Day Trip · Bristol → Bath

Bristol to Bath

12 minutes by train, from £6.50. Temple Meads → Bath Spa, every 10–15 minutes at peak. Bath Spa station is in the city centre. Everything worth seeing is within a 20-minute walk of the station.

12 min

By train

£6.50

From single

12 miles

By road

How to get from Bristol to Bath

Train

Bristol Temple Meads → Bath Spa

12–15 minutes

From £6.50

Recommended

The obvious choice. Direct train from Temple Meads to Bath Spa, arriving in the city centre. Services run every 10–15 minutes at peak times, less frequently off-peak. No changes. Bath Spa station is 5 minutes from the Roman Baths. Buy at gwr.com or use a contactless bank card at the barrier.

GWR / First

Bus (X39/X40)

Bristol City Centre → Bath Bus Station

45–60 minutes

From £4

The X39 and X40 First Bus routes connect Bristol city centre to Bath via the A4 or the A431. Journey time is significantly longer than the train and subject to traffic on the A4 at peak times. Useful if you are travelling from parts of Bristol not near Temple Meads or if you want to save a few pounds over the train.

First Bus

Car

Bristol to Bath via A4 or A36

25–40 minutes

Fuel + parking

Approximately 12 miles. The A4 via Saltford is the main route. Journey time increases significantly in rush hour (7–9am, 4–7pm). If driving, do not attempt to park in central Bath at weekends — use the Newbridge Park & Ride (A4 westbound, 10 minutes by bus to the centre from £3 return). Arrive early for the P&R spaces at weekends.

Drive yourself

Day trip itinerary from Bristol

9:00am

Arrive Bath Spa station

First direct train from Temple Meads. 12 minutes.

9:15am

Roman Baths (9am opening)

Book online before you go. Arrive before 9:30 to beat the queues. Allow 90 minutes.

10:45am

Bath Abbey

20 metres from the Roman Baths exit. Free (suggested donation £4). 30 minutes.

11:30am

Pulteney Bridge and the weir view

10 minutes' walk from the Abbey. See the bridge from the south bank for the classic view.

12:15pm

Lunch on Walcot Street or Milsom Street

Saturday: Walcot Street market is running (9am–2pm). Independent cafes and restaurants.

13:30pm

The Circus and Royal Crescent

15-minute walk from the centre. Both free to visit. Allow 1 hour.

14:30pm

Thermae Bath Spa (optional — pre-book)

2-hour minimum session, from £40. Pre-booking essential. 10-minute walk from the Crescent.

16:30pm

Return train to Bristol

Direct from Bath Spa. Trains run until late evening. Journey 12 minutes.

Worth staying overnight?

Bath is an easy day trip from Bristol but rewards an overnight — it gives you Thermae Bath Spa (pre-book), a proper dinner, and a morning start before the day-tripper crowds. Budget hotels in Bath start from £70.

Bath hotels →

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Bristol to Bath — frequently asked

How far is Bristol from Bath?
Bristol is approximately 12 miles from Bath. By train (Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa): 12–15 minutes, services every 10–15 minutes at peak times. By road via the A4: 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. The cities are effectively in each other's commuter zone — it is common for people to live in one and work in the other.
How do I get from Bristol to Bath by train?
Take GWR or First trains from Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa. The journey takes 12–15 minutes. Trains run every 10–15 minutes during peak times and every 30–60 minutes off-peak. Buy tickets at the barrier with a contactless bank card (charged as the cheapest single) or in advance at gwr.com. Fares start from £6.50 single advance. Bath Spa station is in the city centre, 5 minutes from the Roman Baths.
Is Bath worth a day trip from Bristol?
Yes — Bath is one of the best day trips from Bristol precisely because the journey is so short. 12 minutes by train, train every 15 minutes, Bath Spa station in the city centre. In a day you can cover the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, The Circus, and the Royal Crescent without rushing. Thermae Bath Spa requires pre-booking (from £40) if you want to add it. Bath rewards a return visit.
Can I do Bath and Bristol in one day?
Yes — if you are arriving in Bristol by train, you can add Bath easily. Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa is 12 minutes; the same train route runs back. Allow a minimum of 4 hours in Bath for the key attractions. A practical split: arrive Bristol Paddington, 1–2 hours in Bristol (harbourside, Clifton Gorge if time), then train to Bath Spa for the afternoon and early evening.
What is there to do in Bath for a day trip from Bristol?
Roman Baths (£22, 90 minutes), Bath Abbey (free/donation, 30 minutes), Pulteney Bridge and weir view (free, 20 minutes), The Circus (free, 20 minutes), Royal Crescent (free, 20 minutes). Optional: Thermae Bath Spa (pre-book, from £40, 2 hours minimum). Lunch on Walcot Street — Saturday market runs 9am–2pm. All within a 20-minute walk of each other. Total walking: about 3km across the day.

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