Planning your day
NO NEED TO PLAN, BUT …
The experience is designed for people who’ve done no research or homework before they arrive. However, here are some tips for getting the most out of your day.
Get the most out of your day
» Start and Finish
The walk starts in front of the Abbey in Abbey Churchyard, where the Roman Baths Museum is – 8 minutes’ walk from Bath Spa train station.
It finishes at the rear of the Abbey.
Note that in the first five chapters, access to some areas may be restricted outside business hours.
» Distance and Time
The walk is 8.5 miles in length. The narration lasts 4.5 hours.
Give yourself at least six hours total for breaks and solo explorations.
» What to do in winter
It’s an all-season walk but in the darkest period, two weeks either side of 31 December, start at 9 am so you can do the walk and take breaks before the light starts to go.
» What to bring
Dress for puddles and rain. There are gentle hills and one big one.
You’ll need headphones or earphones.
TIP: If you don’t have good, noise-cancelling ones, start by 9 am on weekends and holidays because the first chapter takes place in the historic centre, which fills up quickly with crowds and buskers, and you may struggle to hear over the noise.
If you want to plan breaks ahead
During the walk I’ll tell you when we’re at the quarter, half, and three-quarters-way-through points. At each point there are cafés, restaurants and pubs.
But if you want to plan breaks ahead of time, here’s where the quarter, half, and three-quarters-way points are:
- Quarter way is at the end of Chapter 3: River, on the pedestrian bridge behind the bus station (link takes you to Google Maps so you can see what’s around). https://maps.app.goo.gl/mqNDwrtXd3644aH47
- Half way is at the end of Chapter 4: Stone, in front of the White Hart Inn, Widcombe. https://maps.app.goo.gl/UkQH8G5FZcfF7Dsw6
- Three-quarters way comes at the end of Chapter 6: Guild, in Kingsmead Square. https://maps.app.goo.gl/vkQ9YyRdX33bsVXR6
Tip: take more than one day
If you have more than a day, you can split the walk up and do other things, like visit the Roman Baths Museum, the only way to see the Roman bathing complex.
Visit the Roman Baths Museum’s website
You might also like to learn more about Bath as World Heritage Site.