Tempted by Bath...

Is this your first trip to London? You only have three nights which is two days to explore this wonderful, historic city. Can you add more time to London?
The only day trip we have done from London is to Windsor Castle which is a very worthwhile trip. However do not have time for any day trips. Save Bath for another time when you can also explore the Cotswolds.

I did Bath as a day trip from London the first time I went. It was easy to get there by train and we took the free walking tour that is offered. The Roman Baths are interesting as well as the town itself. I enjoyed the day.

I will say that it was part of a week long stay in London. You have just two days in London. I personally would not spend one of those days going to Bath unless you feel this is your top priority for visiting England.

It’s an easy day trip. We did it in 2019 with some friends. Believe we caught a 9am ish train from Paddington to go there and caught a 7pm ish train to return. We bought an anytime return ticket. It was December when we went and we visited the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge, Royal Crescent, and Bath Abbey. We also stopped in at Sally Lunn’s for a bun, ate dinner in town, and walked around the Christmas market. You can see a lot in a day. The train station is 4/10 of a mile from the abbey.

Suki,

We weren't really trying to visit London, but happened to get an absurd deal on airline tickets if we landed at LHR. I knew it was a bad idea to book connecting travel to our next destination for the same or even next day, so I gave us a couple days breathing room. I don't expect to "see" London in 3 days. (Our flight is scheduled to arrive at 8am the 12th and we leave midday the 15th.)

We don't have any plans to return and visit the Cotswolds (not that we wouldn't love to...) and we don't plan on visiting any museums in London. Still not utterly sure Bath is a good idea, but it was somewhere I wanted to go and London was somewhere I thought it would be cool if I happened to be able to see someday.

@Sleight. If Bath really interests you the most, then there is no reason not to go to it. You will still have one day to pick 1-2 things in London that you would like to see. I would suggest staying near Paddington Station since that is the station you would use go to Bath and it is easy to get to from the airport using either the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line. Heathrow Express can be expensive without advance purchase so if you know you want to use it, you may want to purchase those tickets in advance. (they are good for a specific day and get more expensive the closer you get to the travel date).

Suggested value hotels in this area would be with the Premier Inn Chain. These three Premier Inns are close. Paddington Basin, Kensington (Olympia), or Kensington (Earl's Court). Clean hotels that provide consistent value.

September is our favorite time to be in London, in part because of this festival:

https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/

Lots of events, cultural, educational, historical, including walks, concerts, exhibits, etc.. Many of them are free. We also love just walking around, especially on the Riverside pedestrian path, and through the parks.

Even if I liked Bath ( which, quite honestly, I do not), I wouldn’t go there on a day trip from London. You are paying top dollar for your hotel in London, so why add to that already considerable expense by going elsewhere?

Even if you bought the cheapest Advance tickets right now for Sept. 13, it would cost you £43 per person for the return tix. For 2 people, that is over $100. And those would be non-refundable non-changeable tickets, so you would be committed to hat day and time. What if you change your mind between now and then? But if you wait until you there and then decide to go, it could cost you twice that much. Worth it? That is up to you.

Would you consider going directly to Bath from Heathrow? I did that one year. It was November and frosty. I really enjoyed a brief, 2-day stay. With an extra day, you could visit Wells and some of the landscape around Bath. Keep London for another time?

The Man in Seat 61 does this trip on YouTube, you'll see what it takes and what you will see

The Premier Inn Kensingtons (Olympia and Earls Court) are not near Paddington. There are many hotels much closer to the station.

I did a day trip to Bath thirty years ago. I enjoyed it and have been back a few times. Get an early train, take the free walking tour, wander around a bit then head back to London.

Where were you planning to go after London?

I suggest that you take a look at the official Tourist website for Bath:>https://visitbath.co.uk

Also see the Man in Seat 61 video of a day trip by train from London to Bath.

We did a day trip to Bath from London. Very easy. I loved Bath (Jane Austen fan here). Since I much prefer smaller towns to big cities., it was relaxing for me to get out of London.

I just visited Bath for a day from London in April, and while my main objective was time in Persephone Books I thoroughly enjoyed this very unique town. I arrived at 9:30 and left around 5:30. I had an advance ticket for the Roman Baths, then explored the nearby area and had an excellent lunch at the Coeur de Lion pub, went to Pulteney Bridge, big old market hall there, then up to the Royal Circus and Crescent where I toured one of the houses and walked through the park on my way to the bookshop. Time for coffee and a snack before heading back to the train station with more exploring on the way.

@Carol
Thank for such helpful and practical advice. I think you are quite right, but prices were already rising in March when I booked an airbnb in Rotherhithe.

@Lola
Brilliant, thank you! I had checked for holidays and was planning to run through other local events, but this is great!

I got the same thing when I checked LNER and lumo, but trainline is listing advanced purchase at GWR for £21.50 and we are staying at an airbnb at a rate of $68. So the rate could more than double if I don't make up my mind. Sigh.

@Debbie
I would consider it... did consider it! But we are backpacking and already have accommodations in London where the hosts will allow us to drop our luggage early. I'm thinking I'll regret a trek to Rotherhithe just to drop bags and then back to Bath and then back to Rotherhithe with jet lag.

Despite having London high on my list, I think my son (travel buddy), as literary as he is, would much prefer we spend at least part of the time in London.

Thanks, @phred and @James! I usually do look up the Man in Seat 61... should have done so this time too... and now I will. :)

@Frank II

That's basically the itinerary I was thinking. We're off to Edinburgh after London.

@Kathy
We love Jane around here. :)

@christa
Sounds like a lovely day. I may have to take some inspiration from it. :)