South West England
Date ideas in Bath
Updated
Bath is small, golden and made for wandering: almost everything is a walk away, and most of it is beautiful. There are the Roman Baths and the thermal spa for warming up, Georgian crescents and gardens for strolling, a proper old theatre, and green hills on every side when you want to get out. It gets busy, so the early mornings and the evenings are the loveliest times to be here. These are our picks.
Our picks in Bath
Thermae Bath Spa
Hot Bath Street, city centre
Address: Hot Bath Street, Bath BA1 1SJ- Activity
- A treat
- Romantic
- Cosy
Soak in naturally warm spring water in Britain's only natural thermal spa, saving the best for last: the open-air rooftop pool, looking out over the Abbey and the hills.
Why it's a good date: Floating in warm water on a rooftop as the sky goes dark is hard to beat. Go in the evening, and on a cold day if you can: the steam makes it.
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Roman Baths
Abbey Church Yard, city centre
Address: Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LZ- Culture
- Mid-price
- Rainy day
Walk round the steaming green Great Bath and the remains of the Roman temple and bathhouse below street level, then taste the spa water at the end of your visit.
Why it's a good date: It's the one everyone comes for, and it lives up to it. On summer evenings it stays open late and the Great Bath is lit by torches, which is the time to go.
Photo: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The Royal Crescent and the Circus
Royal Crescent and the Circus, upper town
Address: Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR- Outdoors
- Free
- Romantic
Stroll from the ring of townhouses at the Circus along Brock Street to the great sweep of the Royal Crescent, then out onto the lawns of Royal Victoria Park below it.
Why it's a good date: Bath at its grandest, and it costs nothing. Bring a picnic for the park, or peek inside a Georgian home at No. 1 Royal Crescent.
Photo: Ciara Ní Riain, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The Bath Skyline
Bathwick Hill and Claverton Down, east of the city
Address: Bathwick Hill, Bath BA2 6EW- Outdoors
- Free
- Dog friendly
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Active
Follow the National Trust's waymarked loop through meadows and woods on the hills above the city, with the whole of Bath spread out below you.
Why it's a good date: Half a day of fields, woods and views without leaving the city. Wear boots, as it gets muddy, and finish with a pint back in town.
Photo: Paul Stephenson from London, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
Pulteney Bridge and the weir
Bridge Street, city centre
Address: Pulteney Bridge, Bridge Street, Bath BA2 4AT- Outdoors
- Free
- Romantic
Cross the Georgian bridge lined with little shops on both sides, then look back at it from the riverside path, with the water tumbling over the curved weir below.
Why it's a good date: The prettiest view in Bath, and it's best at dusk when the lights come on. Parade Gardens, right by the river, is lovely for a sit-down in summer.
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A rowing boat on the Avon
Bath Boating Station, Forester Road, Bathwick
Address: Bath Boating Station, Forester Road, Bath BA2 6QE- Activity
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Spring, Summer
- Romantic
Hire a rowing boat, punt or canoe from the Victorian boathouse at Bath Boating Station and head upriver past the meadows and willows.
Why it's a good date: Take turns at the oars, find a quiet bank, and stop for a picnic. Boats are out in the warmer months, so check before you go.
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Ralph Allen Drive, south of the city
Address: Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Wander down through the 18th-century landscape garden on the hill south of the city to its lakes and the Palladian bridge, with Bath in view beyond.
Why it's a good date: A beautiful, peaceful garden with one of the most romantic bridges in England. It's steep, so wear sensible shoes.
Photo: Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Kennet and Avon Canal to Dundas Aqueduct
Kennet and Avon Canal, from Widcombe
Address: Dundas Aqueduct, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7BN- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Active
Walk the towpath out of the city past narrowboats and locks, through Bathampton and along the valley to the stone arches of Dundas Aqueduct.
Why it's a good date: Flat, green and easy to talk on, with pubs along the way for a halfway stop. Take the bus back if your legs have had enough.
Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Bath Abbey tower tour
Abbey Church Yard, city centre
Address: Bath Abbey, Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LT- Culture
- Cheap and cheerful
- Romantic
Climb the spiral stairs of the Abbey's tower on a guided tour, past the bells and behind the clock face, to the roof and the view across the city.
Why it's a good date: Sitting behind the clock face is a moment you'll both remember, and the view from the top is the best in Bath. Book ahead, as tours are small.
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Holburne Museum
Great Pulteney Street, Bathwick
Address: Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DB- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
Visit the art museum in a grand Georgian building, once a hotel, at the end of Great Pulteney Street, with Gainsborough portraits, silver and porcelain, then walk on into Sydney Gardens behind it.
Why it's a good date: Small enough to enjoy without rushing, and the walk there along Great Pulteney Street is one of Bath's finest. The gardens and café are free.
Photo: Uhooep, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Theatre Royal Bath
Sawclose, city centre
Address: Sawclose, Bath BA1 1ET- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Culture
See a play in the Georgian theatre on the Sawclose, with its tiers of red and gold boxes, or something new in its small studio round the corner.
Why it's a good date: A proper night out in one of the country's loveliest old theatres. Book dinner nearby before the show, or a drink at the Dark Horse round the corner after.
Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Little Theatre Cinema
St Michael's Place, city centre
Address: St Michael's Place, Bath BA1 1SF- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Catch an independent or classic film at the two-screen art house cinema, open since the 1930s and tucked down a side street off Kingsmead Square.
Why it's a good date: Small, old and full of character: the perfect rainy-evening date. Kingsmead Square's bars are right outside for afterwards.
Sally Lunn's
North Parade Passage, city centre
Address: 4 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX- Café
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share a Sally Lunn bun, a big, light, brioche-like bun served sweet or savoury, in one of Bath's oldest houses, with a little museum in the cellar.
Why it's a good date: Touristy, yes, but charming with it: low ceilings, creaky floors and a bun that's been a Bath tradition for centuries. Go for a late breakfast to miss the queues.
Photo: Fahdshariff at English Wikipedia, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The Dark Horse
Kingsmead Square, city centre
Address: 7a Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Romantic
- Cosy
Head down the stairs to a low-lit, subterranean cocktail bar under Kingsmead Square, with a short seasonal menu made with local ingredients.
Why it's a good date: Dark, intimate and made for a long conversation over a good drink. It's seated only, so book, especially at weekends.
The Olive Tree
Russell Street, upper town
Address: The Queensberry Hotel, Russell Street, Bath BA1 2QF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book the tasting menu at the Michelin-starred restaurant downstairs at the Queensberry Hotel, a Georgian townhouse on a quiet street in the upper town.
Why it's a good date: The one to save for an anniversary, a short walk from the Circus and the Royal Crescent. Book well ahead.
Bath Christmas Market
Around Bath Abbey, city centre
Address: Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LY- Event
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Winter, Christmas
- Romantic
Wander the wooden chalets of the Christmas market around the Abbey and the streets nearby, with mulled wine, local makers and plenty to snack on.
Why it's a good date: Bath is made for Christmas, all golden stone and twinkling lights. Weekends get very busy, so go on a weekday evening if you can.
Photo: Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Dates in Bath: quick answers
What are good rainy-day dates in Bath?
The Roman Baths and the Holburne Museum keep you dry, and Thermae Bath Spa is even better in the rain. Then catch a film at the Little Theatre Cinema or a play at the Theatre Royal.
Are there free date ideas in Bath?
Plenty. Walking the Royal Crescent and the Circus is free, and so are Pulteney Bridge, the Bath Skyline walk and the canal towpath out to Dundas Aqueduct.
What's the most romantic thing to do in Bath?
An evening in the rooftop pool at Thermae Bath Spa, a rowing boat on the Avon in summer, or the Roman Baths by torchlight. Finish with a cocktail at the Dark Horse.
Where can we go for a day out from Bath?
Bristol is fifteen minutes away by train, and Cardiff about an hour. Closer to home, walk the canal to Dundas Aqueduct or the hills of the Bath Skyline.
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