Four Essential Items For Your Bath Visit

Bath is a city like no other in the UK. It’s a city packed with great tourist attractions, drawing people from across the United Kingdom and further afield.

The city attracts six million visitors each year, and they come for all manner of different reasons. The Roman Baths are a significant draw, as is the abbey, but the serenity of Sydney Gardens and Henrietta Park, as well as the unique Pulteney Bridge, are also hugely popular. Of course, there’s the Circus, Queen Square, and Royal Crescent to visit as well. Fans of Jane Austen and Bridgerton will enjoy the architecture and history as well. Visiting Bath, you’ll need more than just a day to take everything in.

That’s not all you’ll need. Bath has several unique attractions, but there are also some items of kit that you’d be wise to ensure you pack before you set off. Here are five essential items for your visit to Bath.

Swimsuit

As you might expect, a city called Bath is heavily focused on water. The river Avon flows through the centre of town, and the Roman Baths have been attracting visitors for thousands of years. Indeed, The Romans first built a temple on the site between 60 and 70 AD. However, you can’t swim in the baths, but you can swim in the water.

The Thermae Bath Spa invites people to enjoy two hours in the warm waters emanating from under the city, and you can turn up without an appointment. However, you can’t turn up without a swimsuit, making it a vital item to pack for your trip to Bath.

Raincoat

Rivers, baths, swimming pools, the water all seems to be on the ground or under it in Bath. Sadly, that’s not always the case. Indeed, summer rain often falls in Bath and across the West County, meaning you need to prepare accordingly. In July 2023, the weather in Bath was both sunny and wet, so if you’re visiting in summer, don’t pack a huge raincoat, but something like a pac-a-mac for protection from the seasonal showers. They come from some top brands, including Hunter, and they’re light enough to be removed when the sun does shine on the wonderful city.

Sunglasses

The British summer can be bright, which makes sunglasses an essential part of any trip. However, when visiting Bath it is more pertinent to remember a pair, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, with the Roma Baths and River Avon forming key parts of any Bath visit, you’re at risk of glare from the water. Taking sunglasses with polarised lenses will help reduce glare, especially on sunny days.

It’s also important to remember many buildings are made of Bath stone, a bright material that makes the city feel very light. However, on a sunny day, it can be an issue as everything feels bright and reflective. Having sunglasses is a must, but we’d also recommend a pair of prescription sunglasses with shaded lenses that help correct your vision. You can still look stylish with designers like Ted Baker and Ben Sherman, but you’ll also be able to see the intricate detail in some of the bright stone. That will be handy when visiting the Circus, buildings decorated with alternating triglyphs and 525 pictorial emblems, including serpents, nautical and Masonic symbols.

Comfy Shoes

From Sydney Park to the Botanical Gardens is a mile-and-a-half, taking you over Pulteney Bridge. Then you can go around the shopping area, maybe find somewhere to eat, before a wander around the Roman Baths. You might ascend the stairs of the Thermae Bath Spa or even head on a walk taking in the sights made famous by Bridgerton and Jane Austen. Bath isn’t a big city, but there are no underground or trams – unless you commandeer an e-scooter, you’re on foot.

There are hills as well. In fact, as well as those in the town, there are seven hilltops that offer a unique view of the city. You can walk up all of them, but that means a comfy pair of shoes. Our advice would be to take two pairs – something stylish should you wish to eat out or enjoy the cosmopolitan aspects of the city and a super comfy pair for those long, delightful walks.