Lady’s Free Walking Tour in Bath

Today I want to share my free walking tour in Bath with you. This beautiful historic city in the UK is the perfect place to discover on foot. With its golden stone buildings, elegant crescents, Roman Baths, exciting shopping streets, and bucolic waterways, there’s a lot to see on a self-guided Bath walking tour. My route and map will show you the main highlights of the city and take you to some of the less-explored places locals love.

Free Walking Tour in Bath

From the eye-catching architecture of the Royal Crescent to the riverfront scenery on the Avon, Bath is one of the best cities in England.

Home to some of the most well-preserved ancient Roman remains in the world and an abundance of Jane Austen sites, the city is one of the most exciting places to visit in Britain.

But it’s not just about the history. Whether you want to browse the best shops in Bath or walk across the famous Pulteney Bridge, the city has something for everyone.

No matter if you’re here on a Bath day trip, a weekend trip to Bath, a tour, or a visit to Bath and the Cotswolds, you’ll be able to discover a lot in this part of Somerset.

I’ve visited Bath many times. Each trip has revealed more of the highlights and secret spaces. I’ve also taken many guided tours of Bath. They’ve shown me some of the best places in the city. If you’re interested, you can book one here.

I hope my free walking tour in Bath helps you enjoy getting to know the city as much as I have. It’s one of the most magical places to visit in the UK.

If you want more ideas, you can find lots of additional routes and maps in the popular book A-Z Bristol & Bath Hidden Walks: Discover 20 Routes In and Around the Cities. You can get it on Amazon here.

The Route

My free walking tour in Bath starts on Pulteney Bridge. It’s centrally located, so it’s easy to get to from the train station, bus stops, hotels (including my favorite hotel in the city), and on foot from other places in town.

You can look around and do some shopping before you start your walk, or head off when you arrive (you’ll be back later in the tour, so you can always shop then).

Whatever you decide, start your self-guided walking tour of Bath by heading to the west side of the bridge and turning left to go down Grand Parade. You’ll take in the River Avon and its unique weir on your left and beautiful heritage buildings on your right.

Soon you’ll reach Parade Gardens, a riverside park in Bath. You can spend some time exploring it, or continue your walk by following Grand Parade along the green space until you reach Terrace Walk.

When you get to it, veer right and head down Terrace Walk, keeping right to get onto to North Parade. When you arrive at North Parade Passage, turn right to go down it.

This street is home to famous places like Sally Lunn’s, a tearoom and restaurant that’s housed in one of the oldest homes in Bath. It’s famous for its buns, so you can stop for one if you want to try this local specialty.

Whatever you decide, as you make your way down North Parade Passage don’t miss the beautiful North Parade Buildings on your left or the many good restaurants and shops around you.

When you reach the end of North Parade Passage, you’ll find yourself in Abbey Green. Featuring a large tree surrounded by pretty shops and cafes, it’s a great place to spend some time exploring. It was also a Bridgerton filming location.

When you’re done, continue your free walking tour in Bath by heading out of Abbey Green on Abbey Street. You’ll see the Roman Baths and get a great view of Bath Abbey as you reach York Street.

When you get there, veer right and walk into the square by the church. You can explore for a while and go inside the abbey if you want to, or continue your self-guided walk by turning left on Abbey Churchyard and going past the Roman Baths.

This famous site is worth seeing from the inside, and you can take a break from the walk to tour it if you want to.

You can also stop for a meal or snack next door at The Pump Room. It featured in Jane Austen novels like Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.

Even if you don’t want to eat, it’s worth taking a peek inside the famous Georgian building. It was the social heart of Bath for centuries, and you can taste the famous waters from the fountain inside.

When you’re done, you can continue down Abbey Churchyard and go under the beautiful colonnade to get to Stall Street. When you arrive, turn left and walk to Bath Street.

Turn right on Bath Street and admire the beautiful columns as you make your way to where it meets Hot Bath Street. When you get there, veer right to stay on Bath Street, then turn left along Chandos Buildings.

Walk through the narrow passage and admire the greenery as you make your way to Westgate Buildings. When you arrive, turn right and walk up the street, admiring the historic Bath Stone architecture on either side of you as you go.

When you reach the intersection with Westgate Street and Saw Close, keep straight to get onto the latter. You’ll see more columns and historic buildings here, and you’ll pass the Theatre Royal.

When you reach Barton Street, keep straight and make your way along it as you walk up to Queen Square. When you arrive, you can go into the green space and rest your legs, or walk along it and continue straight as it becomes Gay Street.

You’ll pass The Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein as you make your way up to The Circus. They’re right next to each other and you can stop to visit one or both if you want to.

The Circus is one of the most beautiful places in Bath. A historic ring of grand Georgian townhouses designed by architect John Wood, the Elder, it was built the mid-18th century.

Spend some time admiring the buildings here before exiting The Circus by taking a left on Brock Street. At the end of it you’ll find yourself in one of the most famous places in Bath: the Royal Crescent.

This stunning half-moon row of 30 terraced houses is situated on a green. Designed by John Wood, the Younger, it’s one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the United Kingdom.

Take a while to walk around and admire the scene, then continue your free walking tour in Bath by retracing your steps down Brock Street until you reach Margaret’s Buildings, a pedestrianized lane.

Turn left on Margaret’s Buildings and soak up the colorful shops and cafes as you make your way to Catharine Place. This is a good spot to stop for a meal, snack, or drink if you need a break. I particularly like The Green Bird Cafe.

When you reach Catharine Place, keep straight to walk up it and admire the green space on your left. When you get to the end, turn right to walk down Rivers Street. There are more pretty historic houses here.

Follow Rivers Street until it reaches Brunswick Place. Turn right on Brunswick Place, admiring Christ Church in front of you. Make sure to look behind you to see the pretty intersection with Julian Road, too.

When you get to the next street, you have two options for continuing your free Bath walking tour. One is to turn left onto Belvedere, head up the hill, and turn right on Camden Crescent.

You’ll be rewarded with beautiful houses and views of the city from near where Camden Crescent meets St Stephen’s Road.

The other option is to turn right on Belmont and walk down the hill, then turn right on George Street (if you choose the first option, retrace your steps and follow the second option when you’re done).

Walk along George Street and admire the cafes, then turn left on Milsom Street.

Milsom Street is packed with shops. It’s easy to spend time popping in and out of them as you make your way down to Old Bond Street. There are more shops to browse when you get there, and they’ll lead you down to Upper Borough Walls.

Turn left on Upper Borough Walls and make your way along the street. You’ll see cute places like Good Day Cafe, which are great for tea and cake.

Turn right on Union Passage and follow the skinny alley to Northumberland Place. Turn left and browse your way down to High Street.

When you reach it, you’ll be across the road from the Bath Guildhall Market. If you want to, you can pop in and explore the stalls and cafes in this 19th-century covered market.

If not, continue your free walking tour in Bath by turning right and admiring the facade of the Guildhall and the view of Bath Abbey. When you reach The Corridor, turn right and walk through the shopping arcade until you get back to Union Passage.

When you do, turn left and walk down the skinny lane to Cheap Street. Turn left there, then veer slightly right to stay on it as it becomes Orange Grove. You’ll pass lots of restaurants as you go.

When you find yourself in front of Alkmaar Gardens (also called Orange Grove), take in the obelisk. It was designed by Beau Nash to commemorate the Prince of Orange’s visit to take the waters in Bath in 1734.

Continue your Bath walking tour by following Orange Grove out to Grand Parade and walking along it as it curves left to Pulteney Bridge. Designed by architect Robert Adam in the Palladian style in the late 18th century, the bridge has shops all along it.

When you arrive, cross Pulteney Bridge (and shop while you go if you want to). You can either end your free walking tour in Bath here, or continue it by going down Argyle Street.

If you choose the latter, you’ll pass shops and the Laura Place Fountain. Keep straight when the road becomes Great Pulteney Street, and make sure to take in the elegant Georgian buildings as you make your way down to The Holburne Museum.

You can visit the museum, which was the city’s first public art gallery (and Lady Danbury’s house in Bridgerton), or continue your free walking tour in Bath by turning left down Sydney Place and entering Sydney Gardens where it meets Beckford Road.

This Grade II-listed green space is the oldest park in the city of Bath, and it’s the only remaining 18th-century pleasure garden in the UK.

You can explore the gardens for as long as you want to. It’s worth walking over to the Kennet and Avon Canal while you’re there. There are beautiful bridges and a towpath you can follow.

When you’re done, make your way back out of the park and retrace your steps down Great Pulteney Street and Argyle Street to get back to Pulteny Bridge. Your free walking tour in Bath ends where it began.

Bath Free Tour Details and Map

Best Free Walking Tour in Bath

I hope my self-guided walking tour in Bath has made you want to get out and discover this amazing place and its world-class sightseeing highlights. Bath is one of the best cities in the UK and there are a lot of great places to see here.

If you want more ideas, you can take a look at my blog post with all my city walks in the UK. It will show you fun routes you’ll enjoy in other parts of the country. Happy walking!

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