Getting Around, Bath Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Bath, North-East Somerset, England, UK)
The Roman city of Bath is well served by public transport system and the city has a large bus station and a major station train, with excellent connections throughout
England. Bath is situated nearby many other towns, cities and tourist attractions. Many visitors to Bath also travel outside of the city, and renting a car is often the best method of transport, with a number of major roads situated close by.
Airports / Arriving by Air
Bath is served by a number of airports, the closest and most convenient of which is
Bristol Airport (BRS). London Airports, including
London Heathrow Airport (LHR),
London Gatwick Airport (LGW),
London Stansted Airport (STN) and
London City Airport (LCY) are also within easy traveling distance of Bath, by either train, coach or car.
Bristol Airport (BRS) Guide
Car Rental
The district of Bath is served by many major roads and nearby, the city connects to the M3, M4 and M5 motorways, which travel to cities including
Bristol, Swindon,
London and
Cardiff in
Wales, across the Severn Bridge. Although the traffic in and out of the city can be heavy during peak commuting hours (07:30 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 18:00), driving in central Bath is fairly easy. Several roads in Bath are one-way only and part of the city centre is restricted to buses and taxis only.
Many tourists staying here choose to rent cars and these are the best method of transport when travelling outside of the city, to explore the surrounding countryside and nearby towns. There are plenty of parking garages and off-street parking areas available in Bath, although some areas are restricted to residents only and parking permits are required. There are also four park-and-ride services, where you can park your car on the outskirts of Bath and travel into the centre by bus. These large car parks are located in Lansdown, Newbridge, Odd Down and at the University of Bath.
By Foot
Bath is well pedestrianized and one of the best ways to travel around the city is by foot. This is an excellent way to see some of the numerous tourist attractions, museums, galleries and landmarks. Finding your way around central Bath is very straightforward and many of the major sights are within easy walking distance of each other, such as the Abbey and the Roman Baths.
Buses and Coaches
The Bath bus system is operated by Traveline and Badgerline buses and covers the city well. Buses in the city are heavily used by both locals and tourists alike and provide a particularly inexpensive way to travel in Bath and the surrounding areas. Bath buses and coaches travel to many other towns and cities nearby, including Bristol, Wells, Taunton, Yeovil,
Frome, Trowbridge and
Glastonbury. Bus passes are available for set periods and these can be particularly convenient when traveling in Bath. Most buses and coaches in Bath depart from the main bus station in Dorchester Street, in the city centre, and there are also bus stops throughout Bath, with bus timetables and route information.
Trains
The city's train station is located in Dorchester Street, just a couple of minutes walk from the nearby bus station, close to the centre. The Bath Spa train station links to an excellent network of trains that travel throughout the country and this is the quickest way to travel to Bristol, which takes around 25 minutes, and to reach London, which takes around one and a half hours. Advance seat reservations can be booked if required and cycle racks are available outside of Bath Spa train station
Taxis
Taxis in Bath are one of the most convenient ways to travel around the area and are usually reasonably priced. They can be easily caught from the taxi rank outside of the Spa train station and at New Bond Street close to the Podium Shopping Centre. Also in quieter areas of Bath, taxis can be ordered by telephone and there are a number of reputable taxi firms that your hotel can recommend. Additional taxi charges are often made for luggage, travel late at night, extra passengers and travel on public holidays.
Bicycles
Bicycles are a popular way to travel around recreational areas of Bath in particular, and much of Bath is generally very flat, although there are some steep hills on the outskirts. There are also numerous cycle trails and pathways throughout the city and towpaths along the Kennet and Avon Canal, which is particularly scenic. Bath has a number of bicycle rental shops available in the centre.
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