Can you visit Bath cheaply?

Yes. The Abbey, the Royal Crescent exterior, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and the canal towpath cost nothing, and free walking tours leave daily from outside the Pump Room.

Is the Roman Baths worth the entry fee?

It is the one paid attraction most visitors say they would pay for again. Book the first or last slot online for the lowest price and the thinnest crowds.

Where should you stay in Bath to save money?

Oldfield Park and Bathwick sit fifteen minutes' walk from the centre for noticeably less than the Georgian core, and midweek stays undercut weekends sharply.

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Bath on a budget

By Grace Okoro · 6 min read

Georgian splendour without the Georgian estate to pay for it.

Georgian splendour without the Georgian estate to pay for it. We've walked this one ourselves, and the order below is the one we'd repeat: it keeps the walking sensible, the queues short and the best meal of the day in the right place.

Start where the crowds aren't. Bath rewards an early morning more than almost anywhere in Britain — the light is better, the photographs are emptier and you'll have the pick of tables at lunch. April to June and September for mild weather and thinner crowds.

Getting around is the part most people over-plan. 90 minutes by rail from London Paddington; 20 minutes from Bristol. Once you're there, most of what follows is within a comfortable walk, and where it isn't, we've said so.

Book the two or three things that genuinely sell out, and leave the rest loose. British weather makes a mockery of rigid schedules, so keep one indoor option per day in your back pocket — a museum, a long lunch, a spa hour — and you'll never lose an afternoon.

Finally, spend a little more on one thing and a little less on everything else. A single memorable dinner or a room with the view does more for a trip than three merely fine ones. The places below are the ones reviewers keep coming back to.

Planning the wider trip? Our Bath destination guide covers where to stay, eat and spend your days.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Bath cheaply?: Yes. The Abbey, the Royal Crescent exterior, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and the canal towpath cost nothing, and free walking tours leave daily from outside the Pump Room.
Is the Roman Baths worth the entry fee?: It is the one paid attraction most visitors say they would pay for again. Book the first or last slot online for the lowest price and the thinnest crowds.
Where should you stay in Bath to save money?: Oldfield Park and Bathwick sit fifteen minutes' walk from the centre for noticeably less than the Georgian core, and midweek stays undercut weekends sharply.