September felt right for a family getaway to Bath. This Georgian city had history, walkable streets, and plenty to keep everyone happy.
The drive from home took two hours. Bath’s honey-colored limestone buildings looked stunning as we arrived. We stayed at a family B&B outside the city center – practical choice with clean rooms and breakfast included for £85 per night.
Roman Baths Visit
Entry costs £25 for adults and £16.50 for children. The audio guides explained fascinating details about 2,000-year-old engineering. Kids stayed interested for 90 minutes, especially when they saw the steaming Sacred Spring.
The water stays at 46°C year-round. The Great Bath holds 247,000 gallons of mineral water that traveled underground for 10,000 years before surfacing here.
Food Highlights
Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House serves their famous Bath Buns using the original 1680s recipe. The building sits on Bath’s oldest house site, with Roman foundations visible in the basement.
A family sharing platter cost £18.50 with four buns and different toppings. The elderflower lemonade tasted fresh and tart – made daily with minimal sugar.
A local bakery near Bath Abbey sold amazing meat pies for £4.50 each. Shortcrust pastry wrapped generous beef and vegetable filling. One pie easily fed two people.
Architecture Worth Seeing
The Royal Crescent features 30 terraced houses designed by John Wood the Younger between 1767-1775. This curved facade stretches 500 feet across Royal Victoria Park.
Number 1 Royal Crescent operates as a museum showing Georgian home life. Entry costs £12 for adults, £6 for children. The period rooms display authentic 18th-century furniture and daily items.
Assembly Rooms hosted Bath’s social gatherings during Georgian times. These grand reception rooms now house the Fashion Museum with 400 years of clothing displays. Combined tickets cost £10.50 for adults.
Shopping Areas
SouthGate Bath shopping center has major stores across three floors. John Lewis anchors the complex with 40 other shops. Underground parking costs £2.50 per hour with lift access to all levels.
Milsom Street offers independent boutiques and traditional toy shops. Prices match Bath’s tourist status, though quality generally meets expectations.
Getting Around
Park-and-ride services operate from four locations around Bath. Lansdown site worked best for us – £3.50 covers all-day parking plus unlimited bus transfers into town. Buses run every 10 minutes during busy periods.
City center parking costs much more. Charlotte Street car park charges £1.70 per hour with £14.50 maximum daily rate.
Evening Time
After kids went to bed, we had some quiet moments together. Many parents traveling abroad often research entertainment options available in their destination. Online guides help families discover various activities, including resources about Best Non-UK Casinos for those interested in international gaming while traveling.
More Dining Spots
Deacons Café serves traditional full English breakfast with portions large enough for sharing. Family breakfast averaged £28 including proper coffee and fresh orange juice.
Scoff & Banter Tea Rooms specializes in afternoon tea service. Their cream tea includes homemade scones, local clotted cream, and strawberry jam for £8.50 per person. Fresh lemonade made with Meyer lemons complemented everything perfectly.
Sotto Sotto restaurant needs advance booking, especially weekends. Wood-fired pizza ranges from £12-16 with authentic Italian methods. The tiramisu used traditional mascarpone without being overly sweet.
Trip Costs
Three-day Bath visit for our family totaled around £450:
- Accommodation: £255 (3 nights with breakfast)
- Attractions: £83 (Roman Baths, museums)
- Meals: £87 (restaurants and casual places)
- Transport: £25 (park-and-ride, local buses)
This felt reasonable given Bath’s reputation and the experiences we had.
Weather and Timing
September weather averaged 18°C with little rain. We missed the summer crowds while keeping comfortable walking conditions. All attractions ran full schedules without seasonal changes.
Bath works well for families with different ages. The history interests older kids while practical facilities help with family needs. The compact city center means easy navigation without too much walking.
Next time we might explore nearby areas like Bradford-on-Avon or Lacock village. Bath’s central location makes it a great base for discovering the wider Cotswolds region during longer stays.
