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With three days in the gorgeous Georgian-era city of Bath, you’ll be able to see top historic sites, check out some local theater, and soak in thermal waters, with time left over to explore nearby Salisbury Cathedral and see Stonehenge. Here’s how to make the most of a 3-day stay in Bath.

Day 1: Historic Bath

Devote your first day in Bath to checking out its major highlights, starting with the Roman baths, the UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Bath is named. Established in the first century AD, this bath complex was used by Romans for public bathing and socializing. While visitors can no longer bathe here, they can pop next door to the Pump Room, an elegant Georgian-era restaurant where the water is available to taste.

After visiting the baths, head over to the adjacent Bath Abbey, the city’s most striking religious site, characterized by beautifully carved exteriors and lovely stained glass. Then make your way to the Jane Austen Centre to learn about Bath’s most celebrated author. In the evening, head to the Thermae Bath Spa for a night soak; this modern spa complex uses the same water source that made the Roman baths so famous. 

Day 2: Art and Architecture

On the morning of your second day in Bath, make your way to the Royal Crescent, celebrated as one of the finest existing examples of Georgian Palladian architecture. While you're there, drop in to No. 1 Royal Crescent, a historic home decorated with period furniture dating to the end of the 18th century. From here, head to the Assembly Rooms, home to the Fashion Museum, where you’ll find over 150 outfits, some up to four centuries old. Next, head over to the Holburne Museum, stopping for photos on the Georgian-era Pulteney Bridge along the way.  The museum is notable for its large collection of painting and sculptures, primarily by British and Dutch artists. In the evening, grab a locally produced cider at one of the many pubs in town before making your way to the Theatre Royal, a historic theater dating to 1805 and Bath’s most important performing arts venue. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge

Spend your final day visiting two of the most important sites in the region: Salisbury and Stonehenge. An hour's drive southeast of Bath, Salisbury is a charming town best known as the home of the 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral. Here you can see the highest church spire in Britain (measuring around 404 feet or 123 meters), and if you have the energy, you can even climb the 332 steps to the top of the tower. History buffs won't want to miss the interactive Magna Carta exhibition, complete with an original copy of the 1215 document itself. From here, head over to Stonehenge, one of England's top attractions. This ancient standing stone circle dates back to the Neolithic period and may have been used as a burial ground or for spiritual purposes, though there's still much debate around why the mysterious stones were ever erected.

With its beautiful Georgian architecture and numerous points of interest, the charming city of Bath has long been the West Country’s star attraction. With one day in town, you’ll be able to visit many of Bath’s most important sites, with time left over for a relaxing soak in the mineral-rich waters for which Bath is named. Here’s how.

Morning: Visit the Roman Baths

Start your morning off with a visit to Bath’s top attraction and namesake, the UNESCO World Heritage Roman baths; arriving first thing in the morning will help you avoid big crowds. Established around AD 70, this beautifully preserved complex was once used by Romans to bathe and socialize. It fell out of popularity for hundreds of years, only to be revived in the 18th century, when "taking the waters" became trendy among the upper crust of Georgian Society. While bathing here is no longer allowed, visitors can still explore the site and its many pools and ancient artifacts.

Afternoon: Bath Abbey and the Jane Austen Centre

After your visit to the baths, stop by the adjoining Pump Room, an elegant Georgian-era restaurant. Even if you don't feel like sitting down for a formal lunch, make sure to at least have a sip of the mineral-rich waters served here, straight from the source. From here, it’s less than a 2-minute walk to Bath Abbey, with its beautifully carved exteriors and an exquisite collection of stained glass; for great views of the city, take a tour up to the top of the abbey's tower. Then head to the Jane Austen Centre, a museum dedicated to one of Bath's best-known authors. 

Evening: Soak at Thermae Bath Spa

In the evening, grab an early dinner at one of Bath's myriad restaurants before making your way to Thermae Bath Spa, a modern spa complex where visitors can bathe in the same waters that feed into the Roman baths. Features include a large indoor pool, a smaller outdoor rooftop pool (with fabulous city views), a couple of aromatherapy-infused steam saunas, and treatment rooms where visitors can indulge in a wide range of massages, facials, and other treatments. For a more economical alternative, guests can take a dip in the Cross Bath, which features a single open-air pool surrounded by historic ruins.

While many people visit Bath as a day trip from London, this beautiful Georgian city merits at least an overnight stay. With two days in Bath, you’ll have plenty of time to visit the city’s top historic sites and museums, soak in thermal hot springs, sample local culinary favorites, and maybe even take in a live theatrical performance. Here’s how to get the most out of 48 hours in Bath.

Day 1: History and Hot Springs

**Morning:**Start with a visit to the Roman baths, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to approximately AD 70. Once the center of life in the area, the baths were a popular place to bathe, relax, and socialize. The baths were revived in the 18th century when hot springs became popular for their curative effects.

**Afternoon:**After visiting the baths, stop at the adjoining Pump Room restaurant to sample a glass of the mineral-rich waters yourself. Then walk around the corner to Bath Abbey, a beautiful Gothic abbey characterized by intricate carvings of angels and gorgeous stained glass. End your afternoon with a walk up to the Royal Crescent, a fine example of Georgian Palladian architecture.

**Night:**While visitors aren’t allowed to take a dip in the Roman baths, they can bathe in the same waters at Thermae Bath Spa. Dating to the early 2000s, this modern complex features multiple pools, steam rooms, and treatment rooms, and an evening soak here makes for a relaxing end to a day in Bath.

Day 2: Arts and Culture

**Morning:**Spend your second day visiting Bath's best museums and cultural attractions, starting with the Jane Austen Centre, an interactive museum dedicated to the city's most famous former resident. From here, head to the Georgian-era Assembly Rooms, which house the Fashion Museum and its collection of over 150 apparel items from the last four centuries.

**Afternoon:**For lunch, head to Sally Lunn’s House, a charming little café celebrated for its sweet buns—the recipe hasn’t changed for centuries. Then make your way to the Holburne Museum, the city's major fine-arts museum. Housed in an 18th-century hotel turned museum, the large collection includes Dutch and British paintings, sculpture, and decorative pieces.

**Night:**Right in the center of Bath stands the Theatre Royal, dating back to 1805 and beautifully restored throughout the years, most recently in 2010. It remains Bath's main performing arts venue to this day, and catching a show here is a great way to end your stay in Bath.