Pre-Tour in Bath

Can you give us a little more information. Will you be coming directly from the airport so may be a little jet lagged? Have you checked your tour account on this website under pre-tour planning. Suggestions are given what will not be included and could be of interest? I suggest a city tour or just walking around and staying outdoors. Bath is a lovely small city and very walkable. I love the Pulteney Bridge and the weir in the Avon. Stop in a tea shop and have tea and a scone.

My wife really enjoyed the Fashion Museum https://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/ . It was reasonably interesting to me and it killed about an hour and a half. Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein https://houseoffrankenstein.com/whats-inside opened recently. When I first heard about it I was hoping it was going to be a serious museum about Mary Shelley, but I sense from the website that it may be more fun and games. She was living in Bath when she wrote Frankenstein. There is a very good free tour of Bath everyday that pointed out where she lived, but I seemed to be the only person who was interested, everyone else was more concerned about seeing Jane Austen's house.

I recommend a walk to the Holburne Museum on Great Pulteney Street which currently has an exhibit of David Hockney drawings until September 18. There's normally an interesting special exhibit staged when you visit and their own collection is interesting. https://www.holburne.org/

I'm assuming the Roman Baths and the Abbey are included as part of teh tour, if not they conme high up the liust.

Sally Lunn's is the oldest building in Bath and a good place to go for afternoon ttea. Don't miss the origianl kitchens down in the cellar.

The RS book has a small chapter on visiting Bristol, a 20 minute or less ride by frequent trains. The tour doesn't go there so it may be something you're interested in exploring.

You could take a look inside Bath Abbey. If they have a choir practice, you could sit and enjoy the music.

To comment on what Wasleys said above, Bath Abbey going inside is not included on the Rick Steves tour. Your guide will give you a walk around town, and pause outside the Abbey for a look at the exterior and a short history lesson of it.

The Roman Baths are included on the RS tour, so don't go on your own.

I recommend The Scallop Shell for dinner while you are in Bath. Best fish and chips ever. Check their website. They may require a reservation now.

I did a Bridgerton Tour and really enjoyed it. I second the Fashion Museum and Scallop Shell recommendations.

As Rebecca suggests I would advise reservations at the Scallop Shell on Friday and Saturday evenings. It's quite busy then and rightfully popular. The haddock was particularly good and we don't find that too often where I live. The cod was always very good there as well.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy? Even if you aren't that interested in astronomy, the building itself if worth a visit I think.