Bath is a historic city located in southwest England and famed for its Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, and picturesque countryside. If you’re looking for day trips from Bath, there are plenty of excellent options from historic sites such as Stonehenge and Glastonbury to scenic spots in the Cotswolds.
Bath is conveniently located close to cities like Bristol, Oxford, and Cardiff in Wales, and there are national parks, beaches, and beauty spots from Cheddar Gorge to Dartmoor and Cornwall easily reachable as a day trip from Bath.
I’ve been visiting Bath and the west country since childhood and have taken many of these Bath day trips over the years. You should definitely factor in a couple of extra days on your trip to check out some of the highlights listed below.
Best Day Trips from Bath
The below day trips from Bath include historic sites, areas of outstanding natural beauty, nearby towns and cities, and more. Bath makes the perfect base for exploring this rich part of the UK and it’s somewhere I return to time and time again.
1. Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire around 30 miles (48 km) from Bath. This iconic landmark is made up of a ring of standing stones, each weighing around 25 tons with some standing over 13 feet tall. Stonehenge is thought to have been constructed around 3000 BC but to date, nobody is certain how it was constructed.
Visiting Stonehenge is one of the best day trips from Bath as it’s just a short drive from the city. It’s not particularly easy to get to using public transport as the site is by the side of the main A303 road on Salisbury Plain, however, there are lots of tours to Stonehenge from both Bath and London.
I’ve visited Stonehenge countless times on my way to Cornwall and it never fails to amaze me. One of the best times to visit is during the summer solstice when the sun aligns perfectly with the stones and you can bear witness to the calculations used that date back 5,000 years.
Location: 50 minutes southwest of Bath
Getting There: If driving from Bath, take the A36 and then the B390. Taking a tour is also a great way to get there.
Best Tour from Bath: Stonehenge, Avebury, and Cotswolds tour from Bath.
Must-Do Activities: See the ancient stones, learn the history at the National Trust Visitors Center, and walk on Salisbury Plain.
Where to Eat: Rollestone Manor Restaurant
2. The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is one of the most picturesque parts of England and is home to many gorgeous market towns and villages that look like scenes from postcards. Think stone cottages with thatched roofs, brightly colored flowerbeds, streams, and stone bridges that give way to rolling hills and countryside.
The best way to experience this charming corner of England is to take a tour as getting to some of the smaller villages is a little challenging via public transport. Some of the top places to visit in the Cotswolds include Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Norton, Upper Slaughter, and Castle Combe.
I have friends that live in the Cotswolds market town of Stroud which lies close to some very picturesque villages. One of my most-loved is Slad where one of my favorite authors, Laurie Lee, is buried (and where you’ll find the excellent pub, The Woolpack Inn).
Location: One hour from Bath
Getting There: Driving or taking a tour is the best way to get to the Cotswolds from Bath to explore the different towns and villages.
Best Tour from Bath: Cotswolds Small Group Tour from Bath
Must-Do Activities: Explore the towns and villages, stop at a country pub, and walk in the countryside.
Where to Eat: The Woolpack Inn, Slad
3. Bristol
Bristol is a pleasant city just 13 miles (20 km) northeast of Bath and well worth a visit. It’s one of the best day trips from Bath by bus or train as there are plenty of daily services between the two cities, and the journey time is less than an hour. See the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge as you enter the city designed and built by engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
I once cycled to Bristol from London, (passing through Bath), and the countryside in this part of the world is utterly breathtaking. I highly recommend hiring a bike and cycling between the two cities along the old, disused railway line and River Avon (it can be completed within a couple of hours).
Some of the top attractions in Bristol include the old ship SS Great Britain, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and St Mary Redcliffe Church and Aerospace Museum. There are lots of great pubs and restaurants in the city and around the waterfront and it’s a great place to visit in spring and summer months.
Location: 30 minutes northeast of Bath
Getting There: Take the X39 bus from Bath Bus Station to Bristol Bus Station. The journey time is under an hour and the service runs from 9 am to 5 pm (see the timetable for exact times). The bus is the cheapest option, but the train is also quick and convenient. There are two services every hour between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads and the journey time is just 12 minutes.
Must-Do Activities: Take a Banksy walking tour, see Clifton Suspension Bridge, visit the Bristol Museum, and visit the Aerospace Museum.
Where to eat: The Chef’s Table
4. Cheddar Gorge
One of the best Bath day trips is to the impressive Cheddar Gorge, a picturesque limestone gorge situated in the Mendip Hills 23 miles (37 km) from the city. The gorge is a rather spectacular natural formation, with towering cliffs that rise up to 450 feet high. It’s thought to have been formed over one million years ago by meltwater from glaciers.
I visited Cheddar Gorge with family many years ago and it’s a great place for hiking. There are a few different hiking trails around the gorge, both above and in the canyon itself.
Cheddar is also famously known to be the birthplace of Cheddar cheese, the mainstay of sandwiches across the country.
Location: 45 minutes southwest of Bath
Getting There: The best way to get to the gorge is by car or by taking a tour as there aren’t any direct links via public transport.
Best Tour from Bath: Cheddar cheese and Cheddar Gorge tour from Bath.
Must-Do Activities: Marvel at the impressive gorge, hike along the top of the gorge, and sample Cheddar cheese.
Where to Eat: Bath Arms Hotel, Cheddar
5. Avebury
The mystical village of Avebury is somewhere I’ve been meaning to visit for a very long time but haven’t yet had the opportunity (though many friends have been).
The large village green is the site of a set of standing stones (like a mini Stonehenge) and is one of the most picturesque places in the country.
Location: 50 minutes east of Bath
Getting There: There isn’t a direct connection from Bath, so either driving (via the A4) or taking a tour is the best way to reach the village.
Best Tour from Bath: This is one of the best day tours from Bath and includes Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, and Avebury.
Must-Do Activities: Explore the village, see the standing stones, and have a pint in The Wagon and Horses.
Where to Eat: The Wagon and Horses
6. Oxford
The charming city of Oxford is one of the easiest day trips from Bath by train as the journey is just over 90 minutes from Bath Spa station. The city is famed for its university and the annual boat race between its erstwhile competitor Cambridge (one of my favorite British cities).
The city is packed with historic landmarks, interesting museums such as the world-famous Ashmolean, and some excellent pubs and restaurants. The Bear Inn is a great little pub that’s over 700 years old!
Location: 90 minutes northeast of Bath
Getting There: Trains depart Bath Spa station every 30 minutes and take 1h37m to reach Oxford. If you prefer to travel by car, it’s a 90-minute drive along the M4.
Must-Do Activities: Visit the Ashmolean Museum, see the famous university, take a Harry Potter walking tour, and have a pint in the oldest pub in Oxford.
Where to Eat: The Bear Inn
7. Glastonbury Tor
You’ve probably heard of Glastonbury thanks to the famous music festival that takes place each June, but the town itself is steeped in myth and legend and is a charming place packed with second-hand bookshops and other independent traders – think handmade jewelry, trinkets, and local produce.
Glastonbury Tor is a large hill just outside the town with the ruins of an old bell tower rising up from the hilly countryside. It’s said to be the site of Avalon, the mythical place King Arthur retired to after his final battle. You can certainly feel a sense of history here and this is somewhere I always like to visit when in the west country.
Location: 50 minutes southwest of Bath
Getting There: The best way to get to Glastonbury is to drive (A367 and A361) or take a tour from Bath.
Best Tour from Bath: Private Glastonbury Tour from Bath.
Must-Do Activities: Visit the tor, explore the shops, or attend the Glastonbury music festival.
Where to Eat: The Queen of Cups
8. Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor is one of my favorite places in the UK thanks to its beautiful and lush valleys, rippling streams, waterfalls, and brooding moorland. I’ve visited the national park at Dartmoor countless times over the year and it’s somewhere I love to go back to time and again.
It’s a two-hour drive southwest of Bath but can easily be visited as a day trip from the city. The town of Oakhampton is a good starting point as it’s on the edge of the moor and it takes less than 30 minutes to get into some of the most pristine wilderness in the country.
Location: 2 hours southwest of Bath
Getting There: The best way to get to Dartmoor is to drive via the M5.
Must-Do Activities: Go hiking, see the village of Belstone, and visit Buckfast Abbey.
Where to Eat: The Tors Inn
9. Woolacombe, Devon
Woolacombe is a seaside resort in north Devon a couple of hours’ drive from Bath. It’s a great place for surfing, swimming, picnicking, and enjoying the great British coastline.
If you want to spend a day on golden sand dunes and enjoy some clifftop walks, then Woolacombe is one of the best day trips for you to take from Bath.
Location: Two and a half hours southwest of Bath
Getting There: Woolacombe is one of the day trips from Bath by car and it takes around two and a half hours via the M5.
Must-Do Activities: Go surfing, swimming, rock-pooling, and hiking along the cliff paths.
Where to Eat: The Tides Inn
10. Cardiff, Wales
The Welsh city of Cardiff is one of the easiest day trips from Bath by train as it takes just over an hour to get there. Explore the impressive, medieval Cardiff Castle which is conveniently located in the center of the city. I’ve visited Cardiff many times over the years both on business and for pleasure and always enjoy exploring this area of the country.
Other things to do include checking out Cardiff Museum, strolling around the waterfront, or sampling beer at the many excellent taprooms such as Brew Monster or Cambrian Tap.
Location: 75 minutes east of Bath (and across the Severn Estuary).
Getting There: There are two trains per hour from Bath Spa station and the journey takes just 70 minutes. It takes just over an hour to drive via the M4, during which you’ll cross the famous Severn Bridge.
Must-Do Activities: Visit Cardiff Castle and take a tour of the city, visit the Royal Mint.
Where to Eat: Pasture Restaurant
11. Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-Super-Mare (known as just Weston to most) is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary an hour away from Bath. This laid-back seaside town has a large promenade and beach with a pier and some interesting museums such as the Helicopter Museum, and pleasant outdoor spaces such as Ashcombe Park.
If you want a day by the seaside without having to travel too far, Weston is a great option and is one of the easiest day trips from Bath by public transport.
Location: Weston is an hour east of Bath
Getting There: It takes just 41 minutes..
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