Visit Bath by Train
Find out about trains to Bath, how to get great discounts on your travel, and top offers on things to do when you get there
Welcome to Bath
Established by the Romans in 76BC, the Somerset city of Bath is almost untouched by time. When it was home to Jane Austen, between 1801 and 1806, Bath was a fashionable spa resort with thermal springs and breathtaking architecture. These days, the limestone buildings and thermal springs can still be enjoyed, alongside plenty of restaurants, cafes and boutique shops.
Find out more about travelling to Bath by train below, along with everything you need to know about the town. Discover all the best things to do and places to visit in Bath – and don’t forget you can save money on your train travel with a Railcard.
By taking the train you are also helping to lower carbon emissions. And, if you require additional support when travelling, the Passenger Assist service can help you.
If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can also visit our Day Trips from Bath by Train page.
How to get to Bath by train
Bath has 1 station:
Bath Spa: This is Bath’s main station. There are regular direct trains to and from many destinations, including Bristol, Cardiff, Weston-super-Mare, Portsmouth, Taunton and Frome. If you’re coming or going from London Paddington, there are direct services each day
You can plan your Bath train journey, find the cheapest fares and book tickets online with our Journey Planner.
Fastest journey times to Bath by train
From | To | Journey time from* |
|---|---|---|
London | Bath | 1 hr 14 min |
Cardiff | Bath | 1 hr 4 min |
Exeter | Bath | 1 hr 30 min |
Leeds | Bath | 3 hr 48 min |
Oxford | Bath | 1 hr 9 min |
Reading | Bath | 49 min |
Bristol | Bath | 11 min |
* Please note, some journeys will take longer and you may have to change trains
Get great offers on top Bath attractions
Visit National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) for more great offers when you travel by train.
2FOR1: Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein & Escape Room
Become immersed in Shelley’s tragic life and the legacy of her infamous creation – including an 8-foot animated recreation of “The Creature”, 2 escape rooms and a creepy walkthrough experience
20% OFF: Bridgerton Tour of Bath
Promenade through Bath’s beautiful and historic streets and see many of the shooting locations of the hit Netflix series
FREE: Bath City Farm
Situated on a beautiful 37-acre site, Bath City Farm is a living, working farm with stunning views over the city, and includes a community cafe and farm shop, farm animals and children’s playground
More attractions in Bath
Marvel at the Roman Baths(external link, opens in a new tab) or, if you want a dip in natural hot spring water, head to Thermae Bath Spa(external link, opens in a new tab)
Visit No.1 Royal Crescent(external link, opens in a new tab), a meticulously restored townhouse, to get an idea of what it was like to live in Georgian Bath in the late 1700s
Climb the 212 steps of Bath Abbey’s Tower(external link, opens in a new tab) and take a peek behind the clock face, check out the bells or simply enjoy the gorgeous view over the city
Free things to do in Bath
Take a walk around the green parkland of Royal Victoria Park(external link, opens in a new tab), opened by Princess Victoria in 1930, 7 years before she became Queen
Visit Bath World Heritage Centre(external link, opens in a new tab), with interactive exhibits and displays that celebrate the city’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
If you fancy a free walking tour to learn more about the city, just turn up for the Mayor of Bath Honorary Guides(external link, opens in a new tab), which take place every day except Christmas Day, last around 2 hours and require no booking
Accessible Bath
If you require assistance for any part of your rail journey, please visit our Passenger Assist page to find out more
To search or browse accessible attractions, restaurants, hotels and more, visit the AccessAble website(external link, opens in a new tab)
Theatre and shows in Bath
See a play, an opera or a musical at the Theatre Royal Bath(external link, opens in a new tab), one of the oldest theatres in the country
The more intimate Ustinov Studio(external link, opens in a new tab), which is part of the Theatre Royal, presents new and unexplored plays
Book a seat at The Rondo(external link, opens in a new tab), a small venue with big ambition that stages adventurous theatre, music and comedy – recent performers include Nina Conti and Dylan Moran
Music in Bath
Sit at a small café table at Chapel Arts Centre(external link, opens in a new tab) and enjoy an eclectic selection of gigs
The Forum(external link, opens in a new tab), originally an Art Deco cinema, now puts on gigs ranging from Jools Holland to Katie Melua
Komedia Bath(external link, opens in a new tab) is a community-owned venue in a Grade II listed building with two performance spaces that attracts the likes of Lloyd Cole and Jah Wobble
LGBTQIA+ Bath
Every year, Bath hosts its annual Pride Festival(external link, opens in a new tab)
Mandalyns(external link, opens in a new tab) is the city’s longstanding gay bar, with a student night, a drag karaoke night and more
Bath Queer Choir(external link, opens in a new tab) is a community choir which welcomes new members
Bath in film and TV
Bath is a popular shooting location for many film and TV shows, including:
Some scenes in The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, were shot in the Royal Crescent
Bridgerton takes advantage of the city’s Regency architecture – get 20% OFF a Bridgerton Tour of Bath(external link, opens in a new tab) with National Rail’s Days Out Guide
The 1995, 2007 and 2022 adaptations of Persuasion all use Bath as a backdrop
Dyrham Park, a 17th-century mansion north of Bath, was used in Poldark
Find out more about Bath
Go to the Visit Bath website(external link, opens in a new tab).
Get 1/3 off train fares with a Railcard
Save up to 1/3 off your trips when you travel by train with a Railcard
From children to seniors, over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with a Railcard. See which one is right for you
Buy yours today for just £35 and you’ll make the cost back in 1 or 2 trips!
Journey times and offers are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Main image credit: © Visit Bath
Roman Baths image: © Visit Bath
Royal Victoria Park image credit: © Visit Bath
Bath Abbey image credit: © Visit Bath
Ustinov Studio image credit: © by Philip Jeffrey is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Chapel Arts image credit: © by MrFizzy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Royal Crescent image: © Bath BID
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