How Much Does Bath Cost? 2026 Budget Guide | Prices & Tips
Bath is a premier UNESCO World Heritage destination where costs reflect its status as one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom. While daily budgets for solo travelers can start around $128 / £95 for those focusing on free architecture and simple meals, a luxury stay can easily reach $609 / £452 per day. The city is generally more expensive than nearby Bristol but remains comparable to other historic hubs like Oxford or Edinburgh. High demand for its unique Roman history and Georgian architecture means that central prices stay high year-round. Visitors can manage costs effectively by prioritizing the city's significant number of free landmarks and booking major attractions well in advance.
Is Bath expensive to visit?
Bath is a moderately expensive destination where travelers should expect to spend between $128 / £95 and $609 / £452 per day depending on their preferred level of comfort.
On This Page
Daily Budget
How much to budget per person per day in Bath
$128
per person /day
$274
per person /day
$609
per person /day
Trip Costs by Duration
Total estimated costs per person, excluding flights
| Trip Costs by Duration | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | $385 | $823 | $1,826 |
| 5-Day Trip | $641 | $1,371 | $3,043 |
| 7-Day Trip | $898 | $1,920 | $4,260 |
per person — Excludes international flights
Budget Buffer
Recommended contingency for unexpected expenses
It is advisable to add a 15% buffer to your daily budget to cover the 12.5% discretionary service charge common in restaurants and the $25 / £18 Bath Abbey Tower Tour (which includes Abbey entry). These minor extras can quickly accumulate, especially when dining out frequently.
How Does It Compare?
See how Bath stacks up against other popular destinations
What Things Cost
Real prices for common tourist expenses in Bath
Food & Drink (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive Restaurant Meal Typical for a casual pub lunch or a burger/pizza main course. | $20 £15 |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) Craft beers or central gastro-pubs may charge up to ~$9.42 / £6.99. | $8.12 £6.03 |
| Sally Lunn's Afternoon Tea Includes the famous Sally Lunn bun with various toppings and tea. Booking recommended. | $39 £29 |
| Coffee (Cappuccino/Latte) Artisan coffee shops in Walcot Street may charge slightly more. | $4.87 £3.62 |
Transport (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bath Zone FirstDay Bus Ticket Unlimited travel within the Bath city zone for 24 hours. | $9.42 £6.99 |
| A4 Air Decker Bristol Airport Bus (Return) Direct Bath-Bristol Airport coach connection. A single ticket is ~$24 / £17. | $33 £24 |
| Taxi Initial Start Rate Standard daytime rate. Sunday and late-night rates start from ~$5.3 / £3.93. | $4.6 £3.42 |
| Train to Bristol (Off-Peak Return) Standard return fare for the 12-minute journey to Bristol. Prices increase during morning peak hours. | $14 £10 |
Accommodation (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| YHA Bath Hostel Dorm Bed Price varies by season; weekend rates in peak summer can reach ~$41 / £31. | $34 £25 |
| Bathen House Boutique Hotel (Mid-Range) Highly-rated boutique guesthouse. Prices reflect standard double occupancy. | $155 £115 |
| 5-Star Luxury Hotel (Average Rate) Premium properties like The Royal Crescent Hotel often exceed ~$541 / £402 on weekends. | $382 £284 |
Activities (5)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Roman Baths Ticket (Adult, advance online) Adult advance tickets typically run ~$32–$45 / £24–£33 depending on date/season; buying on the day is usually ~$2.35–$3.53 / £1.75–£2.62 more. | $45 £33 |
| No.1 Royal Crescent Admission (Adult) Covers the historic Georgian house museum. Concession tickets available. | $21 £16 |
| Bath Abbey Admission (Adult) General visiting ticket to the Abbey and Discovery Museum. | $12 £8.74 |
| Bath Abbey Tower Tour (Adult) Includes tower tour plus entry to the Abbey and Discovery Museum. | $25 £18 |
| Thermae Bath Spa (2-Hour Session) Weekdays ~$59 / £44; weekends ~$66 / £49. Towels and robes included. | $59 £44 |
Food & Dining
What to eat and what it costs
Dining in Bath offers a mix of high-end gastro-pubs and historic tea rooms, with an inexpensive restaurant meal typically costing $20 / £15. A standard pint of domestic beer is priced around $8.12 / £6.03, while the quintessential Sally Lunn's afternoon tea experience costs $39 / £29. Many central restaurants automatically include a 12.5% discretionary service charge, so checking the bill is essential for budget management.
Cheap Eats
Where locals eat — real places, real prices
Chai Walla
$8.12–$14 / £6.03–£10Monmouth Street · Street food area
Grab a falafel wrap for ~$10 / £7.56 and eat in Queen Square nearby.
The Scallop Shell
$20–$20 / £15–£15Monmouth Street · Local chain
The Fisherman's Lunch (available Sun-Fri) is the best value high-quality seafood deal in town.
Schwartz Bros
$11–$16 / £8.05–£12Saw Close · Local chain
Bath's legendary burger joint; perfect for a quick, filling dinner under ~$14 / £10.
Happy Donut
$5.41–$8.12 / £4.02–£6.03The Corridor · Bakery
Great for a cheap sugar fix while exploring the city centre.
The Raven
$19–$24 / £14–£18Queen Street · Local chain
Excellent traditional English pies for around ~$21 / £16.
Getting Around
Transport costs and the smartest ways to move
Bath is exceptionally walkable, and most visitors can avoid the $4.71 / £3.5 taxi start rate by exploring on foot. For longer trips or to reach the city outskirts, a Bath Zone FirstDay bus ticket provides unlimited 24-hour travel for $9.42 / £6.99. Travelers arriving from the airport can save by using the A4 Air Decker bus, which costs about $24 / £17 single or $33 / £24 return.
Accommodation Overview
The city's lodging landscape ranges from budget-friendly dorms at the YHA Bath for $34 / £25 to mid-range boutique stays like Bathen House for $155 / £115. Luxury seekers will find 5-star properties averaging $382 / £284 per night, though rates at iconic landmarks like the Royal Crescent Hotel can exceed $541 / £402 during peak weekends. Booking several months ahead is vital for securing the best value in the historic center.
Accommodation Budget in Bath
Budget
Hostels, budget hotels, shared facilities
Mid-Range
3-star hotels, boutique stays, great locations
Luxury
5-star hotels, suites, premium amenities
💡 Prices vary by season. Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates.
Money-Saving Tips
Insider tricks to stretch your budget further
- 1 Book Roman Baths tickets online in advance to save about $2.35–$3.53 / £1.75–£2.62 per ticket versus buying on the day.
- 2 Join a free walking tour with the Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides, which departs twice daily from the Pump Room and strictly forbids tipping.
- 3 Visit the Holburne Museum on Wednesday afternoons from 15:00–17:00 to access the permanent collection galleries for $0.
- 4 Use a valid student ID at No.1 Royal Crescent to reduce the admission fee to $18 / £13.
- 5 Opt for the off-peak return train to Bristol for $14 / £10 to explore the neighboring city at a lower cost than morning peak fares.
- 6 Drink high-quality tap water throughout the city; UK tap water is safe and free, saving the $2.94 / £2.19 typically charged for bottled water.
- 7 Visit the lower gallery of the Victoria Art Gallery, which offers free entry to the public even when main exhibitions require a fee.
- 8 Avoid the Christmas Market dates if possible, as hotel rooms that typically cost $177 / £131 can spike to over $471 / £350 due to extreme demand.
- 9 Pack a picnic for Royal Victoria Park to enjoy the Botanical Gardens for free rather than paying for a central restaurant lunch.
- 10 Purchase a Bath Zone FirstDay bus ticket for $9.42 / £6.99 if you plan to make more than two trips, as individual fares add up quickly.
Seasonal Pricing
When prices rise and fall throughout the year
Jul, Aug, Dec
+30-50%
Jan, Feb
-20-30%
May, Jun, Sep
The Christmas Market brings massive crowds; hotel rooms that usually cost ~$177 / £131 can spike to ~$471 / £350. May and September offer the best balance of pleasant weather and slightly lower rates.
Events to Watch
- ● Bath Christmas Market (late Nov - mid Dec): Hotels often triple in price.
- ● University Graduation weeks (July/January): High hotel demand.
Free Things to Do
The best experiences that cost absolutely nothing
- 1 Walking the exterior of the Royal Crescent to view the world-famous Georgian terrace architecture.
- 2 Exploring The Circus, a historic ring of large townhouse blocks designed by John Wood, the Elder.
- 3 Crossing Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world with shops built across its full span on both sides.
- 4 Hiking the 10km Bath Skyline Walk for panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Somerset countryside.
- 5 Joining the Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides for a free 2-hour historic walking tour of the city center.
- 6 Visiting the Botanical Gardens within Royal Victoria Park, featuring a replica Roman temple and woodland areas.
- 7 Browsing the historic Guildhall Market, which has been a site of trade for over 800 years.
- 8 Walking along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath to see traditional colorful narrowboats.
- 9 Viewing Pulteney Weir from the hillside for a classic photo opportunity of the city's water features.
- 10 Climbing to Alexandra Park for the most comprehensive aerial view of the Bath cityscape.
- 11 Visiting the historic St. Swithin's Church in the Walcot area to see its unique architectural details.
- 12 Walking out to Sham Castle, an 18th-century Gothic screen folly located on Claverton Down.
Worth the Splurge
Premium experiences that justify the price tag
Jane Austen Inspired Afternoon Tea
Dining in Bath's oldest house (c. 1482) is a quintessential Georgian experience for ~$39 / £29.
Thermae Bath Spa Twilight Package
Includes spa access, a meal, and a drink while watching the sunset from the rooftop pool (~$75 / £55).
Private Walking Tour (2 Hours)
Avoid the crowds and get deep historical insight into the city's UNESCO secrets (~$163 / £121 per group).
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Bath
Day Trip Costs
Popular day trips from Bath and what they cost
Stonehenge
$30 / £23 by bus (The Stonehenge Tour)
$36 / £26
$86 / £64
Bristol
$14 / £10 by train
Free
$61 / £45
Payment & Money
How to pay and what to know about money
British Pound (GBP)
1 £ ≈ 1.35 $
No
Everywhere including street food and small boutiques
10–12.5% is standard in restaurants (often included as 'service charge'). Not expected in pubs or for fast food. Round up for taxis (~$1.18–$2.35 / £0.87–£1.75).
Use bank-affiliated ATMs (Barclays, HSBC) to avoid fees. Avoid 'free' standalone ATMs in convenience stores which may charge for non-UK cards.
Connectivity
eSIM: $14–$40 for 5GB-50GB (opens in new tab)
Local SIM: $14–$20 / £10–£15 for 20GB-50GB at local retailers.
WiFi: Excellent in the city centre, most cafés, and all hotels. The city provides a 'BathFreeWiFi' service in major squares.
Use an Airalo eSIM for convenience, or grab a local Giffgaff/EE SIM card from a supermarket for better data-per-pound value.
Why you can trust this guide
35+ countries • 8 years analyzing travel data
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
- All neighborhoods verified by walking them
- Curated locations based on walkability & safety
- Real-time availability via live partner maps
- Prices based on Booking.com & Numbeo averages
Methodology: This guide combines on-the-ground neighborhood research, current hotel pricing data, and real traveler feedback to provide honest, actionable accommodation recommendations for Bath.
Updated: February 16, 2026
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