RS Tour/Need to get to Bath from Heathrow terminal 3

Look in your Rick Steves tour account. Under “documents,” there should be a document listing all the hotels and giving very specific directions about how to get to the first hotel. Usually there are several options to choose from. I have always found these directions very helpful and accurate (12 tours).

This has been asked (and answered) before in the forum. Here's a link to one of the
threads. If you search a bit more, you may find more detail, although you really don't
need it:

Heathrow to Bath

The bus terminal for Heathrow terminals 2&3 is located between the two. After baggage claim,
you'd head downstairs and take a tunnel that takes you to the Piccadilly Line, Elizabeth Line,
Heathrow Express, and, the bus terminal.

Thank you so much, I saw that thread, it wasn’t sure if the directions were up to date as they are from 2023.
I checked out our itinerary and the thread. We should be fine. I do have one more question.
Should we buy tickets in advance or wait till we get there? Also, we are over 60, not sure about senior tickets?
If our plane would be delayed I don’t want to have useless tickets.

Read the link provided for your options. If you are newbies to England and jet lagged, I recommend just taking the bus from Heathrow to Bath, it was easy with no changes. Then follow the instructions you should have received from RS to get to your hotel from the bus station. We walked because we needed to at that point and it was probably only a half mile but you could easily do a quick cab ride.
We bought our bus tickets when we got there.
Have a great time, I’m assuming you’re doing the Best of England, wonderful tour!

Thank you for that tip, we thought about the bus because it looks much simpler. We are very excited and really appreciate all the advice we can get!

Thanks!

There are also train options. But they all include changes.

If you don't mind the coach, it is easier. Both National Express and Flixbus offer services from Heathrow to Bath.

From the Bath Bus Station--which is next to the Bath Train Station--it's about a 15-20 minute walk to Brooks Guesthouse. But taxis will be available.

There is no senior discount useful to you on the bus. There is a 1/3rd discount on National Express (or £15 flat fare any distance midweek), but you have to buy a £17 per year card (like a £35 railcard) to benefit from the discount.
Unlike a railcard the coachcard has to be mailed out to you- it isn't an electronic thing.

So I don't think anyone here would ever be able to justify the cost of the card, especially as the £15 flat fare doesn't work for airport journeys.

If planning to use the bus, create a free account with National Express before you travel. Then book on your device when you get there- that way you avoid the booking charges. If you buy on the machines then you can't avoid the booking charge.

When visiting my Mother in Cheltenham, a similar length of journey as going to Bath from Heathrow, I always took the bus. It is the cheapest option and drops you in or near a central location. The journey is long enough that you can get a decent nap after the transatlantic flight. Before leaving your terminal grab something to eat on the bus…there are a number of coffee chains such as Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee etc. who sell sandwiches, pastries etc. but you might do better to head to Marks and Spencer’s Simply Foods. They have a great range of ready made salads, savoury pastries( sausage rolls, Cornish Pasties etc) and juices. All these places have outlets in all the terminals. Another advantage of the bus is that your heave baggage is placed underneath - all you need on the bus is your personal item.

Thank you so much for all of your information!

The main thing against the direct coach to Bath as you might have read in the older threads is its relative infrequency. The one after you land is @ 12:30 so you may be hanging around a bit if this bothers you.