Getting around Bath at night

Long travel day, tired fiancé, don’t even hesitate- take the taxi. It is often the day to day choices of showing consideration of one’s spouse that build and strengthen a marriage.

I don’t think safety is an issue, but fatigue and jet lag may be. Add in that you'll arrive well after dark and it might be cold and rainy. I'd take a taxi, but I recommend getting advice about the transfer from the bus station to your hotel from the hotel itself.

The last time I went to Bath from Heathrow, I took the bus. I arrived in early May, but well before dark. I was traveling carry-on only, but I took a taxi about the same distance anyway. Wimp, I know, but the price was okay, even for a solo traveler.

I was there 4 nights, 3 full days. I used the bus and my feet for those 3 days. I did take a taxi to the train station my departure day to catch the train for my next destination.

I was there in 2016, so things may be different now, but I don’t think Bath is a late night town. Asking your hotel folks about food available after midnight would also be a good idea. Grabbing something to eat at LHR or at the café at the bus station between your arrival by plane and departure by bus may be your only chance to eat. The last thing you want is to add being hangry to your fatigue and jet lag.

Oh, and check with National Express to see if it's okay to eat on the bus. It may not be, further requiring that you eat before you board.

Too bad your bus ride will be after dark. You'll miss seeing the beautuful countryside between LHR and Bath. Hopefully you'll be able to see some lovely UK scenery and sheep on other parts of your trip.

Bath like most places in the UK is intrinsically safe. Use common sense and situational awarness you would anywhere else, including where you live. Yes there will be taxis at the station.

I would skip the train and book a private car from Heathrow to Bath. It will cost about $150-$200 dollars. The driver will meet you inside the terminal with a board with your name on it. They will escort you to the parking lot and drive you to the doors of your hotel. You will be tired from the flight and the last thing you want to do is stand on a platform waiting on a train at that time of night. What happens if there is a strike or the train is late? there are no guarantees these days. Book a private car for that time of night. It will be money well spent. Here are a couple of companies that provide private pick-up at Heathrow.

https://www.blackberrycars.com/
https://www.simplyairports.co.uk/

Oh, and check with National Express to see if it's okay to eat on the bus. It may not be, further requiring that you eat before you board.

It’s absolutely fine to eat on a National Express bus. You’ll have time to grab some sandwiches or other food at the airport to eat en route. It would never occur to the average user of National Express that it wouldn’t be okay to eat on board.

I agree about the private car unless you’re a real budget traveller.

If you do want to use public transport then there are lots of trains and you wouldn’t have to wait for that specific one. I think someone said on another thread that they leave every half an hour but you do need to make 2 changes.

While I sort of see the logic in going from Heathrow to Bath it is so much easier to get into London from there.

You aren't allowed Hot Food or drinks on Nat Ex, for sheer practicality reasons. But a picnic is fine- sandwich, cake, juice/water, Chips (crisps), that kind of thing. For hot drinks I take a flask of tea. It's probably not strictly allowed, but is safer from spills- which is the key. I've never been stopped with the flask.

We stayed in Bath in 2017 and walked everwhere, but dragging luggage at midnight would be a no. It would be safe, but unless you just had carryon luggage, take a taxi.

There is a saying..."Happy wife, happy life." In your case, "Happy wife to be, happy life."

Take a taxi. It will only cost a few pounds.

Thank you for all the helpful replies! The resounding consensus is to get a taxi so that is what we will do. To the posters who suggested staying in London instead, or taking a direct taxi from the airport, we have already booked all our accommodations and travel tickets, so that will have to be something we consider next time. In fact, I had booked all of our accommodations before we even bought the plane tickets, so I wasn't aware that the only direct flight option would arrive so late. However, it's too late now so we shall simply make the best of it. (And thank you to those who reminded me to make sure we buy some food at the airport!)
Curious if anyone's advice would have been different if I had clarified that I am the woman here and my fiancé the husband-to-be, not the other way around? ;) ---- (Not that the marriage advice isn't true either way!!)

Dear OP. You did tell us your fiancé was a man by the very spelling of your post. Fiancé is a man, fiancée is a woman.

I was just in Bath and it's quite small, I would guess the taxis stop running at a certain hour

Oh good, I always forget fiance vs fiancee and I was afraid I'd gotten it wrong. I hope I didn't offend anyone, my (probably poor) attempt at humor came off as kind of snarky when I reread it. My bad.

Thanks again everyone for the excellent advice, and I will reach out also to our accommodation for suggestions.

I say, “Happy spouse, happy house.” Covers everyone. Married 48 years and leaving in 5 days for Best of England and Heart of Ireland back to back tours. We are excited to get to Bath a day early and take a little river tour.

Visiting Bath next month for our fortieth anniversary. Best advice I can offer is for both partners to always put down both the seat and the lid. That way, you're both equally inconvenienced.

Maybe what we need is a thread on relationship advice while traveling :D I sense there's a lot of excellent wisdom out there for keeping your partner happy when you're spending a lot of quality time with them! What a great way to get to know someone really, really well!

I'd so hoped to get to the bottom of the thread and see that this couple had decided to have a driver waiting as soon as they came out of the frosted doors at the airport who would whisk them down the M4 motorway straight to Bath.

Sadly, with travel "in the beginning of May," it is probably too late to have that happen.

With light until around 8:30 next week they would have been travelling most of the way in the light - if they stayed awake the views would be worthwhile. Might even get a glimpse of a chalk figure....