I will be in London for about 5 days and I would like to make a day trip to Bath. I know it will be a long day but I am fine with that. I am contemplating whether to do a tour that includes Bath or travel to Bath on my own by train. I will be travelling alone so the appeal of a tour group would be nice but I understand they are really rushed and does not appear to have much time in Bath. Any suggestions on which I shold do or any past experience would be great?
Thanks!
This link will give you some ideas: Tours of Bath from London
Several years ago I did a day trip from London to Bath with London Walks and it was excellent. I am not normally a tour person and had also been to Bath several years before with my husband so knew it a little.
It was easy to meet at the railway station, the guide buys the tickets (discounted from memory) and then do the trip by train. It was a full day away but don´t recall an especially early start or very late return. We had quite a bit of free time in Bath if we wanted - the group went several different ways at lunchtime.
It never appeared rushed and Bath is not so big that you cannot see the centre quite easily.
I did a day trip to Bath years ago on my own. It was easy. I remember taking a free walking tour (don't know if its still offered) but the town was not so big I couldn't handle it on my own.
I did a tour of Oxford with London Walks and it was excellent. (They didn't offer tours to Bath in those days.)
If doing a tour, I would suggest London Walks over a big bus tour for the day that will include a couple of other stops. And I'd prefer a train over a bus anytime. (I'm a former tour director and I've had my fill of coaches. Plus, I know how rushed big bus day tours can be.)
"when you get there phone a travel agent and ask about a group tour"???????
Amanda, here's everything you want to know about Bath sightseeing:
Visit Bath
Take the train to Bath and when you get there phone a travel agent and ask about a tour group.
The free walking tours are still given, at least as of this past July--they're provided by the City Council and staffed by volunteers. In the summer, they run both in the morning and afternoon, but later in the year, I think they are only in the morning. Unfortunately, if you are coming from London you will need to get a very early bus or train in order to get the morning tour, which I highly recommend, because you'll get a great overview of Bath and will be geograpically oriented to continue to explore on your own in the afternoon.
In the past four years I've done it both ways, a
day tour with Evans/Evans that departed out of Victoria Station and lasted all day as well as own
our own. Both were fine, but if I was doing it again
would go on my own. Bath has a great TI that is easy
to locate as well as a good Hop on Hop off bus that
stops at all the sights. All in all the town is easy
to get around.
Hi Amanda, I did Bath on my own and loved it. I didn't think it was a long day either, I mean the train trip was only an hour or hour and half( can't remember) and I relaxed, enjoyed some reading and looking at the country side. I loved wandering around on my own, and I also visited the Costume Museum. I thought it was very easy to find my way around becuase heck, its England, and english is my first langauge, ,so just ask for directions etc was easy. I love to travel to other countries where langauge is often an issue, so Bath is easy.
I would also consider meeting for the free walking tours, I didn't do one, but I have heard they are very good.
