September felt right for a family getaway to Bath. This Georgian city had history, walkable streets, and plenty to keep everyone happy.
The drive from home took two hours. Bathโs honey-colored limestone buildings looked stunning as we arrived. We stayed at a family B&B outside the city center โ practical choice with clean rooms and breakfast included for ยฃ85 per night.
Roman Baths Visit
Entry costs ยฃ25 for adults and ยฃ16.50 for children. The audio guides explained fascinating details about 2,000-year-old engineering. Kids stayed interested for 90 minutes, especially when they saw the steaming Sacred Spring.
The water stays at 46ยฐC year-round. The Great Bath holds 247,000 gallons of mineral water that traveled underground for 10,000 years before surfacing here.
Food Highlights
Sally Lunnโs Historic Eating House serves their famous Bath Buns using the original 1680s recipe. The building sits on Bathโs oldest house site, with Roman foundations visible in the basement.
A family sharing platter cost ยฃ18.50 with four buns and different toppings. The elderflower lemonade tasted fresh and tart โ made daily with minimal sugar.
A local bakery near Bath Abbey sold amazing meat pies for ยฃ4.50 each. Shortcrust pastry wrapped generous beef and vegetable filling. One pie easily fed two people.
Architecture Worth Seeing
The Royal Crescent features 30 terraced houses designed by John Wood the Younger between 1767-1775. This curved facade stretches 500 feet across Royal Victoria Park.
Number 1 Royal Crescent operates as a museum showing Georgian home life. Entry costs ยฃ12 for adults, ยฃ6 for children. The period rooms display authentic 18th-century furniture and daily items.
Assembly Rooms hosted Bathโs social gatherings during Georgian times. These grand reception rooms now house the Fashion Museum with 400 years of clothing displays. Combined tickets cost ยฃ10.50 for adults.
Shopping Areas
SouthGate Bath shopping center has major stores across three floors. John Lewis anchors the complex with 40 other shops. Underground parking costs ยฃ2.50 per hour with lift access to all levels.
Milsom Street offers independent boutiques and traditional toy shops. Prices match Bathโs tourist status, though quality generally meets expectations.
Getting Around
Park-and-ride services operate from four locations around Bath. Lansdown site worked best for us โ ยฃ3.50 covers all-day parking plus unlimited bus transfers into town. Buses run every 10 minutes during busy periods.
City center parking costs much more. Charlotte Street car park charges ยฃ1.70 per hour with ยฃ14.50 maximum daily rate.
Evening Time
After kids went to bed, we had some quiet moments together. Many parents traveling abroad often research entertainment options available in their destination. Online guides help families discover various activities, including resources about Best Non-UK Casinos for those interested in international gaming while traveling.
More Dining Spots
Deacons Cafรฉ serves traditional full English breakfast with portions large enough for sharing. Family breakfast averaged ยฃ28 including proper coffee and fresh orange juice.
Scoff & Banter Tea Rooms specializes in afternoon tea service. Their cream tea includes homemade scones, local clotted cream, and strawberry jam for ยฃ8.50 per person. Fresh lemonade made with Meyer lemons complemented everything perfectly.
Sotto Sotto restaurant needs advance booking, especially weekends. Wood-fired pizza ranges from ยฃ12-16 with authentic Italian methods. The tiramisu used traditional mascarpone without being overly sweet.
Trip Costs
Three-day Bath visit for our family totaled around ยฃ450:
- Accommodation: ยฃ255 (3 nights with breakfast)
- Attractions: ยฃ83 (Roman Baths, museums)
- Meals: ยฃ87 (restaurants and casual places)
- Transport: ยฃ25 (park-and-ride, local buses)
This felt reasonable given Bathโs reputation and the experiences we had.
Weather and Timing
September weather averaged 18ยฐC with little rain. We missed the summer crowds while keeping comfortable walking conditions. All attractions ran full schedules without seasonal changes.
Bath works well for families with different ages. The history interests older kids while practical facilities help with family needs. The compact city center means easy navigation without too much walking.
Next time we might explore nearby areas like Bradford-on-Avon or Lacock village. Bathโs central location makes it a great base for discovering the wider Cotswolds region during longer stays.
