad you like the walking tour! I always find the history of places fascinating and a tour was definitely the best way to take it all in! It’s such a picturesque city, the photos don’t even do it justice!

Thank you! I have been meaning to visit Bath for a long time and now I have a great list to start. I just love the historical origins of the city, can’t wait to explore it 🙂

Bath was on my list forever too before I finally managed to get there! I’d love to go back and spend more time there as we only had about half a day in the end. It was fascinating learning about the history of the city and its architecture. I hope you get a chance to visit soon!

I haven’t been to Bath, England yet but I *love* self-guided walking tours. I pinned this for later – thanks!

Ah I hope you get to Bath soon! It’s a beautiful city and well worth exploring. Thanks for reading!

When my husband & I travel we love walking everywhere. And I think we’d love to do this self-guided walking tour of Bath! That architecture is transporting!

Ah I love walking around destinations too…it is definitely the best way to see them and you often stumble on little gems you would otherwise miss! Bath definitely has some incredible architecture, I’ve visited plenty of pretty UK cities but none of them are like Bath!

I’m crazy for UNESCO World Heritage sites and your article makes it easy to see why Bath is one! Even back in the 1700’s there were some brilliant tourism minds developing this destination. I can’t wait to petsit my way back to Europe because Bath has now moved a few notches higher on my Bucket List. Thanks for the inspiration!

You always know you’re in for a treat with a UNESCO World Heritage site, don’t you! I love visiting them too and Bath is definitely worth exploring! If you end up pet sitting your way over to England I’ve got two fur-babies who would love to spend some time with you I’m sure!

I absolutely adore Bath! When I went I’m pretty sure I just aimlessly walked around but I no doubt missed some places.. wish I had this guide back then to have made sure I saw all the wonderful buildings and highlights of such a pretty place..

It’s such a beautiful city, isn’t it? Unfortunately, we only had about half a day in Bath so a walking tour was a great way to see the main sights in a short space of time. It was so interesting uncovering the history of these incredible buildings!

I actually much prefer doing a walking tour on my own rather than with a guide! Thanks for the comprehensive (and easy to follow!) post! I’ll def be using this whenever I get over the pond!

I completely agree! I love an audio tour as, between tracks, I can move at my own pace, pause to take photos and just do my own thing! It feels a lot less pressured than a group tour! I hope you get an opportunity to visit soon!

Can’t believe I missed walking along the Paragon when I was there! The abbey was also surrounded by scaffolding when I visited which was a shame. You definitely cover all of the main attractions in Bath!

The Paragon is definitely a little out on a limb in the city but it is well worth looping around that way to see it! What a shame you couldn’t admire the Abbey! It still had plenty of scaffolding on it, but luckily it was all around the side and back from the main entrance this time. What a good excuse to come back and see it properly though!

Bath looks so beautiful and I adore all of the points of interest you’ve included. Super helpful how you’ve shared the optional stops as well!

Bath is such a stunning city and I’m so glad you like the guide! I really want to go back and visit the optional stops and many attractions were closed during our visit due to Covid restrictions. The walking tour was a great way to see the main sights though in a short visit! It was a wonderful little ‘taster session’ for what Bath has to offer!

Bath always reminds me of Pride & Prejudice (the movie and the book!). Would love to visit someday!

There is a Jane Austen audio tour of the town too if you love Pride and Prejudice! Unfortunately we didn’t get time to try that one out but hopefully on our next visit! I hope you get a chance to try it out too!

Wooow. The architecture here is beautiful! The paragon was my favorite spot.

I hope to visit the UK soon! Definitely adding this city to my list!

Bath is such a beautiful city and the architecture is stunning. I hope you’re able to visit soon to see it in person!

I’m headed to England for a three-week workation this fall. I definitely want to visit Bath so this top 12 list and walking tour guide is perfect!

Ooh I hope you have a wonderful time while visiting England! Bath is such a beautiful city to visit, I hope you get the opportunity to soak up all these sights!

Bath really is such a beautiful town and for a walking tour! I’ve been to Bath but didn’t get the chance to see as many of these points of interest. I only saw the Roman Baths and Thermae Spa. I need to go back and spend more time here!

There is so much to see in Bath, isn’t there? I’m keen to go back as it was a bit of a whirlwind tour for us too and there are many other things we still want to see. Thanks to the lockdown regulations at the time we didn’t get the chance to visit inside the Roman Baths and I was gutted! I’m hoping to get back there again soon to see even more!

I have been to Bath so many times and yet have missed some of these every time! Will definitely be saving for when I go back.

There is so much to see in Bath, isn’t there? I’m keen to go back and explore even more of the city – there’s a lot that we didn’t get the chance to see the first time around!

Bath is definitely on my bucket list! What a beautiful destination, wow! 🙂

Bath is such a beautiful city, isn’t it? The architecture is spectacular!

I wish I had seen this a couple of weeks ago when we found ourselves exploring this area after one of girls got Covid and all of us were denied boarding for our cruise. We spent a day in Bath and had to do a lot of last minute research to find things to do.

Oh no! How disappointing you weren’t able to board your cruise! Although I think there are worse places to be stuck than Bath! It is such a beautiful city! I’m keen to go back soon and explore more of it!

Bath is one of my absolute favourite towns in England! Thanks for sharing such a detailed guide – this walking tour covers so much! Would love to go back and try out the route soon 🙂

Bath is such a beautiful place, isn’t it? I love the architecture! I’m eager to go back and explore even more! Thanks for reading!

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Free walking tour of Georgian Bath

Conducted by the mayor of bath's honorary guides and bath hop-on buses.

Although the  Roman Baths at Bath  are probably the single most popular attraction in Bath, it is ' Georgian Bath ', the city's elegant buildings and environment which is perhaps most fondly remembered by many visitors.

Volunteer guides approved by the Mayor of Bath are proud to show you their city on a 2-hour plus walking tour of the centre of the city. 'Free' and 'volunteer' these tours are, but the walking tours are very high quality, at least the equal of any commercial tour.

If you want the best out of your visit to Bath, investing the morning taking this tour is recommended. It will give you the basis for picking out places that personally interest you in the afternoon and there is plenty of time to visit the Roman Baths or go shopping afterwards .

Another way to sightsee around Bath is to take one of the popular hop-on, hop-off buses . Although Bath is much smaller than some cities where hop on buses run (like London), many people enjoy the spectacle of viewing the beautiful Georgian town of Bath from up-high.

Bath Guides official website .

About the Bath free walking tour   What will I learn about Bath?   Hop on buses, Bath  

The Bath free walking tour

Covid restrictions lifted - no longer any need to book in advance

One of the great things about these tours is you can just turn up, and there is no longer a need to pre-book in advance (see start times below).

At peak times, multiple volunteer guides divided the group assembled into a manageable size. The guides are very approachable. You will be much the wiser about Bath by this time than when you started.

To find out the up to date details on one of these free tours please go to the  Bath Guides official website .

Children welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Where does the free walking tour start and finish?

All walks start in front of the Pump Room at the Roman Baths in the very centre of the city, and finish here too.

What times does the walking tour operate?

The walking tour runs every day of the year (including Public Holidays except Christmas Day), and in all weathers.

All year round:

Sunday - Friday at 10.30am & 2pm and

Saturday at 10.30am only

May 3rd – 30th August:

Tuesday and Thursday 6pm

How long does the walking tour take?

The tour is at a leisurely pace. All walks take around 2 hours.

Do I need to leave a tip?

You might be wanting to leave a tip - but the official website states that "The guides are proud of the service they offer. It is free and no guide accepts a tip. The reward is the satisfaction of welcoming visitors from across the world and, on behalf of the Mayor, leading informative, interesting and entertaining walking tours of the beautiful and historic City of Bath."

What will I learn about Bath?

Bath was at its height during the 18th Century, when England had a succession of kings called George, hence the Georgian period.

Society was very structured with a rich affluent upper class. Many of the rich people were widely dispersed across England, many of them landowners in their country estates.

This was a time before the motor car, telecommunications and the golf club. It was a time where it was most important to 'marry well'.

To enable this upper class society to network, do a little business, find an appropriate husband for your daughter etc., 'seasons' were introduced.

During a season, anybody who was anybody would decamp to the season's venue to meet their peers. Bath was arguably the premier season of them all.

The volunteer guides will tell you the story of why Bath, and not somewhere else. The story of the main characters that came together to start this phenomenon, show you the unique architecture of Bath and how people lived and behaved of all classes.

You will see all the main places of interest in Bath on the tour and by the end will have been both entertained and have the knowledge to maximise your enjoyment of Bath for the rest of your visit - and all for free!

Bath Tootbus: hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus

Bath is a very walkable city, everything is packed into a very compact area.

You do not really need a hop-on, hop-off bus from a logistical sense, although there is a tour option that offers a Bath skyline tour outside the city of Bath.

However, what you do get is a good orientation of Bath perched high up on the double deck bus. Especially if you are visiting independently the commentary can set the scene nicely for your stay.

Tootbus (formerly called The Original Tour) also operate a very popular hop-on bus experience in London .

Bath hop-on, hop-off bus routes, frequencies etc

There are two routes covered by the same ticket. The core route (City Tour) covers the city of Bath itself and takes you to the Roman Baths , the Pump Room, Bath Abbey where England's first King was crowned and the Assembly Rooms amongst others. In fact all the main attractions in the city.

The City Tour takes 50 minutes to do a full loop and runs every 20 minutes.

The second 'Skyline Tour' takes you from Bath Railway Station round Claverton Down past the University of Bath and Prior Park Landscape Garden.

The Skyline tour takes 45 minutes to complete a full loop and runs every 30 minutes.

Both routes run between 10am and 5pm.

The tours use modern double decker buses like those photographed here. There is a live guide conducting the tour in English with headsets available with pre-recorded commentary in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin and Polish.

When you buy a ticket it is flexible, and can be validated anytime within three months of purchase. You also get a free booklet with deals and discounts for museums, restaurants, and local attractions included.

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Free Bath Walking Tour

• Genuinely authentic insight into Bath
• Knowledgeable local guides
• History delivered in an engaging style
• Small Group Sizes

Availability: Monday to Sunday – 11am & 2pm Duration: 2 hours Price: Free

Please make sure you plan where to park before yo visit!

No boring tours

Authentic and fun guides who have lived experience in Bath.

Moreover none of our tours will make you fall asleep! We hate dry, boring tours that don’t engage their audiences. History doesn’t need to be dull. It is full of exciting events and famous (often quirky) individuals so we see no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy every  minute of your tour!

All the best sites!

This tour covers all the  important sites for any visitor coming to Bath!  You will see the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in England and learn about the city’s Roman foundations.

It’s easy to see why this city is called “The Las Vegas of The Georgians”

Off the beaten path

We cover all the sites you wouldn’t want to miss, but we also take you to the less “touristy” locations.

From charming cobbled alleyways to historic shops!

• Roman Baths
• Pulteney Bridge
• Jane Austen
• Bath during the War
• Queen's Square
• Theatre Royal
• Upper Assembly Rooms
• Royal Crescent
• Ralph Allen
• And many more!

Want To Go Inside The Roman Baths?

Previous tour, booking for free bath walking tour.

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Beautiful Bath

Visiting one of england's jewels.

Bridgerton walk around Bath: a self-guided, free walking tour

Dearest Reader, Let me take you on a little tour of high society in this most elegant of cities…

Many  of the outdoor town scenes for Series 1 of the Netflix Regency romance hit Bridgerton were filmed in Bath, in south-west England. You can read more about the filming, with a comprehensive list of locations, in my article: Bridgerton locations in Bath: the ultimate guide, or get a peek at the latest location filming in my post Bridgerton Series 3 filming in Bath . Watched the series, read about the Bath settings and want to explore in person? I’ve designed this Bridgerton Bath walking tour around my hometown so you can see all the principal Bath filming locations in one scenic walk. I’ve included some specific episode and time references for fans who would like to watch scene highlights on their phone while visiting the actual location.

You can visit Bath as a day trip from London and other towns, but to get the most from this beautiful city, why not consider an overnight stay to experience more? Read my top recommendations for planning a Bridgerton-inspired break in Bath.

Bridgerton walk practicalities

This walking tour will last at least an hour and twenty minutes when taken at a leisurely pace – though as it’s an attractive ramble with lots of photo opportunities and Bridgerton sights,  and you’ll be reading this as you go, you may want to allow significantly longer. You’ll pass a number of good places to eat, drink and relax, so you could easily spend half the day enjoying the tour and making the most of Bath. There’s some uphill, but it isn’t very steep. As always with walking tours, I’d recommend comfortable shoes and a bottle of water. You’ll pass a couple of good picnic spots if you fancy dining al fresco like Bridgerton characters (but with more clothes on; this is a respectable town!)

The walk isn’t intended as a general tour of Bath’s historic attractions, and I’m focussing on Bridgerton-related sights. However, these obviously coincide with some of Bath’s most attractive spots, so the walk will be an enjoyable way to discover highlights of the city even for any non-Bridgerton fans in your group.

Beginning the walk: In front of Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey is an imposing and ancient church at the heart of Bath. It’s not featured in Bridgerton, but it’s a good central place to start and finish our tour, easy to find whether you are staying in Bath or visiting for the day – and you shouldn’t miss seeing the Abbey anyway. In the square in front of the Abbey’s main entrance is another great sight of the city, Bath’s Roman Baths Museum, which incorporates Bath’s Roman and Georgian thermal bath complexes. Bridgerton is set in London, so the characters don’t visit the Baths or the Pump Room alongside, but in historic Georgian times, and in many other Regency romance novels, Bath’s high-society visitors would congregate in the Pump Rooms to drink the mineral-rich hot spring water, and – importantly – to see and be seen.

(If you are arriving for a day trip by train, from Bath Spa station follow directions on your phone map to Bath Abbey, or head up Manvers Street, opposite the main station building, for around 7 minutes until you reach the Orange Grove, where there is a small green garden roundabout with an obelisk. Turn left here, and then pass along the right-hand side of the Abbey to reach its main entrance.)

Walking tour section 1: Abbey Green to Trim Street

With your back to the main door of the Abbey, turn to your left and walk down into the large square on the Abbey’s southern side, Abbey Churchyard. Continue straight on, past the benches and the balustraded wall of the Roman Baths complex. On the far side of the square, cross York Street and enter cobbled Abbey Street, straight ahead, with the Georgian Tea Room on your left.

As you pass down this short lane into pretty Abbey Green, you are entering the heart of the Bridgerton world. Does the curved white shopfront ahead on your right  look familiar? It’s the Bridgerton Modiste , where the ladies of the ton go to gossip as their dresses are fitted by Madame Delacroix. And occasionally their male relatives spend time inside, engaged in less innocent pursuits. The interior of the café here (then called Pickled Greens) was used in filming, as well as the exterior.

Just before you reach the Modiste, take a look at the doorway next to the shop – the one with a triangular pediment above the door. In Series 1, Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, pays a couple of visits to this address when his opera singer lover Siena is staying here, one of which leads to a passionate but short-lived reunion right on the threshold in front of you. I now think of this as the Raunchy Doorway . (S1 Ep4 46:40)

The ‘Modiste’ building itself currently houses the Abbey Deli, a good place to stop for a drink, a snack, or a picnic to eat later during the walk. I can recommend the orange and pistachio cake.

The little cobbled square here, Abbey Green , plays a big part in Bridgerton Series 1. As well as the frequent scenes set inside and outside the Modiste, Abbey Green also features as a marketplace and an evening destination – recognisable in most shots thanks to the identifying tree at its centre, though modern shopfronts are covered up for the TV scenes with market stalls and stacks of crates.

We’re going to head back up onto York Street, the narrow street we just crossed. But before that, take a turn around Abbey Green, and make a little detour to go under the arch at the lower end of the square. The coffee shop on your right is a drinking den, The Horse and Hop, in Bridgerton, and it’s here on the road under the arch that our hero Simon, the Duke of Hastings, falls down drunk after trying to drown his sorrows (S1 Ep5 21:00).

Now head back in the direction of the Abbey, past the Modiste and the Raunchy Doorway. Turn left on York Street, and walk along past the perimeter of the Roman Baths and under another, prettier arch. (Insider tip: looking back through this arch to the Abbey tower makes one of my favourite Bath photo opportunities, if you get the angle right). There are glimpses of this street in Series 1 in some of the Abbey Green scenes.

York Street emerges onto Bath’s busiest shopping thoroughfare, Stall Street. We’re not going to linger for the shops, however. Turn right and walk up to where the street widens in front of the historic entrance to the Pump Room, with ‘King’s and Queen’s Bath’ written over the portico. Turning your backs to this grand entrance, you will see a view you’ll recognise: the wide colonnaded Bath Street . The walk continues down this impressive street, which features in several Bridgerton scenes. When the Duke of Hastings makes his dramatic first appearance, he canters on horseback around this corner, away from the Pump Room and past Bath’s branch of Primark, its branding carefully concealed (S1 Ep1 13:40). He proceeds along Bath Street. Although Simon’s horseride never reaches the far end of the street, you can see the colonnades and the small historic bath building at the far end in a number of other shots from different angles throughout Series 1.

Walk all the way along Bath Street. You may be able to glimpse inside the Cross Bath, the small building at the end of the road. A historic place for visitors to take the waters, it’s been returned to its earlier use by the Thermae Bath Spa development.

Our route lies to the right here. Follow the colonnades of Bath Street around the corner and follow the pedestrian route up to your hard right, keeping the Little Theatre cinema on your left, and heading through the alley beyond, St Michael’s Place. Emerging onto another of Bath’s busy shopping streets, Westgate Street, turn right and then take the second left, Parsonage Lane. At the far end of the lane, passing under part of Bath’s old Mineral Water Hospital, cross over Upper Borough Walls and take the narrow lane directly opposite. This unobtrusive and picturesque little corner brings you to Trim Street.

You’re now in another of Bridgerton’s most featured locations in Bath. As the road turns to the left, you’ll recognise Gunter’s Tea Shop with its curved windows, currently a hairdresser called 12 Trim Street. In S1 Ep3, Simon and Daphne meet here (the Salacious Spoon-Licking Incident), and later talk outside. The grey door just this side of the shop was the backdrop to this emotion-filled scene when Simon ends his friendship with Daphne (S1 Ep3 39:00). The modern door buzzer panel was concealed from the cameras by a strategically-placed box tree (which, if you look carefully, would actually have obstructed the doorway). Carefully shot so that the modern buildings along the far side of the street can’t be seen, the length of this street was used repeatedly in Bridgerton. The shopfront beyond ‘Gunter’s’ was a Hat Emporium , popular with window-shopping ladies of high society in Bridgerton London.

Walking tour section 2: Trim Street to the Royal Crescent

Our walking tour continues past Gunter’s and the Hat Emporium, proceeding along Trim Street and crossing over Barton Street at the end. Straight ahead you’ll find yourself in Beauford Square , a pretty, quiet little parade of Georgian houses. To your left is the original entrance and fa ç ade to Bath’s historic theatre, the Theatre Royal.

Beauford Square was another repeated filming location for Bridgerton. It’s a backdrop for dashing night-time horserides. And carriages pass along the street here on several occasions including a post-wedding journey – if you watch closely you can see the scenery ‘rewinding’ to use the same short stretch of road more than once during a short journey, including passing the same extras in identifiable costumes. 

Early on in Bridgerton, Eloise and Penelope walk beside the square’s railings during a long conversation displaying their respective interests in feminism and gossip, leading to a confused discussion on the mysteries of being ‘with child’ (S1 Ep2 6:41). For filming, Netflix crew added three blossoming trees to the grassy square. 

When you have walked through Beauford Square, continue until the next junction and turn right up Princes Street until you reach the corner of Queen Square, Bath’s largest and grandest square. The gardens in the middle make a good spot for a break or a picnic, maybe watching boules players competing. (You’ll soon reach a larger greener park though).

From Princes Street walk straight on in the same direction, up the side of Queen Square, and use the traffic crossing at the far corner to cross over to Queen’s Parade, a curious triangular-shaped space. You might notice signs to the Charlotte Street car park. This was used during location shooting for Series 1 as a base for the horses and carriages used in filming. Don’t follow these signs (unless you’re really interested in viewing the car park; it’s not that exciting). Instead continue uphill a few yards, keeping the angled terrace of houses on your left, until you come to a junction with a street on your right. Cross over, heading to the right to climb a short flight of steps and enter Gravel Walk. (If you’d rather avoid steps, don’t head right towards these, but instead continue through the pilllars of the entrance to the park ahead. Later you can turn right to rejoin the walking tour route by a sloping path).

Gravel Walk is an atmospheric pedestrian route, dating to 1771, that leads behind from Queen Square to the Royal Crescent, past the back gardens of some of Bath’s grandest terraces, including the curved buildings of the Circus, which you will see from the other side later on. Along the path is the entrance to one of my favourite Bath secrets, the Georgian Garden of 4, The Circus. Free to enter, this small garden was recreated to a 1760s design after archaeological excavations and now evokes the kind of formal, gravelled town garden that would have been familiar in the Regency era of Bridgerton. In summer the roses are wonderfully fragrant.

At the end of the Gravel Walk you reach a path leading up to the Royal Crescent . Ahead and down the slopes to the left is the Royal Victoria Park, a large and green park with bandstand, toilets, lawns, shade and a botanical garden. Looking up the slope you’ll see the ‘ Featherington House ‘, No.1 Royal Crescent – more about this later.

Our walking tour takes us first across the park, taking the path ahead, and then up and around the curving Royal Crescent itself, back to a spot just above this junction at the end of the Gravel Walk. (If you took the step-free route, a path leading up past flowerbeds brings you to this spot. If you want to take a break in the park or enjoy a picnic, this is a good time. Alternatively, if you’re in a hurry, you might want to take a right turn directly up to the Royal Crescent now, and cut off the scenic loop I’ve described above, to move on faster to the next stage of the walk.)

As you walk across the park, you’ll see that in front of the Royal Crescent, a sunken wall and ditch divides a private higher-level lawn belonging to the Royal Crescent from the public park below. Called a ha-ha, these walls were commonly used at the garden boundaries of England’s stately homes to give the owners an uninterrupted view over countryside while keeping livestock out; it’s rare (or unique) to find one in a town setting.

Turning right and walking up Marlborough Buildings brings you up to the farther end of the Royal Crescent, past some good spots for Crescent photo opportunities. Stroll back along the front of the Crescent itself, not forgetting to observe the attractive courtyard gardens below pavement level.

The Royal Crescen t features in a lot of the scene-setting sequences in Bridgerton used to transport the viewer to Regency London, right from the beginning of the first ever episode: errand boys deliver the latest scandalsheet from Lady Whistledown, and elegant couples promenade. In another late-night call on Siena the opera singer, who is now shacked up with another man, Anthony arrives at a Royal Crescent front door with flowers (S1 Ep8 44:30). And in S1 Ep4, the characters gallop on horseback along the Royal Crescent and Beauford Square at night on their way to duel at daybreak.

At the farther end of the Crescent,  in S1 Ep3, Simon and Lady Danbury take a carriage ride together – another journey when the background view, this time of the railings, lawns and far end of the Royal Crescent, repeats itself as the travellers make a journey without progress, unlike this tour.

Walk section 3: Royal Crescent to Milsom Street

When you’ve walked the length of the Royal Crescent you’ll come to No. 1 Royal Crescent , on the corner. The façade facing the park was used as the basis for the Featherington House in Bridgerton, with its white front door painted blue, and fancy decorations added to the restrained, formal exterior using CGI. Apparently at an earlier stage of filming, No. 1 was intended to take the part of Bridgerton House, but later the homes of the two fictional families were swapped, with the Ranger’s House in Greenwich (London), used as the Bridgerton Home, with its curvier and more welcoming appearance. No. 1 Royal Crescent is a Georgian house museum, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the late 18th century, shortly before Bridgerton was set.

Continue along Brock Street, which leads onwards and away from the Royal Crescent, lined with elegant Georgian townhouses. Along here and on Margaret’s Buildings, to the left, there are a few classy places to eat, drink and shop. Our walking tour continues onwards, though, up to and across the Circus, a truly grand circular parade of palatial buildings and one of Georgian Bath’s greatest showpieces.

Follow the Circus around to the left – again there are some fine courtyard gardens to admire – and turn off onto Bennett Street. On your right is our next Bridgerton location: the Assembly Rooms . Our route leads to the right, across the pedestrian space in front of the building’s entrance. Public balls and assemblies were held here in Bath’s Georgian heyday; the building was bombed in the Second World War and subsequently rebuilt. The interior was used for ballroom scenes in Bridgerton; its Tea Room standing in for Lady Danbury’s ballroom in S1 Ep1, where Simon and Daphne first meet. You can tour the rooms (check the latest opening times in advance), or even hire them for your own event. Until October 2022, the Assembly Rooms also house the Fashion Museum, which has a fabulous collection of historic costume including clothes from the Regency era.

Once you’ve passed the entrance to the Assembly Rooms you’ll emerge in Alfred Street , a handsome Georgian street rather spoiled by the number of parked cars. This featured in the very first moments of Bridgerton, in a scene-setting montage with extras strolling and carriages rolling along.

Turn left along Alfred Street and then take the first right, Bartlett Street, a pedestrian lane descending past cafés, clothing boutiques and Bath’s antique market. Cross George Street at the bottom of the road, then turn right until you come to the top of Milsom Street.

Walk section 4: Milsom Street to the Abbey via the Holburne Museum

Milsom Street, a handsome sloping road heading downhill towards the heart of modern Bath, has been a busy shopping street for centuries now. If you cross and walk down the right-hand side, look across the street for old shop-signs painted on buildings, including one for a lending library.

At the bottom of Milsom Street, follow the road as it turns left and continue to the junction at the end (opposite Bath’s branch of Waitrose). Turn right along Northgate Street until you reach the corner of Bridge Street and the High Street, facing a large complex of buildings which includes a covered market – well worth visiting – and Bath’s Georgian Guildhall , just beyond the market entrance. The Guildhall was used for interior ballroom scenes in Bridgerton: the Banqueting Room on its first floor was the setting for the Rambury ball in S1 Ep2. An 80-ft long hall, this is grandly decorated, with a green colour scheme, fluted columns, portraits, friezes and decorative plasterwork, as well as four large chandeliers and a musicians’ gallery. In real life, public events and dances take place here. 

From the Guildhall, if you want to cut the walk short, you can simply walk a few yards further down the High Street to Bath Abbey, where you started. If you’re happy with another 20 minutes’ walking, continue with these directions to discover Lady Danbury’s house, and another historic park.

Return to the corner of the High Street and Bridge Street, and take Bridge Street down towards Pulteney Bridge. Cross this famous bridge, lined with shops (you’ll get a good view of its exterior later), and continue straight ahead over Laura Place and down Great Pulteney Street to its far end. Great Pulteney Street is one of Bath’s (and Britain’s) grandest streets, originally intended as the start of a large development covering this part of Bath, across the river from the town centre. After a financial crisis, and as Bath’s popularity waned, the schemes were never finished and you’ll see that most of the side-streets are very short.

The Holburne Museum, at the end of Great Pulteney Street, is one of the most recognisable buildings from Bridgerton, thanks to its starring role as Lady Danbury’s house . The elegant building is introduced early on in S1 Ep1 and soon Simon’s dramatic arrival on horseback brings him through the gates (S1 Ep1 13:48). Only the exterior of the building is used in the series, but it appears quite frequently, when Lady Danbury is hosting balls or parties, and as the setting for conversations with Simon. In some shots you can also glimpse Sydney Buildings, the fine Georgian terrace opposite the museum. Both the real-life Queen Charlotte and Jane Austen lived for a time in this row.

Walking past the Holburne Museum in May 2021 I found a film crew with huge amounts of equipment set up outside the museum, tall screens to hide the action and through the open gate I saw familiar-looking flower displays festooning the front of the building; signs that Lady Danbury and Bridgerton might be back in residence for Series 2 …

May 2021 – filming for Bridgerton Series 2

The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings – with some fine examples from Bath’s heyday – as well as ceramics and other curios. There are good exhibitions held here too; if you have time during your stay, and appreciate art, I’d recommend a visit.

At the time of writing, the museum’s café – in the striking contemporary rear extension to the building  – has an outdoor covered terrace, its marquee festooned with plastic wisteria and named ‘Lady Danbury’s Dining Terrace’ – an appropriate place to stop for a Bridgerton-themed break. The park behind the museum, Sydney Gardens, dates back to Bath’s glory days and was a resort for Bath’s Georgian visitors to enjoy entertainment and maybe assignations; a Bath version of London’s Vauxhall Gardens. The Holburne Museum was then the Sydney House, or Sydney Hotel, and part of the garden’s attractions: a dining place for high-society visitors. The park still has some handsome period features, including a ‘temple’, as well as a railway and canal running picturesquely through it; it’s a nice place for a stroll or a picnic.

From the Holburne Museum, our tour retraces our route back to Pulteney Bridge along Great Pulteney Street. Across the bridge, turn left and follow the balustrade of Grand Parade to enjoy the fine view looking back at the bridge.

Following Grand Parade around to the right and crossing the Orange Grove will bring you back to the Abbey where we started our guided tour.

(If you need to return to the railway station, the quickest route is to ignore the Abbey, keep the Orange Grove on your right and continue along Pierrepoint Street, above the green Parade gardens, cross the traffic lights at the end and keep straight on along Manvers Street to the station at the far end).

A fond farewell

Gentle Reader, I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to the pleasures of Bath and its connections with the illustrious people and places of Bridgerton.

After your walk around the streets, what could be better than a coffee, or tea and cake at one of our many small independent cafés? If you’ve appreciated Bath, you can help the city by supporting our local businesses and museums during your stay. And if you’ve found these free walk directions helpful, please consider donating the equivalent of a cup of coffee to show your thanks to this website and help me afford to keep it online.

• Donate the equivalent of a coffee to me at Ko-fi.com (thank you!)
• More detail on Bath’s Bridgerton places
• Plan a Bridgerton weekend in Bath, with tips on where to stay for the perfect Bridgerton-style experience
• Series 3 filming in Bath, January 2023 (Holburne Museum and Edward Steet)
• Book accommodation in Bath or the countryside nearby (affiliate link)