Guide to the Best Free Walking Tour in Bath, England

The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides lead FREE walking tours daily in Bath. I joined the free walking tour on my first visit to Bath, and it was a great introduction to the city. Here’s my complete guide with this free Bath walking tour to help you learn more about the interesting history of Bath.

Learn about Bath’s Interesting History on the Free Bath Walking Tour

On the free Bath walking tour put on by the Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides, you’ll learn all kinds of little tidbits of information about Bath UK you wouldn’t have known otherwise. For example:

• Why are there acorns atop Bath’s architecture, such as in the Circus?
• Just how many hot springs are there in Bath?
• Why do some buildings in Bath look perfect in the front but a mess in the back?

Why Join the Mayor of Bath’s Free Walking Tour?

It’s free. There are a lot of walking tours you can pay for in Bath, but what’s better than a free walking tour? And this isn’t one of those things where you get what you pay for — this free Bath walking tour is incredibly worth the time.

It occurs daily. Surely, if it’s free, if can’t occur very often? Nope. The mayor’s guides’ free Bath walking tours run every single day except Christmas. No matter when you plan to visit Bath, you can definitely fit this walking tour into your schedule!

It’s informative. The regular daily walks are about two hours long, so you’ll learn quite a bit. You’ll follow the guide(s), walking about two miles around Bath’s city centre, stopping periodically to gather and listen to various stories of Bath’s history.

History of the Free Bath Walking Tour

The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides is a group of individual, unpaid volunteers who love Bath and want to show visitors the best of what Bath has to offer. The group was founded in 1934 but didn’t start to formally train guides until 1960. It’s been going ever since.

It’s not a government program, per se, but the guides conduct the walking tours on behalf of the mayor of Bath.

I had two mayor’s guides on my Bath walking tour — one was a veteran guide and the other one was a newbie, just learning the ropes. They took turns talking to us at each of the stops. Both did an exceptional job.

Description of the Free Walking Tour Route and Key Stops

Starting Point of the Free Bath Walking Tour

Head over to the meeting place in front of The Pump Room. There, you’ll find a dozen or so other people waiting as well as a couple mayor’s guides with name tags — that’s how you’ll know you’re in the right spot.

No pre-booking is required. Just show up.

They’ll split you all into groups depending on how many people show up and then off you go.

What You’ll See on the Free Bath Walking Tour

I’m not sure if every tour is exactly the same, but I’ll tell you what my tour covered. Though, I won’t give much details, not to spoil the experience.

Over the two-mile walking distance, you’ll see:

• The Royal Crescent
• The Circus
• The Assembly Rooms
• The Pulteney Bridge
• And other iconic landmarks in Bath

Keep in mind that the walking tour doesn’t go inside any buildings. It will only stop outside buildings, in various streets and walkways.

What You’ll Learn on the Free Bath Walking Tour

During our tour, in addition to all the historical and architectural stories, the guides also added in some Bridgerton filming facts since that is a hot topic in Bath at the moment (Bridgerton is a popular Netflix show that was mostly filmed in Bath).

The tour guides shared what it was like living in Bath during the filming of Bridgerton and they also pointed out some places that appeared in the show.

The tour was very interesting and informative, and I’m so glad we got to do this.

At some points you will have to walk fast to keep up with the group, but it’s mostly a leisurely walk through Bath (and they will wait for you).

Ending Point of the Bath Free Walking Tour

The free walking tour in Bath ends at the same place you started — in front of The Pump Room.

Tips for Taking a Free Walking Tour in Bath

How to Prepare for the Free Walking Tour

Don’t bring your luggage. The tour covers a lot of ground in two miles and two hours, and you won’t want to be lugging your suitcase that whole time. Be sure to store it at your hotel or a luggage storage place.

Know when and where the tour meets. Be sure you double check the tour starting time and meeting point on the day you’re in Bath.

What to Bring on the Tour

• Walking shoes
• Camera
• Water bottle

Etiquette for Participating in the Free Bath Walking Tour

• Do ask questions. If you’re curious about something that’s not covered in the tour, be sure to ask.
• Don’t tip. It’s really not necessary and the Mayor’s guides won’t accept it. (This isn’t the case for other walking tours.)
• Do pay attention and be a good listener.
• Do take photos but don’t keep the group waiting.

Don’t Miss the Free Special Summer Walks in Bath

In the summer, the mayor’s guides host an array of special topic walks in addition to their regular daily walks.

They host their Pulteney Estate Walks on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. as well as various other special topic walks. These are also free.

(I try to keep this page as updated as possible, but please double check all meeting times and places on the official website to confirm any changes and for more information.)

Alternatives to Free Walking Tours in Bath

If you’re looking for a more niche walking tour about Bath or perhaps the free walking tour doesn’t fit into your itinerary, consider booking a paid guided tour around Bath or trying a self guided one.

Paid Guided Tours Available in Bath

• Bath: Bridgerton Filming Locations Walking Tour with Music
• Bath: Guided Walking Tour
• Bath: City Walking Tour with Optional Roman Baths Entry
• Bath: The Bad of Bath Walking Tour

Self-Guided Walking Tour Options

• In the Footsteps of Jane Austen Audio Tour: Download Audio on Soundcloud | View Map
• World Heritage Site Audio Tour: Download Audio on Soundcloud | View Map

Why Visit Bath, England?

See Bath’s beautiful buildings. Bath is one of only two cities in the world where the whole city is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yes, the whole city of Bath is full of gorgeous, historical charm.

Visit a Roman archaeological wonder. Bath’s history goes way back to the Roman Empire which settled in Bath for several centuries. The Romans loved the natural hot springs in Bath so much they built a spa and temple over one. You can visit the remains of this temple at the Roman Baths museum or even take to the healing spa waters yourself at Thermae Bath Spa.

Walk in Jane Austen’s footsteps. Arguably, one of Bath’s most famous residents was Jane Austen, beloved writer of such books as “Pride and Prejudice.” Austen fans can visit Bath to see some historical places tied to her life and work.

Interesting Facts about Bath, England

• Bath was bombed in World War 2. The Assembly Rooms and several houses in the Circus were destroyed by Germany in 1942. They’ve since been rebuilt.
• There are several crescent-shaped buildings in Bath, though the Royal Crescent is the most famous.
• The Circus is inspired by Stonehenge and even maintains its dimensions.
• The water that comes up in Bath’s hot springs, such as in the Roman Baths, is about 10,000 years old, going on quite a journey through earth.
• Bath’s hot springs water has tons of minerals and, for centuries, people believed it had healing powers. You can taste a sample at the end of your visit to the Roman Baths museum.
• The Romans occupied Bath for about 400 years during the Roman Empire.

Logistics: How to Get to Bath and Where to Stay

Getting from London to Bath via Train

One of the easiest ways to get to Bath is to take an early morning train from London to Bath. You should arrive in a little over an hour, ideally before 10 a.m., to get a head start on the day.

How to book your train tickets: You can purchase your tickets on Trainline.com. We used Trainline to purchase all our train tickets in the UK. I loved how easy it was to search train tickets from various train companies and to pull up our tickets in the app when needed to scan or show them to employees. Everything was all in one place, making it very convenient.

How to save money on train tickets: If you will be doing a lot of train travel in the UK, consider getting a railcard for 33% off. I was traveling with my mom so we got the Two Together Railcard and saved quite a bit.

Where to Store Your Luggage

You can store your luggage in a couple places nearby the train station. Funnily enough, we left ours with a barber — he had a sign out front offering luggage storage. I don’t remember exactly how much it cost but it wasn’t more than £10 per bag. We just had to pick it up before he closed at 5:30 p.m.

If you’re staying at a hotel, you can usually store your luggage at the hotel for no additional cost.

Where to Stay in Bath

Bath has many hotels in the city center that are very convenient for you to explore Bath for a weekend.

Stay in the Royal Crescent: If you’re looking to splurge on your weekend in Bath England, consider the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, which is the only hotel inside the famous and historic Royal Crescent.

Stay near Bath’s waters: If you’re wanting to take to Bath’s famous mineral waters, there’s no better hotel than the Gainsborough Bath Spa. Here, guests are able to bathe in an exclusive mineral pool, an experience you really can’t beat.

Stay in Jane Austen’s apartment: Did you know you can stay at the apartment where Jane Austen lived in the early 1800s? Someone privately owns it and rents it out on VRBO and Airbnb. So cool!

Getting Around Bath

You won’t need a car to get around Bath as the city is very walkable.

You can also take the bus to get around Bath. You can find the full listing of bus routes on the First Bus website. Or you can simply find a bus route via Apple Maps or Google Maps, like I did.

To purchase tickets, you can use the First Bus app or get them from the driver when you board. Remember to tell the driver which stop you will be getting off so they can charge you the correct price. Contactless cards are accepted.

You can also take taxis, which will be waiting in front of the train station, or use the Uber app.

Frequently Asked Questions about Walking Tours in Bath

Are free walking tours in Bath really free?

The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides walking tours are truly absolutely free! The guides will not even accept tips. They volunteer to give back to the community of Bath and welcome visitors to the city.

How amazing is that?

Is Bath a walkable city? Is Bath easy to walk around?

Yes, Bath is a walkable city, especially in the city center. However, it is also a large city, so there may be times where you’ll need to take the bus or hire a cab. For example, we rented a townhouse outside the city and needed to take the bus to get back into the city center.

What is the Mayor of Bath walking tour route?

While I can’t say for certain that every tour follows the exact same route, I can tell you the major stops included in the walking tour.

• Thermae Bath Spa
• Queen Square
• The Royal Crescent
• The Circus
• The Assembly Rooms
• The Pulteney Bridge

Note that the walking tour will stop only outside of the buildings and not go inside. So if there’s a place you want to explore further, definitely make plans to return after the tour.

Is Bath worth visiting?

Absolutely, yes! Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in England and well worth a visit.

What is Bath England famous for?

Bath, England is most famous for its Roman spas and underground hot springs. It was also a cultural hotspot during the Regency era, a place where many wealthy families lived.

Is Bath near London?

Bath is about 115 miles from London, and it takes over 2 hours to drive the distance or about an hour and 20 minutes on the train.

Are the Roman Baths the only reason to visit Bath England or is there something else to visit as unique and historic in the city?

The Roman Baths are definitely a big draw, but there is more to see in Bath! There’s The Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms, the Circus, the Royal Crescent, plus all the historic restaurants and shops.

How many days are enough to see the Bath Stonehenge area?

I’d say you need at least three days to explore Bath properly and make a short day trip to Stonehenge. Some people can fit it all into one day if you like jam-packing your itinerary and being more fast paced.

What cities to visit after Bath?

After exploring Bath, where to next? If you’ve already visited Stonehenge, I’d suggest next heading out to the Cotswolds and/or Oxford, which are near Bath and well worth a visit.

What to pack for travel to the UK?

Favorite travel essentials

• I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
• I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
• I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
• I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
• For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!

Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to England

All About the Half-Day Stonehenge from Bath Tour

Weekend in Bath England Itinerary: What to Do in Bath UK for 2 Days

18 Things to See and Do in Bath, England

Best Afternoon Tea in Bath: The Pump Room

Day Trip from London to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton

Day Trip to Windsor Castle from London

Day Trip to the Cotswolds from Oxford or London

Oxford Day Trip: What to Do in Oxford for a Day

One Day in York, England Itinerary: What to Do in This Medieval City

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